What police “picking up the pieces” of mental health services don’t tell you

Deaths of people suffering mental health crises in custody are going up. Click here to read New Statesman article

Suppressing Negative Feelings Around Kids May Be Wrong Advice

New research contradicts the commonplace advice to avoid showing conflict and strong negative emotions around one’s children. Read PsychCentral article here

Keep it complex: Study shows that previous research oversimplified Schizophrenia symptoms

 Negative symptoms in schizophrenia can be so disabling that they interfere with a person's ability to attend school, begin a fulfilling career, and even live independently. Click here to read article

Beware of evening stress

Stressful events in the evening release less of the body's stress hormones than those that happen in the morning, suggesting possible vulnerability to stress in the evening. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Video Chat Can Help Combat Depression in Seniors

A new study finds that of four online communication technologies, using video chat to connect with friends and family appeared to hold the most promise in staving off depression among seniors. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Childhood Trauma Linked to Later Psychotic Experiences

A new study from the U.K. has found greater evidence for a link between trauma in childhood and psychotic experiences by 18 years old. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Shared responsibility for health: the cultural change we need

In this long read we argue that one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS is cultural. Specifically, the relationship between the public and the NHS, and between patients and the staff who care for them, needs to be transformed. Click here for link to King's Fund blog

Mental Health May Benefit from Face-to-Face Social Contact – But Not Online

In-person social contact may help buffer against symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the same is not true of contact on Facebook, according to a new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Click here to read PsychCentral article

RCPSYCH response to the Zholia Alemi investigation

Read statement here

Using Skype to beat the blues

Researchers compared four different types of online communication technologies -- video chat, email, social networks and instant messaging -- used by people 60 and older and then gauged their symptoms of depression based on survey responses two years later. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Shooting Up: infections among people who inject drugs in the UK

This Public Health England report describes the extent of infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United Kingdom. Click here to government link

Prevention concordat for better mental health: consensus statement

Describes the consensus statement of the prevention concordat for better mental health and lists the signatories. Click here for government link to paper

Using Music as Sleep Aid

A new study shows that many individuals use music to fight sleep difficulties. Click here for PsychCentral article

LGBT in Britain: Health Report

Click here for link to report

Hundreds of Brummie kids 'devastated' at months of waiting before mental health treatment

Hundreds of Birmingham children face months of waiting before they are even contacted about starting mental health treatment. Click here for newspaper article

Frank Bruno to give mental health talk for Onside charity

Frank Bruno is coming to Droitwich to deliver a speech for a Worcester-based charity. Click here for news paper piece

Booking opens for Mental Health Network conference

Early bird booking is now open for the 2019 Mental Health Network Annual Conference and Exhibition, which will be held at the King’s Fund in London on 14 March 2019. Click here for details

New mental health campaign launched across the Midlands

Public Health England’s new Every Mind Matters campaign encourages adults in the Midlands to look after their mental health as they do their physical health. Click here for press release

People with severe mental illness experience worse physical health

A new Public Health England report shows people with severe mental illness (SMI) suffer worse physical health compared to the general population. Click here to read government report

Church to host mental health events

A HEREFORD city centre church will become the new home for Herefordshire Mind for a week, as the organisation celebrates its 40th anniversary. Read news article here

'Strongest evidence yet' that being obese causes depression

New research released today from the University of South Australia and University of Exeter in the UK has found the strongest evidence yet that obesity causes depression, even in the absence of other health problems. Click here for ScienceDaily article

RCPsych Awards 2018: winners announced

Find out who won and watch a video of this year's lifetime achievement award winner - click here

Cognitive Science Helps to Unravel the Power of Storytelling

The art of storytelling has ancient origins as humans have relied on it to engage, to share emotions and to relate personal experiences. Read PsychCentral article here

Diet Important for Woman’s Emotional Well-Being

New research suggests women need a more nutrient-rich diet to support a positive emotional well-being. Investigators used social media to discover that unlike men, women are less likely to experience mental well-being until a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are followed. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Safeguarding adults with dementia: top tips

Effective safeguarding and risk assessment depend on building relationships with the person with dementia. Click here for link to CommunityCare article

The window of opportunity to improve mental health is now open

The UK government has today announced that prevention will be an integral part of the NHS’s long term plan. The announcement brings a long-awaited focus on public health measures, which represent the most cost-effective ways to dramatically improve the overall health of the nation and reduce the demand on public services. Read BMJ blog here

Suicide Prevention

NICE are consulting on a quality standard which will cover ways to reduce suicide and help people bereaved or affected by suicides in community and custodial settings. Click here for King's Fund blog

Worcestershire wellbeing consultant says early intervention is key to mental health

The Worcester News and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have united for the Now We’re Talking campaign, to raise awareness of the county’s Healthy Minds service. Read newspaper article here

Prevention Is Better Than Cure: Our Vision To Help You Live Well For Longer

The document sets out the government’s vision for stopping health problems from arising in the first place and supporting people to manage their health problems when they do arise. Read King's Fund blog here

A Fair, Supportive Society: Summary Report

This report, commissioned by NHS England, highlights that some of the most vulnerable people in society – those with learning disabilities – will die 15-20 years sooner on average than the general population. Read King's Fund blog here

Bullying And Harassment: How To Address It And Create A Supportive And Inclusive Culture

The BMA began its bullying and harassment project in 2017 following doctors highlighting the impact that bullying and harassment had on the working lives and well-being of members, and growing evidence of how it harms patient care and safety. Click here to read King's Fund blog

Study: Most Psychoactive Drugs Taken During Pregnancy Do Not Increase Risk of Autism

New research finds that a mother’s use of antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs while pregnant does not place the baby at risk for autism. Read PsychCentral article here

Children who experience violence early in life develop faster

A study has shown that exposure to violence early in life -- such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse -- is associated with faster biological ageing, including pubertal development and a cellular metric of biological ageing called epigenetic age. Read ScienceDaily article here

Brain Imaging Shows How LSD Alters Perception

In a new study, researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland used brain imaging technology to investigate how LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide, or “acid”) appears to alter a healthy person’s perception of reality. Read PsychCentral article here

FREE access to The British Journal of Occupational Therapy during Occupational Therapy Week

Click here for details

Mental health leaders welcome first NHS strategy to tackle violence against staff

Mental health leaders have welcomed the Government’s announcement of the first ever NHS strategy to tackle violence against staff, saying it has the potential to ‘turbocharge’ existing efforts across the country. Read NHS Confederation report here

Budget 2018: £1bn real terms cut to wider health budget

The Health Foundation yesterday released analysis following the budget, which included calculations of what the budgets will be in the coming years for NHS England and the wider Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Read report here