“Rising Up,” a report by the British campaign “Real Bread”, finds that 88% of those with mental health issued surveyed report bread making helps with a sense of achievement, 87% report feeling happier, and 73% felt calmer or more relaxed. “When I’m in the kitchen, measuring the amount of sugar, flour, or butter I need for a recipe or cracking the exact number of eggs — I am in control,” says John Whaite, winner of the U.K.’s Great British Bake-Off. “That’s really important as a key element of my condition is a feeling of no control.”
Of further interest:
Feeling depressed? Maybe you need to knead: New research reveals how baking is helping to lift thousands of people out of depression (The Independent)
Can baking make you happier? (BBC News)
Can baking improve mental health? (The Guardian)
John Whaite: How baking helps me battle depression (Yahoo)