Older people’s hospital admissions in the last year of life

Number of admissions and length of stay in hospital amongst people aged 75 years and older in England in 2017, by age, sex, cause of death. Click here to see government statistics

When and How to End Antidepressant Treatment And Avoid Withdrawal Symptoms

Many experts are now recommending that individuals who have taken antidepressants for years should consider coming off the medication, if symptoms have been resolved.
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We Need To Pay Better Attention To Loved Ones' Mental Health

Demi Lovato's latest words are a reminder that just telling a loved one to reach out for help isn't enough. Click here to read HuffPost article

Connection with Nature Important for Health

Emerging research suggests reconnecting with nature could be key to improving individual health. Investigators report that individuals who visit natural spaces weekly and feel psychologically connected to them report better physical and mental well-being. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Mental Health Foundation publishes major new report on social inequalities and mental health problems

The Mental Health Foundation today launched its briefing paper: Tackling social inequalities to reduce mental health problems: How everyone can flourish equally. Click here to access report

Stretched staff doing their best to provide great care but mental health services need more staff and modern facilities

Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, responds to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report on NHS mental health services. Read NHS Confederation news piece here

Staff survey: Best and worst for mental health

Staff working for mental health and learning disability providers remain the least likely to say they are happy with the standard of care offered by their organisation – although there has been a slight improvement. Read HSJ summary here

NHS staff morale improves but too many facing abuse

NHS staff say they are now happier and more likely to recommend their organisation as a place to work than last year, but too many still experience unacceptable abuse from patients and the public. Read NHS news piece here

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2018/19

The findings detailed in this report include the fact that services must apply human rights principles and frameworks, and that their impact on people should be continuously reviewed to make sure people are protected and respected. Click here to read CQC report

Sitting still linked to increased risk of depression in adolescents

Too much time sitting still -- sedentary behaviour -- is linked to an increased risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents, finds a new UCL-led study.

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Health matters: rough sleeping

A professional resource for local authorities and commissioners on preventing and ending rough sleeping. Click here for government guidance

AI, brain scans may alter how doctors treat depression

Artificial intelligence may soon play a critical role in choosing which depression therapy is best for patients. Read ScienceDaily article here

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy connected to elevated risk of ADHD

The risk of ADHD was 34 percent higher in children whose mother had a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy than in those children whose mother's vitamin D level was sufficient during the first and second trimesters. The result was adjusted for maternal age, socioeconomic status and psychiatric history. Read ScienceDaily article here

‘Overwhelming and terrifying’: the rise of climate anxiety

Experts concerned young people’s mental health particularly hit by reality of the climate crisis. Read national news piece here

County's hospitals and mental health wards given clean bill of health

THE county’s community hospitals and mental health wards have been given a clean bill of health following a recent environmental inspection. Read local news piece here

The state of children's mental health services

This report gives an overview of the provision of Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) in England. The briefing also looks ahead to assess whether current government plans go far enough to meet demand. Click here for report

New online therapy for lingering depression symptoms could fill important gap in care

An online version of a pioneering therapy aimed at reducing the lingering symptoms of depression can offer additional benefits for patients receiving care, according to a new U of T Scarborough study. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

CQC finds more focus on human rights needed by healthcare services when using the Mental Health Act

Services need to improve how they provide care and treatment for people detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA) in a way that respects their human rights, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found. Read CQC report here

What does your internal monologue say about your mental health?

Psychologists the world over were likely exchanging virtual knowing glances a couple of days ago when a thread about the universal existence of inner monologues popped off on Twitter. Read MIC blog here

General Anesthesia During Childbirth May be Risk Factor for Depression

New research suggests having general anesthesia in a cesarean delivery is linked with significantly increased odds of a variety of mental health concerns.
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Behavioural insights: public health

An overview of how behavioural insights are used to improve public health in England. Read government collection here

Children's mental health is effected by sleep duration

Depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior and poor cognitive performance in children is effected by the amount of sleep they have researchers have found. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Palliative and end of life care profiles: February 2020 data update

The profiles provide an overview of palliative and end of life care in England at various geographies. Click here for government statistics

Adoptees Have Slightly Higher Genetic Risk for Mental Illness

Adopted children have an increased risk for depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. Research has primarily attributed this to stressful early childhoods, but a new study finds that genetics also plays a role. Read PsychCentral article here

Building resilience: how local partnerships are supporting children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Too many children and young people nationally do not receive the support they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this research, commissioned from Isos Partnership, is to explore some of the factors which are contributing to this nationally challenging context. Read King's Fund blog and report here

NHS operational planning and contracting guidance 2020/21

This guidance covers system planning, full operational plan requirements, details of workforce transformation requirements, the financial settlement and the process and timescales around the submission of plans that the NHS must plan to do during 2020/21. Click here for NHS guidance