Popular topics
Popular topic: Mental
-
Mind backs new mental health strategy
September 3rd, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
Mind has welcomed the government's plans for a new mental health strategy in the UK.
Responding to an article written by care services minister Paul Burstow for Community Newswire, in which he said the NHS must give mental health parity with physical health, the charity said the announcement was “encouraging”.
Mind chief executive Paul Farmer stated that any changes in the approach to mental health issues must be made in all areas of government and will only come through collaboration with public services.
Mr Farmer emphasised the importance of early intervention in minimising mental stress and saving money on treatment.
“While we appreciate that in the current financial climate there is a need to look at savings, it is imperative that mental health is protected from cuts and that investment in this area continues,” the chief executive said.
He added that tackling stigma and public misconceptions is also vital in refining services and attitude towards mental health in the UK.
Mind recently expressed concerns over the exclusion of a woman with a history of mental health problems from the X-Factor TV talent show, stating that people should not be automatically barred from the programme due to their mental health.
- 0 Comments
0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
Burstow: We must address the UK’s mental health problems
September 2nd, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
There is a strong link between poor mental health and poverty in the UK, care services minister Paul Burstow has claimed.
Writing for Community Care, the minister stated that mental health problems exacerbate existing social issues, often contributing to a cycle of worklessness and poverty.
Mr Burstow highlights the fact that unemployed people are four-times as likely to experience a mental health issue than individuals in work, while mental health costs the economy some £77 billion every year.
“What we really need is a wholesale shift in emphasis to give mental health parity with physical health in the NHS,” the care services minister stated.
“We must also draw on a broader canvas in preventing people from developing mental illness,” he added.
The minister concluded by stating that the Department of Health is set to reshape mental health strategy in the coming months.
Mental health problems affect one in four people at some point in their lives.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
Disasters ‘tough on disabled people’
August 28th, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
Dealing with the effects of disasters is particularly hard for people with disabilities or mental health problems, it has been indicated.
According to research published in the American Psychological Association, disabled people faced “considerable barriers” to support services, housing and transportation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Survivors with disabilities were found to be less likely to own their own home than those without disabilities, while they were also more likely to be unemployed.
Meanwhile, individuals who lived through the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995 were found to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression.
Fran Norris PhD, director of the National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research at the Dartmouth Medical School, stated: “Community programmes should reach out to injured people for early mental health and functional assessments. Follow-up support services that address mental health and functional problems could be part of the treatment plan for those people treated for disaster-related injuries.”
The National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research is supported by funding from a number of institutions, including the University of Michigan.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
Mind questions X Factor decision
August 27th, 2010
Posted by James Lahey
Mind has expressed concern over the expulsion of an X Factor contestant due to her history of mental health problems.
Shirlena Johnson was removed from the programme after producers decided that she would be unable to cope with the pressures of taking part in the TV talent programme and that it could have a knock-on effect on her daughter, Mariah.
The charity stated that, regardless of whether or not Ms Johnson failed to disclose her mental health experiences, she should not be expelled from the show because of them.
“Having a history of mental illness does not mean that somebody is incapable of taking part in The X Factor or, more importantly, caring for a child,” the organisation stated.
Mind added that one in four people will have a mental health problem at some point in their lives and that almost 40 million antidepressant prescriptions were issued in the UK alone last year.
The single mother initially wowed judges at the X Factor with a rendition of Duffy's 'Mercy'.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
‘Mindfulness’ can reduce mental health problems
August 23rd, 2010
Posted by Ben Jones
Practising 'mindfulness' could help people improve their wellbeing and avoid the development of mental health problems, it has been claimed.
According to Simon Lawton-Smith, head of policy at the Mental Health Foundation, meditation is closely linked with relaxation and can help people control their mood and deal with stress more effectively.
The comments came after research from the University of Oregon indicated that Chinese meditation can help people realise their goals and become more driven.
Mr Lawton-Smith noted that mindfulness can be particularly effective for people experiencing depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleeplessness and anxiety.
“Mindfulness is designed to improve your mental health by changing the way you think and feel about your experiences, especially stressful ones. It can better enable you to regulate your mood and manage your thoughts and feelings,” he said.
The Mental Health Foundation was set up in 1949 and supports research, campaigning and service improvements.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
‘More dementia research needed’
August 22nd, 2010
Posted by Ben Jones
More money must be invested in exploring the causes and treatments of dementia in the UK, it has been stated.
