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Mental health, global style
It can’t have escaped anyone’s notice that we are now living in a global world, driven by international directives, legislation and so-called ‘thought leadership’. It does make me wonder, where exactly HQ is and, more importantly, who’s the boss. Mental health has now come under global scrutiny, with a new report published jointly by Mind…
The truth about workplace stress in Britain
Do you ever feel like your email inbox is your worst enemy? These days, it’s almost the norm for organisations and individuals to engage the services of productivity consultants and enrol on courses that go by names like ‘Getting your inbox back into shape’. How interesting that the technology that was supposed to simplify and…
Why do we self-harm?
Self-harm, like so many physical manifestations of the growing psychological distress in our world, is on the increase, according to a new survey among young people conducted by four self-harm support groups, and referred to yesterday on Radio 4’s The World at One. Figures from the NHS in England show that 11% more young people…
A Cambridge research first in teenage male depression
It probably comes as no surprise, just from looking within our own circles of acquaintance, that depression and anxiety among our young is on the increase. According to the Centers for Disease Control in the States, 81% of deaths from suicide between the ages of 10 and 24 occur in males – that might be America, but…
One sure-fire cure for depression
The current debate in The Netherlands around doctor-assisted suicide for depression sends a shiver down my spine. It’s all been triggered by a controversial new clinic, the pragmatically named Life-Ending Clinic, which is now proudly ending the lives of people with chronic depression. Clinic Director, Steven Pleiter, has said: “We consider it self-evident that someone…
Talk is cheap – or is it?
I guess you all know that yesterday marked the first ever outing of Time to Talk Day, described on the official website as ’24 hours in which to start conversations about mental health, raise awareness and share the message that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and neither is talking about it.’ The…
What men don’t like – and why they’re dying to let you know
You know things are not quite right when it becomes necessary to convene a consortium that goes by the name the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (which appears to be a new, improved version of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, referenced above – go figure). Because, let’s face it, when members of our society…
Youth mental health now a priority for UK General Practitioners
Statistics from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) show that 50% of adults with mental health problems will have presented by the age of 15 and 75% by the age of 18 – this is powerful information which points to the importance of early intervention. Juxtapose this with the fact that (according to Dr…
