Postnatal depression could be linked to fewer daylight hours during late pregnancy

Women in late pregnancy during darker months of the year may have a greater risk of developing postpartum depression once their babies are born. This is consistent with what is known about the relationship between exposure to natural light and depression among adults in the general population.Click here to view ScienceDaily article

Severe mental illness (SMI): physical health inequalities

Comparing physical health conditions between people with SMI and the general population by age, sex and deprivation using primary care data. Click here for government statistics

Worcester film showing raised £250 for mental health charity, Mind

Fred Hanbury, 24, had his film ‘Bits and Pieces' premiered at the ODEON, in Worcester, raising over £250 for Mind - a mental health charity. It was inspired after digging deep into his past and recognising the link between mental health issues and social media, after a class peer took his own life. Click here for newspaper article

RCPsych eNewsletter September 2018

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Even Mild Physical Activity May Boost Memory

New research suggests that even light workouts can improve brain function. Indeed, modest yoga exercises or tai chi may help with memory tasks such as remembering where you left the keys. Click here for PsychCentral article

All The Lonely People: Loneliness In Later Life

This report presents new evidence about what Age UK knows about loneliness amongst people aged 50 and over, what increases the chances of people experiencing loneliness and how best to help those older people who are persistently lonely. Click here for King's Fund blog

Brain Region Involved with Stress Bigger in Those Depressed or Bipolar

A new study reveals that in people who are depressed or have bipolar disorder, the left hypothalamus was on average 5 percent larger than that of their healthy counterparts. Click here for PsychCentral article

Performing Acts of Kindness Can Reduce Depression in Disagreeable People

When people who are prone to hostility make an effort to engage in acts of kindness toward their close loved ones, it can significantly reduce their depression, according to new research published in the journal, Translational Issues in Psychological Science. Read PsychCentral article here

Boosting emotional intelligence in physicians can protect against burnout

An educational curriculum for resident physicians improves their emotional intelligence, which may help protect against burnout, according to a new study. Click here for ScienceDaily article

World Alzheimer Report 2018: The State Of The Art Of Dementia Research: New Frontiers

This report looks at a broad cross section of research areas including basic science; diagnosis; drug discovery; risk reduction and epidemiology. With the continued absence of a disease modifying treatment, the report also features progress, innovation and developments in care research. It highlights an urgent need for increased and sustainable funding for dementia research.Read King's Fund blog here

Study Finds You Can Handle The Truth, After All

New research from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business explores the consequences of honesty in everyday life and finds that people can often afford to be more honest than they think. Click here for PsychCentral article

Seeing Yourself as Busy Can Bolster Self-Control

In a new study, researchers from the global business school INSEAD find that although busyness is often thought of as a modern-day affliction, it can help delay gratification and provide long-term benefits. Read PsychCentral article here

Social media impacts on young people’s wellbeing need to be better understood, says Centre for Mental Health

Social media interact with young people’s mental health and wellbeing in many ways that need to be better understood if we are to help young people to navigate the challenges of twenty-first century life, according to a briefing published today by Centre for Mental Health. Click here for article

Researchers find children experience concussion symptoms three times longer than adults

Parents should be aware that significant changes in concussion treatment have emerged in recent years. Primarily, there has been a major shift to promoting active recovery -- including a quick return to social, academic, and athletic activities, as well as specialized rehabilitation.  Read ScienceDaily article here

Long term NHS funding plan welcome but not enough to bring about equality for mental health

“The Prime Minister’s pledge of a long term funding settlement for the NHS and her call for improved mental health services as a priority are both much needed and very welcome. But they are not enough to bring about the transformation we need to tackle the injustices and inequalities that affect too many people’s mental health,” Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sarah Hughes said today. Click here for more details

World Occupational Therapy Day - 27 October 2018

The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) has launched promotional materials for World Occupational Therapy Day, which is on 27 October 2018. The theme for this year’s event is 'Celebrating Our Global Community. Click here for details

