Mad World: June 2009 Archives

CBT video

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 24, 2009 12:10 PM | No Comments

Spotted a video from the NHS explaining cognitive behavioural therapy.

Continue reading CBT video.

Are social work students leaving with the skills they need?

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 24, 2009 11:59 AM | 2 Comments

The Family Rights Group charity is warning that social work students are graduating without the skills they need to prevent another Baby P, according to the Standard.

Continue reading Are social work students leaving with the skills they need?.

Is social work in a permanent state of crisis?

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 22, 2009 4:52 PM | 5 Comments

It sometimes seems that way. A quick look at some of the headlines from local papers today reveals that in Nottingham, a social services chief has had to deny claims that "children are being put in danger because of staff shortages and poor IT."

Continue reading Is social work in a permanent state of crisis?.

Meditation, mindfulness and mental health

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 17, 2009 12:14 PM | 6 Comments

OK, I've decided to explore the use of meditation in tackling mental health problems. I've not managed to track down any experts, so I'm going to have to rely on that trusty font of all erroneous knowledge - the internet. (If you are a meditation and mental health expert - please get in touch!)

My curiosity was initially pricked by a recent survey, which suggested that brain chemistry, particularly in relation to stress, could be altered by meditation.

Continue reading Meditation, mindfulness and mental health.

Politically incorrect truths and the dangers of positive thinking

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 15, 2009 2:54 PM | No Comments

Here's a few interesting things I've found around the web today.

Firstly, here's a list of "politically incorrect truths about human nature", according to Psychology Today. To be honest, I didn't really find them that politically incorrect but I'm sure it boosted their traffic.

Continue reading Politically incorrect truths and the dangers of positive thinking.

Was Robert Burns a manic depressive?

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 15, 2009 12:00 PM | 1 Comment

There is apparently a row brewing over whether 18th century Scottish writer Robert Burns suffered from manic depression.

Continue reading Was Robert Burns a manic depressive?.

Teaching happiness: a story from the USA

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 10, 2009 12:24 PM | No Comments

A student from UCLA in the US talks about happiness lessons in the video below.

Continue reading Teaching happiness: a story from the USA.

Eric Cantona visits a London football project

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 8, 2009 3:30 PM | 2 Comments

Footballer turned actor Eric Cantona and director Ken Loach visited a Football Foundation funded project in east London last week.

Continue reading Eric Cantona visits a London football project.

Dr Liz Miller: the neurosurgeon who developed bipolar disorder

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 8, 2009 11:55 AM | No Comments

There's a good interview in the Telegraph, with Dr Liz Miller, a former neurosurgeon who was sectioned three times because of her bipolar disorder but has now recovered and is an occupational therapist.

Continue reading Dr Liz Miller: the neurosurgeon who developed bipolar disorder.

Dad's threat to kill social worker

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 8, 2009 11:44 AM | No Comments

This is a story from the Plymouth Herald, illustrating the hazards facing social workers.

Continue reading Dad's threat to kill social worker.

Mental health headlines from Royal College of Psychiatrists conference

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 5, 2009 2:24 PM | No Comments

OK, I'll stick to mental health news, following a very brief and very unsuccessful stint as a political commentator.

There's lots of news from the Royal College of Psychiatrists annual conference.

Continue reading Mental health headlines from Royal College of Psychiatrists conference.

Welcome John Denham as new health secretary.. or maybe not

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 5, 2009 11:51 AM | No Comments

I was pleased to see John Denham appointed as the new health secretary. I worked as a Parliamentary volunteer for him for a couple of months back in the mid-90s. Unfortunately, he was never actually appointed as health secretary at all - but for a brief moment on Friday morning the BBC ticker was reporting that he had.

Ah the beauty of attempting to cover events as they happen! Denham was in fact appointed to communities and local government. My comments below were based on the assumption that Denham was going to health - they were valid and accurate for about 5 minutes!

3.30pm update: It's actually Andy Burnham who is health secretary

Continue reading Welcome John Denham as new health secretary.. or maybe not.

Canada trials free heroin for addicts

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 5, 2009 11:43 AM | No Comments

I'll be very interested to see the results of this study in Vancouver and Montreal.

Continue reading Canada trials free heroin for addicts.

Crime and mental health service users

By Keith Sellick on June 5, 2009 11:24 AM | No Comments

by Keith Sellick

There is a discussion on Radio Four's All in the Mind this week about how the problems people with mental health problems encounter with the criminal justice system and police.

For example, contrary to media opinion, people with mental health problems are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators.

Also there is a discussion about training police to deal sensitively with people who have mental health problems with the UK police's first mental health liaison officer

Check it out it's the first 15 minutes

Anxiety, mindfulness and early-life stress

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on June 2, 2009 1:41 PM | No Comments

I'm going to chuck three separate items your way today.

Firstly, a family based programme helped reduce anxiety among children whose parents already suffered from the condition, according to research.

Continue reading Anxiety, mindfulness and early-life stress.