Remote islands free the imagination – but they also stir up fear

Bestselling author Paula Hawkins set her new book on a fictional tidal island. Here she examines the power and appeal of islands

‘They remind me there’s a life after cancer’: how paintings in NHS hospitals help patients feel better

Feedback on the benefits of displaying pictures on wards, now gathered in a new book, is backed by scientific studies

Breakthrough by William Pao review – the drugs do work

From sickle cell to Covid antivirals – the stories behind medical innovations that have transformed lives

Psychedelic Outlaws by Joanna Kempner review – a compelling case for the use of magic mushrooms in pain relief

The US sociologist’s study of psychoactive fungi to treat little-known medical conditions such as cluster headaches is well researched and wide ranging

My brilliant Korea: rediscovery of a rich cultural narrative

By writing a book about Korean myths, Bella Myŏng-wŏl Dalton-Fenkl learned that the old stories ran deep in her family

Daisy May Cooper on a brush with death, dating after divorce and her passion for the supernatural: ‘People think you’re mad’

After a turbulent few years, she is now hearing voices from the other side. Has the creator of This Country lost her mind?

I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You by Miranda Hart review – chronic illness and love at last

After years of misery with undiagnosed Lyme disease, the entertainer shares her lessons for living

Your Journey, Your Way by Horatio Clare review – the Martin Lewis of mental health

Inspired by his own breakdown, the author’s generous and deeply researched guide to navigating mental health care in the UK is full of wisdom and hope

The big idea: how to use your senses to help beat depression

Our research suggests that it’s not sadness per se that leads to poor mental health, but shutting down input from the body. ‘Sense foraging’ offers a way out of the trap

Home Sweet Home: Where Evil Lives review – fresh take on pregnant-woman-in-peril horror

Unfolding in what looks like a single take, Thomas Sieben sends his protagonist into a house that’s haunted by historical trauma