February 2009 Archives

For those following the proposed closure of Reading's social work course, there has been a positive development.
I'm very pleased to say that our petition calling on The Sun to offer more balanced coverage of social work issues has now reached 4,000 signatures.
Back to mental health issues. There's a new blog out there focusing on anxiety and OCD which I'm sure it will be worth a look. 
We discovered yesterday that The Sun had been shortlisted for a Press Gazette journalism award for its Baby P campaign.
We've just learned that the Sun has been shortlisted for campaign of the year at the Press Gazette annual journalism awards, for its Baby P coverage.
There has been much coverage in the media this week about the potential mental health dangers of spending too much time on Facebook or other social media, instead of interacting with people in the physical world.
Ok - it seems to me there aren't that many novels featuring social workers as primary characters, so when I find one I like to highlight it. Especially one that has had a good review.
Here are some uncharacteristically earthy things I've noticed on the web today.

First up, on the excellently named Tomatoes for Health blog, check out article number 2 citing research which found that bacteria found in soil may act in a similar way to serotonin in the brain.
Those with long memories might recall the media storm that accompanied the story of the Nottingham baby taken from her mother by social services without the proper legal authority.
The argument about the origins of schizophrenia and other mental health conditions is a topic of much debate, which I've mentioned before. Do they originate in childhood trauma, genes or a combination of both? 
An ingredient in licourice could one day form the basis of treating cocaine addiction.
Former MP and social worker Hilton Dawson was unveiled as the new chief exec of the British Association of Social Workers today. I think he's got a fair bit on his plate.
This is the unlikely subject of a study by a Dutch-born academic. And it's not as silly as it sounds.
Football players are not necessarily happy with their physique, according to new research.
Pretty amazing story today in New Scientist about a treatment which can apparently break the link between a memory and feelings of anxiety about it. 
It seems the University of Reading is recommending that its department of health and social care, which trains social workers, should close in September 2011.
Here's something from The Onion, which I like but is not as good as The Day Today, the original and best news spoof.
Social care workers often complain about the quality of management and there's an interesting article in Time which might shed some light on management and leadership in general.
Scientists have come up with a new way to potentially detect markers for schizophrenia in the brain before symptoms manifest themselves.
Here is a video of Alastair Campbell talking about great figures from history who have had mental health problems as part of the Time to Change campaign.
There is an opinion piece in The Times written by the relative of someone who has schizophrenia, who criticises the Time to Change campaign for suggesting that all mental health conditions are the same. 
Thanks to Mind Hacks for pointing out a series of programmes on Radio 4 about the history of psychiatry. 
Ok, this isn't exactly rocket science but I thought I'd hit you with it anyway. Spending your hard earned pesos on experiences rather than items will make you happier, research suggests
Cognitive training can change the biochemistry of the brain, researchers have found. 
Community Care has launched an e-petition calling on The Sun newspaper to stop scapegoating social workers and use its significant resources to back them instead and improve the quality of child protection as a result.
This appears to be the finding of a new study reported in Scientific American.

Horizon on cannabis

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KeithS002small.jpg By Keith Sellick

Horizon took a toke on the great cannabis debate recently.

And it came out in favour of its medicinal properties but for keeping it out of the way of the young
I found this picture of an iPhone cake at Munch cafe in Sutton, Surrey.
The Archives of General Psychiatry report a link between media use in adolescence and later depression. 
A new study challenges the oft-held view that mental illness alone is predictor of violence.
On the day sno-mageddon hit the UK (well some of it at least) here are some research bits that have nothing to do with snow.

Researchers have found a link between adolescent smoking and adult depressions in rats and believe it may also apply to humans. 

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Mad World highlights the latest research, policy and debate about all things mental health along with some social work stuff and the odd piece of random nonsense, just to keep you on your toes.

It is written by community editor Simeon Brody.

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