Reforming Mental Health Act a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’

A leading mental health charity has called the new government’s pledge to reform the Mental Health Act a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.” Responding to the King’s Speech, national charity Mind said that plans announced within it to modernise the Mental Health Act 1983 were “a welcome first step in tackling the nation’s mental health crisis.” The...

Talk to us: annual campaign for mental health support

Talk to Us is an annual awareness campaign run by the Samaritans throughout July. Samaritans Awareness Day falls on the 24th July (24/7) each year to highlight the fact that the national charity helpline is there to listen to anyone who is struggling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the year....

CQC community mental health survey finds poor care

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently published the results of its 2023 Community Mental Health Survey, which revealed that people’s experiences of community mental health services are generally poor. The watchdog says that the survey, which received feedback from 14,770 people who received treatment for a mental health condition between 1st April and 31st...

Mental Health Awareness Week: move for your mental health

Mental Health Awareness Week is observed from 13th to 19th May 2024 in the UK and the theme for this year is movement – moving more for our mental health. The Mental Health Foundation, which set the theme, says that movement is vital for our mental health and emotional wellbeing, but they acknowledge that...

Time to Talk Day: start a conversation about mental health

Thursday 1st February 2024 is Time to Talk Day, when everyone is encouraged to have a conversation about mental health. Spearheaded by leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with Co-op, Time to Talk Day encourages friends, families, colleagues and communities to come together to talk, listen and make positive...

Blue Monday? Let’s embrace a happy and healthy start to 2024

We’re fast approaching the fabled ‘Blue Monday’ – the so-called most depressing day of the year. But it doesn’t have to be as gloomy as prescribed; we’ve got a few tips for helping to boost your mood at this time of year and get 2024 off to a happy, healthy start. The third Monday...

Mental health at work: will support be more widespread in 2024?

The last few years have seen significant strides made in the sphere of mental health at work. But will 2024 be the year that comprehensive workplace mental health support becomes more commonplace? As we bid the previous year goodbye and move into 2024, the Covid-19 pandemic, national lockdowns and enforced working from home fade...

NHS England launches first anti-racism framework

NHS England has published its first ever anti-racism framework to improve experiences of care for racialised and ethnically and culturally diverse communities. The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) was launched on Monday 30th October 2023 and is specifically aimed at supporting mental health trusts and providers to tackle systemic racism, become actively...

Childline: Over 100,000 children seek mental health help

Data released by the NSPCC reveals that over 100,000 children contacted Childline last year for help with mental health struggles. The confidential charity helpline delivered more than 105,000 counselling sessions on mental health and emotional wellbeing between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023 – over half of the total number of counselling sessions...

World Mental Health Day focuses on the right to good mental health

It’s World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10th October 2023, and this year the global campaign will also mark the 75th anniversary of the organisation that founded it, the World Federation for Mental Health. Chosen through a global public vote, the official theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health is...

Pupil mental health and teacher welfare a key concern for parents

A new survey has found there are high levels of parental concern about pupil mental health and teacher welfare in Britain’s schools. The Ipsos survey focused on attitudes to education in Britain and how well people rate the quality of the nation’s schools, colleges and universities. Over 2,200 British adults aged 18 or over...

Talk to us: campaign raises awareness of suicide support

Talk to Us is an annual awareness campaign run by the Samaritans throughout July. Samaritans Awareness Day falls on the 24th July (24/7) each year to highlight the fact that the national charity helpline is there to listen to people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the year. The Talk to...

Child mental health referrals up 39% after ‘difficult’ year

Referrals for child mental health services have risen by 39% in England in just one year, official data has revealed. NHS referrals for mental health treatment for under-18s increased to more than 1.1 million during 2021-22, compared to 839,570 in 2020-21, and 850,741 in 2019-20. The figures – branded “alarming” by the NSPCC –...

New campaign to improve public mental health

The government has launched a new campaign to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the general public. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which was only officially launched on 1st October 2021, has initiated its first campaign as part of the government’s mission to tackle health problems at an earlier stage....

IOSH shares workplace strategies to prevent suicide

As World Suicide Prevention Day was observed earlier this month, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) shared workplace strategies to support people’s mental health and prevent suicide. The world’s largest occupational health and safety body said that the Covid-19 pandemic had negatively impacted the mental health and wellbeing of people across the...