An inspiring video on managing voice hearing

This is a very moving video of a student's experience with schizophrenia and recovery.

"To all appearances, Eleanor Longden was just like every other student, heading to college full of promise and without a care in the world. That was until the voices in her head started talking. Initially innocuous, these internal narrators became increasingly antagonistic and dictatorial, turning her life into a living nightmare. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalized, drugged, Longden was discarded by a system that didn't know how to help her. Longden tells the moving tale of her years-long journey back to mental health, and makes the case that it was through learning to listen to her voices that she was able to survive".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjEN3peCJw

What is depression?

Let the black dog be your guide.

http://www.upworthy.com/what-is-depression-let-this-animation-with-a-dog-shed-light-on-it?g=4&c=ufb1

Schizophrenia Awareness Week (November 11 - 17)

Will you Stand Up for Schizophrenia this week? 


Rethink are encouraging us to spread better understanding of what it's like to live with this condition and join the fight to challenge the misunderstanding and fear that surrounds it. Follow the link for more information.


http://www.rethink.org/news-views/authors/stand-up-for-schizophrenia?utm_source=email&utm_medium=informz&utm_campaign=blank

Staying well with Bi Polar Disorder

Check out the link to a useful guide to staying well based on personal experiences and research.

http://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/staying-well-with-bipolar?utm_source=email&utm_medium=informz&utm_campaign=blank

Time to Talk?

Today is World Mental Health Day! We all need to think about how we manage our own mental health and be more open about mental illness to reduce stigma. Follow the Time to Change campaign, TimetoTalk.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-health

Give a few moments to think about 'what makes you feel good?'

Hope you all have a great day.

Doc Ready

With 36% of young people admitting to not feeling comfortable talking to their GP about their mental health, a new digital tool has launched to encourage more to do so. 

Doc Ready is a digital app aimed at ensuring young people confidently take control of what happens when they meet with their doctor and to help them get the most out of their visit. 

Try out Doc Ready at:

http://www.docready.org/static/client/index.html#/home

Update on Student Mental Health Survey

The first part of the Grand Challenges survey is complete.Over 230 people completed this survey between June and July 2013 and a total of 459 challenges were submitted. Stage 2 of the project is now open. this will help identify which of these specific challenges is a current priority.

This information will help organisations understand where action to improve the state of student mental health might be most effective. You can find out more information and complete the survey here -

 www.studentminds.org.uk/grand-challanges

 This survey is open to any member of public to complete - we particularly invite responses from current university students, recent university graduate and University staff and health care professionals working to support students in university. The survey will close on the 4th of October.

Are anti-depressants the answer?

The Health and Social Care Information Centre has revealed that more than 50 million prescriptions for anti-depressants were issued last year, the highest ever number and 7.5% up on the year before.

Nice guidelines state that the first line of treatment for mild to moderate depression should be talking therapy. What is going wrong? Are there a lack of therapies availble? Are GPs too stretched to do more than offer an anti-depressants. Are we as a nation medicalising every low mood which is part of daily lfe. I have known anti-depressants prescribed when someone has a relationship break down. This is a normal part of life and we should be supporting each other to cope. Do we give enough time to our friends and do they give time to us? I seem to be asking a lot of questions but don't know the answers. Read more at:

http://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/HSCIC_reveal_more_than_50_million_antidepressant_prescriptions_issued_last_year_83288.aspx?utm_source=http%3a%2f%2fnews.pavpub.com%2folmgroup_prolz%2f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MHTnews6813&utm_term=Mental+Health+Today+news+1-6+August%3a+Dementia+risks+from+rugby+highlighted&utm_content=42775

Talk about Mental Health

Time to change has launched their 'Time to Talk' Campaign today. See how you can be involved and reduce the stigma for people with mental illness.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-health

Volunteer at a Time to Change Village this summer

The Time to Change Village is a pop-up interactive space where the public can learn about mental health, by having conversations with people with first-hand experience of the issues. Through talking to our volunteers, they can learn more about what it’s really like to live with a mental health problem, and change some of their prejudices and preconceptions.

See more...

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/news/volunteer-time-change-village-summer

Positive blog on student mental health

Read about a student's difficult experiences and how finding the right support at university helped. If you are a university student make sure you find out about the support services at your university as they can really help.

http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/8549_lets_talk_about_student_mental_health

Psychosis is nothing like a badger.

The link below takes you to a great video from a guy who has experienced psychosis. It really helps to explain the condition in a fun way. If we are ever to end the stigma around mental illness and allow people to be open and honest about their mental health then we need to keep talking about it. A student once told me that she did not understand mental illness and it scared her because no one talked about it. We need to talk about our mental health and illness until it becomes a common topic and is no longer a mystery which we fear.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/psychosis-nothing-badger

Anxiety or depression affects nearly one in five UK adults

Information from the Office for National Statistics.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/19/anxiety-depression-office-national-statistics

Britons lack mental health knowledge

Most people in the UK know more about physical conditions rather than than mental health conditions and feel more confident dealing with a physical health emergency than a mental health crisis, a survey has found.

