April 2008 Archives

Is happiness wanting what you have or having what you want? This question has been tackled in a scientific test apparently.

Here's a round up of a few mental healthy type things.

Sensory integration therapy has had some promising results in children with autism, according to a study.

There's an interesting story in New Scientist about research linking geomagnetism in the earth and suicide rates.

Just a very quick thought about Gordon Brown and the 10p tax "affair".

Henderson Hospital is expected to close today. Community Care has reported that residents face a "shambolic transfer" to alternative placements.

By Keith Sellick

Last week, I posted about TV's Am I Normal, which looked at addictions such as drugs and alcohol but also computer gaming and gambling. Radio Four is also covering the subject with the Chemistry of Addiction series.

By Keith Sellick

About 10 years ago I had a very understanding employer: came in late, and
worked late, sometimes being the last to leave (they were that trusting).
One evening I finished a job at about 10pm and then started playing on the
computer Sid Meier’s Civilization. I was still playing when the rest of the
staff arrived in the morning.

It seems service users at the Henderson Hospital in Surrey are understandably feeling "in limbo" as they wait for the personality disorder unit to close.

By Derren Hayes

An interesting, if somewhat unexpected, twist in the unfortunate tale of former footballer Paul Gascoigne's mental health problems occured this week with an offer of help from another fallen sporting star, the one-time boxing heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson.

Cities and towns across the country are preparing to go wild in celebration of World Social Work Day later today. Street carnivals, rock concerts and a massive firework display are expected to keep revellers partying long into the night.

There's a lively discussion going on in the Freakonomics blog about how much progress psychology and psychiatry have made in the last century.

Spending time on a farm looking after animals can help your mental health, according to a new survey.

There's lots of coverage of the tragic case of Lancashire social worker Philip Ellison. The Lancashire Evening Post leads on the tributes paid to a "respected, dedicated social worker".

Some people insist the Sunday Times is the best Sunday paper. I'm not convinced. It's certainly the biggest. In truth I'm heartily sick of most newspapers. Having said all that, there are some interesting words by AA Gill on mental illness in this week's Sunday Times.

I've just been involved in putting together a new social care podcast.

There's a great discussion on CareSpace about whether and how former service users should be able to work in social care and mental health services.

New research to be presented at the British Psychological Society annual conference "kills off" the link between online gaming and violence.

There was a good programme on BBC2 last night about the possible benefits of meditation to mental health.

by Mike McNabb
Two groups of people dominate our pavements: those whose mobile phones appear to be glued to their ears; and everyone else. It seems this second group can be split into two sub-groups: those who have nomophobia and those who do not.