June 2009 Archives

CBT video

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Spotted a video from the NHS explaining cognitive behavioural therapy.
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.
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."
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.

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.
There is apparently a row brewing over whether 18th century Scottish writer Robert Burns suffered from manic depression.
A student from UCLA in the US talks about happiness lessons in the video below.
Footballer turned actor Eric Cantona and director Ken Loach visited a Football Foundation funded project in east London last week.
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.
This is a story from the Plymouth Herald, illustrating the hazards facing social workers.
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.
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
I'll be very interested to see the results of this study in Vancouver and Montreal.
KeithS002small.jpg 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
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.
At least that's the impression coming from a story in The Times.
Is there a link between obsessive compulsive hoarding and the way computer gamers obsessively collect rewards and items in computer games?
Web-based cognitive behavioural therapy may hold out some hope for people suffering from insomnia, a story in Time suggests.
There's a really interesting and strongly-worded post on the Society of Local Authority Chief Executive's site.

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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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