Suicide prevention is high priority

Every suicide tells a different but equally tragic story. Suicide prevention is a high priority for councils, which already provide a range of vital services that support the health and mental wellbeing of our communities. However we need a root and branch overhaul of mental health services, which focuses on prevention and early intervention, particularly for […]

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World Mind Matters Day

On World Mind Matters Day 2017, research funded by the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), of laws and policies in 52 countries of the Commonwealth reveals that only 48 per cent of Commonwealth countries have a mental health policy. Low income countries are more likely to have mental health policies than high income ones although numbers […]

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Diana’s endless empathy

How did Diana learn to become the ‘Queen of Hearts’  for the marginalised and unloved? Nurse Helen Cowan says she has met nurses and carers who shared her endless empathy born out of personal suffering. In the controversial Channel 4 documentary, “Diana: In her own words”, the Princess was portrayed as somebody more comfortable sitting […]

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Internet porn: young people and relationships

Is internet porn the new norm for young people in a digital age? And what effect is it having on their relationships? Earlier this year, Theresa May’s government announced its plan to radically overhaul sex education by introducing compulsory sexual education, from the age of 4, in all schools, to teach children about healthy relationships. […]

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Game of Thrones – dealing with phobias

The penultimate episode of the current series of Game of Thrones (G.O.T) has just finished and personally I am counting the months until the final season. George R. R. Martin has created a scary and traumatic world, and it’s amazing that every character in it isn’t suffering from phobias, anxiety issues or major trauma. Sandor […]

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How to ease the stress of the holidays

Holidays are supposed to be stress-free breaks to recharge our batteries but not everyone finds themselves unwinding into a state of relaxed bliss. Unstructured time away from the daily grind can expose weakness in partner and family relationships. If your relationship is conducted by post-it note for most of the year and has stress points, […]

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Fear of travelling underground

Travelling on the London Underground, or another city subway service, is seldom a pleasant experience – but if you suffer claustrophobia or anxiety, it can be terrifying. There is the fear of being underground, of being trapped between stations, of crowds or being crushed, and of course the fear of terrorism. When someone has a […]

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Bullied mental health nurses more heavy handed

Mental health nurses who are belittled and humiliated by patients are more likely to opt for heavy handed management techniques, according to new research published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies. While exposure to physical aggression and self-harm are known to have detrimental consequences for nurses working in mental health services in terms of staff […]

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Wild swimming washes away stress

Wild swimming – the simple art of swimming in natural water bodies outdoors – is making a comeback, with more people using our rivers and lakes for swimming than canoeing and fishing combined. The desire for wild swimming also reflects increased interests in ‘wild’ experiences – activities that immerse you in visceral beauty, wash away […]

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NHS mental health plans don’t add up

The announcement of additional mental health workers in the NHS by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt may look impressive to the public gaze, however the figures being discussed don’t seem to add up. The ongoing staffing cuts of nurses and front line staff and efficiency savings seem to contradict the pledges of investment to achieve parity […]

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