Mental Health

Understanding borderline personality disorder

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:45:06 +0000

Personality disorders can affect many aspects of life, but one of the most common features is difficulty in relationships, whether with friends, romantic partners, or colleagues. In this video, Dr Angus McLellan explains that borderline personality disorder (BPD) often involves intense, rapidly changing emotions, challenges with anger, and difficul...

Gaming and men’s mental health: A double-edged sword

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:29:11 +0000

As Movember returns this November, conversations about men’s mental health need to take centre stage. While moustaches may grab attention, the real goal is sparking dialogue around issues too often left in the dark, like how modern pastimes impact wellbeing. One of the biggest? Video gaming. For many men, gaming isn’t just a hobby, it&r...

Choosing the right professional for trauma support

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:42:43 +0000

Finding the right professional to support you through trauma recovery is an important step. In this video, Dr Andrea Pickering explains that it’s best to seek out someone trained in trauma-focused therapies, such as CBT, trauma-focused CBT, or EMDR, and ideally with experience supporting many patients through similar challenges. Checking a th...

Unlocking productivity: Are rewards effective for self-motivation?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:35:39 +0000

A recent study found that bonuses in the workplace, while having the potential to boost productivity initially, can backfire - challenging a system many of us have seen as effective since childhood. So, when looking to achieve sustainable productivity, what do we know about the driving force of rewards, and what other options are there for motivati...

What do we know about the relationship between AI chatbots and psychosis?

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:32:37 +0100

Use of AI in everyday life is growing, with recent figures showing that 34% of adults use a chatbot at least once each month. 19% of those surveyed stated that they use a chatbot for advice, with 12% believing that AI would make a good therapist. Building on our recent blog about AI’s use in management of ADHD and other such conditions, we wa...

Experiences of black British people accessing mental health care: A disparity in treatment

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:39:16 +0100

With October being Black History Month, we wanted to take the time to highlight the experiences of black individuals when seeking healthcare in the UK. While there have been improvements historically, it would be a disservice to not raise awareness of ongoing inequality in healthcare settings for black British people. The NHS has highlighted reduci...

World Suicide Prevention Day: Changing the narrative - How to talk about suicide safely and supportively

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:03:54 +0100

Talking about the impact of poor mental health, especially topics as emotionally charged as suicide, may never feel particularly comfortable or natural for many of us. But, with suicide being the leading cause of death in men under the age of 50 and an increasing threat to 15–24-year-olds, we cannot responsibly shy away from the conversation ...

How climate change is impacting mental health

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:02:05 +0100

Many of us are increasingly aware, and concerned, about the impact of climate change on wildlife, our environment, and the planet as a whole. Predictions for the global impact of climate change if action is not taken can be anxiety inducing, especially as such a small percentage of emissions are created by UK households, which can make it hard for ...

Living with PTSD: How to support a loved one at home

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:17:35 +0100

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences a traumatic event. Symptoms can be long-lasting and may significantly affect everyday life, often involving intense fear, anxiety, or distress. In this video, Clinical Director Adrian Williams discusses the core types of PTSD behaviours&mda...

What are the signs of PTSD?

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:40:36 +0100

PTSD is a mental health condition that can affect how a person feels, thinks, and responds to everyday situations after a traumatic experience. This often occurs long after the event itself. Experiences can range from flashbacks and nightmares to ongoing anxiety, emotional numbness, or sudden anger. PTSD can affect anyone at any age. It isn't limit...

What is postnatal depression?

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:54:37 +0100

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that affects parents after having a baby. It can begin any time during the first year of having a baby. While it’s common to feel low or overwhelmed in the early days of parenthood, postnatal depression is more serious and long-lasting. It can impact day-to-day life, relationships, and bonding with...

Breaking the silence: Men's hidden struggle with muscle dysphoria

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:10:00 +0100

When discussing eating disorders or body image issues, men were previously vastly underrepresented in studies, making intervention a challenge. We’ve seen an increase in awareness of eating disorders impacting men, with 25 % of those with eating disorders identifying as male, but one common mental health crisis affecting many men still requir...

LGBTQ+ experiences of mental health: Why speech matters

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:03:24 +0100

The relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and mental health is one with a long history and, in our opinion, a long road ahead. While we see progress such as the Office for National Statistics releasing data linking sexual orientation with self-harm and suicide rates for the first time, we also continue to see shortcomings. One such example is M...

What is CBT and what does it stand for?

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:08:48 +0100

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of talking therapy. This therapy aims to help manage problems by changing thought and behavioural patterns. CBT is generally used to treat anxiety and depression. It can also be used to help with a range of mental health conditions, behavioural issues, and difficult emotional periods you may be experien...

Is there a link between neurodivergence and the LGBTQ+ community?

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:04:10 +0100

There has been an ongoing discussion on the overlap in neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ communities with studies aiming to give us better insight into the link. Is this link important and what can it do for the support made available to people within each group? As we observe Pride month, we explore the topic and as offer our insight into how it should in...

What is avoidant personality disorder?

Wed, 21 May 2025 09:46:33 +0100

Personality disorder affects how a person experiences emotions, how they relate to others, and how they see themselves and the world around them. These patterns can make it challenging to manage feelings and sustain healthy relationships—whether with family, friends, or colleagues. There are several types of personality disorder, each with th...

Menopause and mental health: Managing wellbeing through change

Wed, 14 May 2025 10:12:27 +0100

Menopause is a natural part of ageing for those who experience menstruation, yet surveys have shown that over 60% of those impacted by it felt they were uninformed, with over 30% stating that they were dreading it. Physical symptoms are often better known, yet the mental health impact cannot be ignored. In the above survey, most symptoms reported w...

How cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with trauma recovery

Wed, 07 May 2025 09:29:26 +0100

Trauma causes people to become stuck in a challenging experience. Their thoughts often remain focussed back to a difficult life event, which causes anxiety symptoms in the present. Talking therapy can play an important role in supporting patients to recover from trauma, helping them identify and understand their triggers and manage symptoms when th...

What is EMDR therapy and how can it help?

Fri, 02 May 2025 09:41:02 +0100

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is recognised as an effective treatment option for anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions. It can help people process and recover from traumatic memories through guided eye movement and talking therapy. EMDR was developed in the 1980s by Dr Francine Shapiro. This approach investigated how th...

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week: What you need to know

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:01:00 +0100

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week runs from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 of May in 2025 and is a dedicated campaign by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, that focuses on mental health before, during, and after pregnancy. While many people have heard of postnatal depression (PND) or baby blues, perinatal mental illnesses extend beyond this and in...