A New Era?

The old Student Centre has finally been knocked down. Appointments with students have been interrupted when we both stopped to stare at the demolition process. We watched in fascination as roofing collapsed and stairs crumbled in a cloud of dust (inhalers out for those of us with asthma). So things change and we move on. Another academic year is over and students and staff catch a breath before the next rush. I have been using some extra time to attend a couple of conferences and read. Okay, I should have been filing but their is only so much filing I can cope with in one week.

The conference I attended yesterday was about psychological treatment in psychosis. There is a body of research that suggests that psychosis and schizophrenia are predominately the result of stressors in out life that we don't have the resilience or support to manage . If there is a shift from biological causes in these diagnosis, what does this mean for the future of psychiatry which has been based on a medical model and treatment through drugs? There are also concerns that the medical profession is swayed by the influence of drug companies. The companies fund research which benefits them and promotes drug treatment. I can see that medication is of benefit to some but until we all take a more holistic approach to mental distress then we will not be able to empower recovery.

What is loneliness

Check out the article on loneliness from the One in Four magazine and find out how this can affect your mental health.

http://www.oneinfourmag.org/loneliness.html

5 Minutes a Day

Apparently latest research is saying that 5 minutes a day exercise in a green space is good for your mental health. The weather is forecast to be good this weekend so why not get out and go for a walk. You don't have to get out to the countryside if transport is a problem. Find a nearby park, have a walk and a picnic. I'm off camping in Folkestone this weekend so plenty of fresh air and green space for me. Must remember the exercise! Back on campus in June.

Chill Out

This past month has been stressful for me, hence no blogs. I came back from holiday to a work move to a new office. For those of you who may be wondering where I have gone, I am now on the first floor of the Salvation Army building in Vicarage Street. This is a temporary move until the new student centre is completed. The room I have now overlooks the student centre and is large and airy. I could get used to this! Now I have settled in my stress levels have reduced. We all need to consider how we manage our stress as is does affect our mental well being and can lead to mental distress. Check out the chill out on the cheap link I have added to manage your stress.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/29/chill-out-on-the-cheap/print

The Student Mental Wealth Project

In mid-February four meetings were held around the UK to look at promoting well being on campuses through student lead initiatives and staff and students from 30 universities attended. One initiative that came out of these meetings was the Mental Wealth Network which aims to connect mental wealth groups, students, staff and wider stakeholders (such as local organisations and national charities that promote well being). The network aspires to foster communication, collaboration & a shared vision for positive well being on campuses around the country. Feedback from the meetings identified that there is often a 'closed, reactive culture around mental health and well being at universities' and that the subject is not considered relevant to student life. When we consider that one in four students will experience some difficulties with their mental health while at university this is clearly not the situation. Have a look at the website:

http://www.mentalwealthuk.com

I am hoping to get students here interested in the issue of mental well being. Check out my blog for updates.

Physical and Mental Health

It seems a long time since I last posted. I have had a bad cold which resulted in a chest infection. There seems to be a lot of colds and flu like symptoms around the university at the moment. It started me thinking about the affect our physical health has on our mental health. Statistics say that we are more likely to experience depression if we have a long term medical condition. For me, having a cold had an effect on my motivation. The healthy campus initiative looks at healthy living to improve our physical health. It can also impact on our mental health. Changes in exercise and diet are being used by people with depression to improve their mental well being.

Stigma and Mental illness

In recent years there has been an increase in celebrities and politicians who are willing to disclose that they have experienced mental illness. Many support campaigns such as Time to Change or Shift, organisations that are promoting an end to stigma for people with mental health problems . I am wondering if there is a change in how the general public perceives mental illness. Often opinions are swayed by the media which does seem to be changing its attitude as a result of these campaigns. Sometime it seems that those who already have a vested interested in reducing stigma are now more vocal but is there any change in general attitudes? Last October I organised a debate entitled Mental Health Questions. Those who attended all had an interest in mental health issues. I have been wondering how to reach people who have not even thought about mental illness perhaps because they have never encountered it or are scared of the unknown. I was delivering some mental health awareness training recently when a delegate explained that it is difficult to understand mental illness and know how to support someone when you do not know how it affects individuals. We are more likely to have some idea of how to help someone with a physical condition such as diabetes becuse the condition is widely publised. So to end my ramblings I think that attitudes are changing but that those of us that do have a passion to end stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness should continue to shout out about it. Let me know what you think.