A mental health manifesto: five things that need to change
In the UK today, up to a quarter of us will have some kind of mental health problem in any given year. Yet for children and adults alike, only a minority ever receive any help for it. As the issue rises up the political agenda and the general election draws nearer, we asked the Centre for Mental Health to create a manifesto to improve the nation’s mental health. (The Guardian)
A global depression-fighting strategy that could go viral
Depression is the most important thief of productive life for women around the world, and the second-most important for men. We sometimes imagine it is a first-world problem, but depression is just as widespread, if not more so, in poor countries, where there is a good deal more to be depressed about. And it is more debilitating, as a vast majority of sufferers have no safety net. Health care for all must include mental health care. It’s hard to believe but both Liberia and Sierra Leone have only a single psychiatrist. (The New York Times)
The ‘Skype therapy illusion' and the myth of functional equivalence
Psychotherapy at a distance holds out a shimmering promise; care for whoever needs it regardless of where they are. This is good news for people as different as depressed farmers in under-served rural areas, high-flying road warriors rarely in the same place week to week, NGO-workers on foreign assignment, and even ex-pats encountering linguistic or cultural obstacles to accessing care. For all of them, and others, tools like Skype promise access to at least some psychological care. But there is a potentially dangerous sleight of hand—the Skype therapy illusion—in how many who routinely offer such screen relations based treatment talk about the care they endeavor to provide. Consequently, the opportunism of some just may undermine the promise for many. (Forbes)
Elefriends: the social network for the mental health community
A “pull your socks up type response” was one of the reasons behind the launch of Elefriends, a social network launched and managed by the charity Mind, says their Digital Community Manager Eve Critchley. Since February 2013, 20,000 people have joined Elefriends, mostly within England and Wales. The users are 75% female, with the most interest from 18-25 year olds, although many users are much older. “It has definitely grown quicker than we expected,” says Critchley. “This is a space where you can be yourself. People feel under social pressure to be positive on Facebook. Elefriends shows that there are a lot of people out there who simply need to talk.” (The Guardian)
Historical abuse victims ‘face counselling delay’
Victims of historical sexual abuse are facing long delays in the wait for counselling, a support group has claimed. BBC Wales has learned that the number of people contacting three of the four Welsh police forces with such complaints rose more than 50% between 2011 and 2013. Charities say high profile cases have prompted so many people to come forward with claims of abuse that services to help them are being badly stretched. (BBC News)
A road to mental health through the kitchen
Many cooks know what a sanctuary the kitchen can be. Now, some health-care clinics and counselors are using cooking or baking as therapy tools for people suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental-health problems.
The courses are often partly aimed at teaching healthy cooking and eating skills to people living tough, chaotic lives. Counselors say the classes also soothe stress, build self-esteem and curb negative thinking by focusing the mind on following a recipe. Often the courses are part of a larger treatment plan that can also including talk therapy or medication. (Wall Street Journal)
• Meanwhile, a “Shrine Cafe” opens in Tokyo, offering fortune-telling and counseling services with your tea. All of the staff members are professional and fully qualified Shinto priests, counselors, or fortune tellers. (RocketNews24)
In the UK today, up to a quarter of us will have some kind of mental health problem in any given year. Yet for children and adults alike, only a minority ever receive any help for it. As the issue rises up the political agenda and the general election draws nearer, we asked the Centre for Mental Health to create a manifesto to improve the nation’s mental health. (The Guardian)
A global depression-fighting strategy that could go viral
Depression is the most important thief of productive life for women around the world, and the second-most important for men. We sometimes imagine it is a first-world problem, but depression is just as widespread, if not more so, in poor countries, where there is a good deal more to be depressed about. And it is more debilitating, as a vast majority of sufferers have no safety net. Health care for all must include mental health care. It’s hard to believe but both Liberia and Sierra Leone have only a single psychiatrist. (The New York Times)
The ‘Skype therapy illusion' and the myth of functional equivalence
Psychotherapy at a distance holds out a shimmering promise; care for whoever needs it regardless of where they are. This is good news for people as different as depressed farmers in under-served rural areas, high-flying road warriors rarely in the same place week to week, NGO-workers on foreign assignment, and even ex-pats encountering linguistic or cultural obstacles to accessing care. For all of them, and others, tools like Skype promise access to at least some psychological care. But there is a potentially dangerous sleight of hand—the Skype therapy illusion—in how many who routinely offer such screen relations based treatment talk about the care they endeavor to provide. Consequently, the opportunism of some just may undermine the promise for many. (Forbes)
Elefriends: the social network for the mental health community
A “pull your socks up type response” was one of the reasons behind the launch of Elefriends, a social network launched and managed by the charity Mind, says their Digital Community Manager Eve Critchley. Since February 2013, 20,000 people have joined Elefriends, mostly within England and Wales. The users are 75% female, with the most interest from 18-25 year olds, although many users are much older. “It has definitely grown quicker than we expected,” says Critchley. “This is a space where you can be yourself. People feel under social pressure to be positive on Facebook. Elefriends shows that there are a lot of people out there who simply need to talk.” (The Guardian)
Historical abuse victims ‘face counselling delay’
Victims of historical sexual abuse are facing long delays in the wait for counselling, a support group has claimed. BBC Wales has learned that the number of people contacting three of the four Welsh police forces with such complaints rose more than 50% between 2011 and 2013. Charities say high profile cases have prompted so many people to come forward with claims of abuse that services to help them are being badly stretched. (BBC News)
A road to mental health through the kitchen
Many cooks know what a sanctuary the kitchen can be. Now, some health-care clinics and counselors are using cooking or baking as therapy tools for people suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental-health problems.
The courses are often partly aimed at teaching healthy cooking and eating skills to people living tough, chaotic lives. Counselors say the classes also soothe stress, build self-esteem and curb negative thinking by focusing the mind on following a recipe. Often the courses are part of a larger treatment plan that can also including talk therapy or medication. (Wall Street Journal)
• Meanwhile, a “Shrine Cafe” opens in Tokyo, offering fortune-telling and counseling services with your tea. All of the staff members are professional and fully qualified Shinto priests, counselors, or fortune tellers. (RocketNews24)