See more on this artlicle here.

 http://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/britons_lack_mental_health_knowledge_survey_finds.aspx?utm_source=http%3a%2f%2fnews.pavpub.com%2folmgroup_prolz%2f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MHTnews18613&utm_term=Mental+Health+Today+news+12-18+June%3a+perinatal+mental+health%2c+schizophrenia+re-brand+and+more&utm_content=42775

Order your free starter guide to mental illness here.

http://www.mentalhealthsos.org/

The Big Mental Health Debate

More and more politicians are talking about mental health. This debate can be another step towards a better life for everyone affected by mental illness.
Your MP will be much more likely to turn up if you ask them to. Please tell them about what matters to you, and ask for their support for mental health in Parliament.

http://www.rethink.org/get-involved/campaigns/the-big-mental-health-debate?utm_source=email&utm_medium=informz&utm_campaign=blank

Personal stories about mental illness and recovery

 The following links take you to a collection of 3 short films featuring people who live and work/study in Dorset sharing their stories of their personal recovery from mental health issues.

Speaking up - Time to Change Dorset (T2C) Film 1

You can recover - Time to Change Dorset (T2C) Film 2

Stronger, better, person - Time to Change Dorset (T2C) Film 3

Well Happy App

 Wellhappy is a free health app for young people aged 12-25 in London. It allows you to search for over a thousand local support services including mental health, sexual health and substance misuse services.

https://www.myhealth.london.nhs.uk/london-living/health-apps/well-happy

BEAT Survey for students getting treatment for eating disorders.

BEAT (beating eating disorders) has heard from a number of students who have fallen through the ‘gaps’ between different treatment services/NHS local authorities. However some students report that their experience of accessing treatment during this time has been a positive one, and they are equaly interested to hear from these students. In this campaign they are also interested in the level of support offered by Universities as well as their efforts to prevent eating disorders. Access the survey at the link below.

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/support-us/get-involved/research/eating-disorders-at-university-gaps-in-treatment-and-the-student/

Grand Challenges in Student Mental Health

In 2010 the National Institute of Mental Health and the Global Alliance for Chronic Disease set out to identify the Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health. The goal was to identify challenges and pinpoint priorities to lead to substantial improvements in the lives of people living with psychiatric illness. 

In 2013 the Student Run Self Help charity are setting out on a similar project to identify challenges and pin point priorities in Student Mental Health.

To take part in the Grand Challenges Survey, please visit www . srsh . co . uk/grandchallenges

Are University Students too Stressed to Manage University Life?

 Have a look at this survey on student stress. What do you do to manage your stress?

http ://infogr . am/Too-stressed-to-manage-university-life

Student and staff survey on support with mental health difficulties

ECU survey: How can universities support staff and students experiencing mental health difficulties?

ECU is currently surveying the views of staff and students on how universities can support people experiencing mental health difficulties. In particular, we want to gain an understanding of how universities can:

• develop an environment which encourages staff and students to let the university know they are experiencing mental health difficulties and receive targeted support
• proactively ensure that their courses, the work environment, their facilities and services are accessible to students experiencing mental health difficulties

Responses to the staff and student surveys will be invaluable in helping us develop materials to promote an inclusive environment supportive of mental health in universities

Staff survey: How can universities support staff experiencing mental health difficulties?

Student survey: How can universities support students experiencing mental health difficulties?

Student Radio Podcast about depression at Nottingham Trent University

http://flyfm.co.uk/2013/02/trent-talk-depression-and-mental-health/

Time to Change Student Survey

 Time to Change is England's biggest campaign to tackle mental health discrimination, run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. They are working with the University Mental Health Advisers Network to take part in a University mental health and well being awareness day. In order to promote the day, we would like to hear your views about mental health. Please note, the answers you give will be used in the media. However all answers will be kept anonymous.

To access the survey follow the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MFW6XRJ

Discriminatory mental health laws scrapped.

Mental health organisations have welcomed new legislation that scraps outdated laws that discriminate against people with mental health problems. Read more at:


 http://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/discriminatory_mental_health_laws_scrapped_31410.aspx?utm_source=http%3a%2f%2fnews.pavpub.com%2folmgroup_prolz%2f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MHTnews12213&utm_term=Mental+Health+Today+news+%285-12+February%29&utm_content=42775

The National Student Wellbeing Photography Competition

Any student studying at a UK institution is welcome to enter and may submit multiple photographs in response to the brief.

Follow the link at:

http://www.mentalwealthuk.com/news/student-photography-competition-for-unimentalhealthday 

Is there such a thing as blue Monday?

Last Monday was the third Monday in January and has been decreed Blue Monday, when we are all supposed to be at our lowest. Is there such a day? How can we really measure this. Is this something we want to advertise anyway as is is a rather negative concept.

Have a look at the following article to join the debate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/brain-flapping/2013/jan/21/blue-monday-depressing-day-nonsense-science?CMP=twt_gu