As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, the Mass General Department of Psychiatry extends its warmest wishes to our community. In celebrating Thanksgiving this year, we can embrace gratitude not only as a holiday tradition but as a daily practice that enriches our lives and strengthens our bonds with others. Learn more about the research from MGH Psychiatry demonstrating that the expression of gratitude can significantly enhance one’s health and well-being.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the MGH Department of Psychiatry!
The Many Benefits of Sharing a Meal with Others
At the heart of the Thanksgiving holiday is the meal, an opportunity to gather and celebrate with family and friends. While we may not expressly view this event as an act of giving thanks, the mere act of sharing a meal with others has many beneficial effects. Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Family Dinner Project, Anne Fishel, PhD notes, “In 21st-century America, mealtime is really the most reliable time we have to connect with one another.” Furthermore, several decades of scientific research has consistently highlighted the many benefits of regular family dinners for children, including improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and lower risk of substance abuse.
In this video, Dr. Fishel discusses some of the science behind the family dinner.
Preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner
Dr. Fishel refers to Thanksgiving as “the mother of all family dinners.” She notes that with all the preparations and pressure to provide the perfect meal, it’s easy to lose sight of the real meaning of the holiday: thanks + giving. In this interview with WCVB, Dr. Fishel provides some suggestions and practical techniques for keeping the peace at the Thanksgiving table at times of political unrest, when “feelings are as raw as an uncooked turkey.”
And you can find more creative ideas for making Thanksgiving a fun and meaningful (and hopefully less stressful) event HERE at the Family Dinner Project website.
Anne Fishel, PhD is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Family Dinner Project (TFDP) , a family therapist, clinical psychologist, and Associate Professor of Psychology at the Harvard Medical School. She is also Director of the Family and Couples Therapy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she trains child and adult psychiatry residents and psychology interns in family therapy. She is also a co-author of Eat, Laugh, Talk: The Family Dinner Playbook (Familius, 2019), written with other members of TFDP team.
