People with dementia should be offered activities that can help promote wellbeing

People living with dementia should be offered activities such as exercise, aromatherapy, art, gardening, baking, reminiscence therapy, music therapy, mindfulness and animal assisted therapy to help promote their wellbeing. Read NICE news piece here

Boosting amino acid derivative may be a treatment for schizophrenia

Many psychiatric drugs act on the receptors or transporters of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. However, there is a great need for alternatives, and research is looking at other targets along the brain's metabolic pathways. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Ignoring the Alarms follow-up: Too many avoidable deaths from eating disorders

Inquiry found a serious lack of training for doctors about eating disorders and recommend that GMC use its influence to ensure medical schools improve outcomes in relation to eating disorders. There was also lack of precise information about prevalence of eating disorders. Click here to read report

The High Security Psychiatric Services (Arrangements For Safety And Security) Directions 2019

These directions apply to providers of high security psychiatric services. They set out the requirements for providers to make sure they have robust arrangements for safety and security. Click here to read Department of Health and Social Care directions

Here's why leaders need to care about mental health

‘Mental health’ can mean a lot of things, depending on who you talk to. Many people confuse mental health – which is a positive state, like physical health – with mental ill-health. Read World Economic Forum piece here

Health Professionals Need to Be Cautious on Social Media

For health professionals on social media, posting just one negative comment in frustration may harm their credibility with current or potential clients. Read PsychCentral article here

NHS England singles out failing mental health trusts

Ten mental health trusts have been singled out by NHS England for dragging down the national performance on mental health out of area placements, HSJ has learned. Click here to read news piece.

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Webinar for Nurses - How to Use the ASQ to Detect Patients at Risk for Suicide

Click here to access webinar from National Institute of Mental Health

Do you know the driving status of all your clients? And if not, why not?

These were the direct questions posed by Sherrie Buckley, from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, in a session on the current knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and practice of occupational therapists in Northern Ireland when it comes to driving and depression. Click here to read RCOT article

Adult obesity: applying All Our Health

Evidence and guidance for healthcare professionals, to help people change their eating and activity habits. Click here to read government page

Social prescribing: applying All Our Health

Information and guidance for health and care professionals on how to promote social prescribing in their practice. Click here for government link

WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES SURROUNDING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH?

The Centre for Transport Studies at University College London (UCL) carried out an online survey of people with mental health conditions in order to establish the difficulties that people with mental health conditions have when travelling and to identify ways in which these can be overcome. Click here to read newspaper article

Many over 55s feel negative about their body image new Mental Health Foundation survey finds

Many over 55s have feelings of negativity and anxiety about the way their body looks according to a new online survey published today by the Mental Health Foundation.  Click here to read article

Night owls can 'retrain' their body clocks to improve mental well-being and performance

A simple tweak to the sleeping patterns of 'night owls' -- people with extreme late sleeping and waking habits -- could lead to significant improvements in sleep/wake timings, improved performance in the mornings, better eating habits and a decrease in depression and stress. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

NHS plan jeopardised by unfinished business on funding and rising demand

Delivering the ambitious vision of improved care for patients set out in the new NHS Long Term Plan plan will be extremely challenging without urgent government action on wider health funding, warn the Health Foundation and NHS Confederation. Click here to read NHS Confederation news piece

How chronic inflammation may drive down dopamine and motivation

A new computational method will allow scientists to measure the effects of chronic inflammation on energy availability and effort-based decision-making. The method may yield insights into how chronic, low-grade inflammation contributes to motivational impairments in some cases of depression, schizophrenia and other medical disorders.  Click here to read further.

Weak upper and lower body physical performance associated with depression and anxiety

Physical fitness is associated with a number of key health outcomes, including heart disease, cognition, mortality, and an overall feeling of well-being. A new study now links physical performance with mental health and emotions, suggesting that weak upper and lower body fitness can cause more serious depression and anxiety in midlife women.  Click here to read further.

Predicting post-injury depression and PTSD risk

Addressing the psychological effects of injury can improve health and reduce the negative outcomes of injury. Yet, in a national survey, only 7% of trauma centers incorporate routine screening for PTSD symptoms.  Click here to read further.