One in four older adults prescribed a benzodiazepine goes on to risky long-term use

They may start as well-intentioned efforts to calm anxiety, improve sleep or ease depression. But prescriptions for sedatives known as benzodiazepines may lead to long-term use among one in four older adults who receive them, according to new research.  Read ScienceDaily article here

Sexual Safety On Mental Health Wards

This report calls for new national guidance to improve the sexual safety of people and staff on mental health wards, following analysis of how mental health trusts in England report sexual incidents.  Click here to read King's Fund blog

Mental health issues in young people up sixfold in England since 1995

Six times more children and young people in England have mental health conditions than a generation ago, research has revealed. Read newspaper article here

Nine free apps for mental health

If you suffer from a mental illness like depression or anxiety, know that you are not alone: In a given year, about one in five US adults – or 43.8 million – experience mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. But there is hope, and help. Click here to read newspaper article

New CQC survey finds that people with mental health difficulties have poorer than average hospital experience

Today’s survey from CQC once again demonstrates that people with mental health difficulties have poorer than average experiences of being in hospital. This is despite the fact that they have higher levels of physical ill health and a 15-20 year shorter life expectancy. We must ensure that no one is treated less well because they have a mental health problem, including in A&E. Click here for Centre For Mental Health article

Mental Health at Work

Whether you work with 10 people, 10,000 people or just yourself, paying attention to mental health in the workplace has never been more important. Mental Health at Work is here to help you find the information and resources you need. Click here for link

Perception of Support Helps People Cope with Worries

Perceiving that a partner is providing support when one is worried and stressed can have a powerful effect. In fact, the perception that someone cares may be more important that receiving actual support. Moreover, the perception of support may have physical and mental benefits as sleep and health may both be improved. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Kate Granger Awards recognise inspirational healthcare staff and volunteers spanning 70 years of the NHS

A nurse who started training in 1948 is among the inspirational people and teams receiving special recognition for their dedicated services to the NHS spanning seven decades.
This year’s Kate Granger Compassionate Care Awards, announced at the 2018 Health and Innovation Expo at Manchester Central, were given to individuals, teams and organisations who demonstrate outstanding care for their patients. Click here for full details

Brain function impacts how experiences contribute to depression

A study in adolescent girls reports that recent life events impact depressive symptoms differently, depending on how the brain responds to winning and losing. A strong brain response to winning boosted the beneficial impact of positive experiences on symptoms, whereas a strong response to losing enhanced the detrimental impact of negative experiences on symptoms. Read ScienceDaily article here

My vision for a more tech-driven NHS

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock's speech at NHS Expo 2018 - All around us, a new generation of technology is changing all of our lives. From the mundane but useful, like the ubiquity of satnavs that stop family arguments and warn us of traffic jams, to the profound and extraordinary, like the ability of genomics to design drugs for each individual. Click here for full speech

Better help needed from prison to work, says Centre for Mental Health report

Prisoners with mental health difficulties need better help following release from both health and probation services, according to a report published today by Centre for Mental Health. Read article here

First-ever guidelines for detecting, treating perimenopausal depression

Clinicians and scientists have published the first-ever guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression simultaneously in the journal Menopause and the Journal of Women's Health. Read ScienceDaily article here

NMC launches new approach to resolving complaints about nurses and midwives

We’re putting people at the centre of fitness to practise. This week we’ve begun introducing a new approach to resolving complaints about nurses and midwives. Read news piece from NMC here

Stroke Can Double Risk of Dementia

People who have had a stroke are twice as likely to develop dementia, according to a new study. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Forecasting The Care Needs Of The Older Population In England Over The Next 20 Years

This study estimates that in the next 20 years, the English population aged 65 years or over will see increases in the number of individuals who are independent but also in those with complex care needs. This increase is due to more individuals reaching 85 years or older who have higher levels of dependency, dementia, and comorbidity. Click here to read King's Fund blog