According to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, other major conditions receive much more financial backing for research and the development of new treatments than dementia, Craegmoor reports.
On top of this, an ageing population could increase the number of people experiencing the syndrome in the future, the organisation notes.
Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at the trust, told the news source: “Dementia has been called the greatest medical challenge of our age because we have a growing population, we are living longer, but we are not necessarily living healthily for longer.”
He added that although many treatments exist for dementia, none are able to stop the disease - a fact that illustrates the need for greater investment in research.
Dementia usually occurs in people over 65, with women being at a slightly greater risk than men, according to NHS Choices.
It affects 570,000 people in England alone.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
Early Alzheimer’s diagnosis ‘essential’
August 16th, 2010
Posted by James Lahey
More must be done to diagnose Alzheimer's disease as early as possible, it has been stated.
According to Ian Weatherhead, lead nurse at Dementia UK's Admiral Nursing services, catching the disease early can make it easier for medical professionals to explain the condition to those affected.
He stated that services across the country can vary, meaning that despite being diagnosed correctly, some patients may not be able to access the support they need.
The nurse commented that Alzheimer's diagnosis is key in order to rule out other possible causes of reduced cognitive capacity.
Mr Weatherhead told Craegmoor: “Early diagnosis is important for all people affected by dementia in that it can help clarify and explain concerns and changes in someone's behaviour or memory and cognitive functioning.”
Meanwhile, early diagnosis of the disease could be improved by a new spinal fluid test, scientists revealed last week.
According to US researchers, the condition can be spotted early with 90 per cent efficiency using the test, which assesses biomarkers in a patient's cerebrospinal fluid.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
Simple lifestyle changes linked to reduced Alzheimer’s risk
August 10th, 2010
Posted by Imogen Welsh
The number of people being diagnosed with dementia could be reduced through encouraging people to change their lifestyles at an early age, scientists believe.
Researchers working at the French National Institute of Medical Research looked into the best means of helping the brain stave off the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
They concluded that encouraging people to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables in order to keep their bodies healthy as well as take up full or part-time education so as to keep the brain active could lead to a significant drop in the number stricken by the condition.
More specifically, the team noted that, by targeting depression and diabetes, it should be possible to combat the triggers that lead to the onset of dementia, with a 20 per cent reduction in new cases of the condition predicted should this path be taken.
Summing up in the British Medical Journal, the team noted: “Removing diabetes and depression along with increasing crystallised intelligence and fruit and vegetable consumption seem to have a greater impact than modifying genetic risk.”
Welcoming the findings, the director of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, Professor Clive Ballard, commented that this latest research adds further weight to the idea that a healthy lifestyle is often sufficient to significantly reduce the risk of dementia.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
YoungMinds launches e-comics for parents
August 9th, 2010
Posted by Ben Jones
Mental health and wellbeing charity YoungMinds has launched a series of e-comics aimed at supporting parents and carers over the summer break.
According to the organisation, summer can be a time when guardians notice a change in their children’s behaviour after spending more time with them.
Key issues addressed in the web publications include bullying, depression and self harm, as well as avoiding school and the separation of parents.
The charity reportedly receives thousands of calls each year from concerned parents on these subjects.
YoungMinds web editor Clare Jerrom commented: “Our new series of e-comics are designed to show parents in an accessible way the type of behaviour that may be linked to certain issues.”
She added that the YoungMinds Parents Helpline is open to those who are worried about the mental health or wellbeing of their children.
The charity recently appointed a new chair in the form of Sue Berelowitz, who is also the deputy children’s commissioner and chief executive of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
-
YoungMinds appoints new chair
August 5th, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
Mental health charity YoungMinds has announced the appointment of a new chair.
Sue Berelowitz is set to take over from Dr Mike Shooter next month and will aim to de-stigmatise mental health and raise public awareness.
Ms Berelowitz is also deputy children’s commissioner and chief executive of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, and was previously director of business development for adult and children’s services at West Sussex county council.
The former position has given the new chair a large amount of experience of engaging strategically with young people and speaking out on their behalf.
Sarah Brennan, YoungMinds chief executive, welcomed Ms Berelowitz, praising her “breadth of experience and passion”.
The newly appointed chair said: “I have the highest regard for YoungMinds’ work, particularly their proven commitment to engaging with young people with experience of mental health services and their determination to de-stigmatise mental health.”
In related news, the Young Minds Very Important Kids campaigning panel was recently awarded the Dianna Certificate of Excellence.
- 0 Comments
- 0 Ratings, Not yet rated
