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