The UK Government will announce plans this week to introduce counselling care of the job centre in an attempt to get people back to work, reports The Guardian (4 December 2009).
With six million adults in the UK suffering from depression and anxiety, the initiative will use therapy (predominantly CBT) to get people off incapacity benefit and back into paid employment.
Those referred to CBT clinics will receive eight sessions. Approximately 40% of long-term sickness benefit are diagnosed with depression.
For more stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health, please visit TherapyMe.com and click on In the News.
Sunday 6 December 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
News: Divorcing couples to be offered counselling on the NHS - The Observer
Couples that hit the rocks may be offered free counselling on the NHS the UK Health Secretary Andy Burnham will announce this week reports The Observer (22 November 2009).
Burnham comments: "Trouble at home can lead to depression and anxiety. Sometimes even children can be caught up in the fallout. When couples hit a rocky patch, a bit of help and support can stop it spiralling out of control. Professional support can help people rebuild relationships or separate amicably."
The NHS counselling will be launched in April 2010 as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme that aims to get people back to work.
For more stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health please visit the news blog on TherapyMe.com.
Burnham comments: "Trouble at home can lead to depression and anxiety. Sometimes even children can be caught up in the fallout. When couples hit a rocky patch, a bit of help and support can stop it spiralling out of control. Professional support can help people rebuild relationships or separate amicably."
The NHS counselling will be launched in April 2010 as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme that aims to get people back to work.
For more stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health please visit the news blog on TherapyMe.com.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
News: Depression 'can double chances of becoming obese' - Telegraph
People who suffer from anxiety or depression are 33% more likely to become obese according to research published in the British Medical Journal today, reports the Telegraph (7 October 2009). The research was conducted by University College London.
More news about psychotherapy, counselling and mental health at www.therapyme.com.
More news about psychotherapy, counselling and mental health at www.therapyme.com.
Thursday 1 October 2009
News: Daily sweets 'linked to violence' - BBC News
Can eating sweets make you sour? Research from Cardiff University suggests a link between eating sweets daily as a child and violent crime in later life, as reported by BBC News (30 September 2009).
The UK study examined data of 17,500 people and found that 69% of people who were violent at the age of 34 had eaten confectionery on a daily basis during childhood.
Researcher Dr Simon Moore led the study: "Our favoured explanation is that giving children sweets and chocolate regularly may stop them learning how to wait to obtain something they want.
"Not being able to defer gratification may push them towards more impulsive behaviour, which is strongly associated with delinquency. Targeting resources at improving children's diet may improve health and reduce aggression. We are fairly confident that this is a realistic relationship - the key is explaining what the mechanism is behind this relationship. We think that rewarding bad behaviour in childhood with confectionary can lead to later problems but we need to look at this more closely."
More news about psychotherapy, counselling and mental health at www.therapyme.com.
The UK study examined data of 17,500 people and found that 69% of people who were violent at the age of 34 had eaten confectionery on a daily basis during childhood.
Researcher Dr Simon Moore led the study: "Our favoured explanation is that giving children sweets and chocolate regularly may stop them learning how to wait to obtain something they want.
"Not being able to defer gratification may push them towards more impulsive behaviour, which is strongly associated with delinquency. Targeting resources at improving children's diet may improve health and reduce aggression. We are fairly confident that this is a realistic relationship - the key is explaining what the mechanism is behind this relationship. We think that rewarding bad behaviour in childhood with confectionary can lead to later problems but we need to look at this more closely."
More news about psychotherapy, counselling and mental health at www.therapyme.com.
Saturday 22 August 2009
News: Depressed people should get online counselling, study says - Telegraph
Patients who received online counselling were more than two-and-a-half times more likely to recover from their mental health problems than those who received 'standard care' from their doctor, according to a study from Bristol University (reports the Telegraph, 21/8/09).
Following a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach, patients received one hour appointments online via instant messaging.
Commenting on the study, Dr David Kessler, a part-time GP and senior primary care researcher at Bristol University, said: "Maybe it is the writing things down that helps so much because you have to think more when you do this. It is like being in a chat room with your therapist. It would greatly improve access to therapists for people who are disabled, housebound or living in remote locations. And you don't have to be some whizzy computer geek to use it. Some of our patients were in their seventies although the average age of people with depression is surprisingly young – around the 30s and 40s mark."
Nearly 300 patients took part in the study.
For more news stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health, please visit TherapyMe.com.
Following a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach, patients received one hour appointments online via instant messaging.
Commenting on the study, Dr David Kessler, a part-time GP and senior primary care researcher at Bristol University, said: "Maybe it is the writing things down that helps so much because you have to think more when you do this. It is like being in a chat room with your therapist. It would greatly improve access to therapists for people who are disabled, housebound or living in remote locations. And you don't have to be some whizzy computer geek to use it. Some of our patients were in their seventies although the average age of people with depression is surprisingly young – around the 30s and 40s mark."
Nearly 300 patients took part in the study.
For more news stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health, please visit TherapyMe.com.
Sunday 19 July 2009
News: New strategy to bolster mental health care - The Independent
The UK Government is set to announce a policy shake-up that emphasizes the importance of preventing mental health problems, according to this article in The Independent (19 July 2009).
The newspaper quotes Louis Appleby, the Government's 'mental health tszar': "While specialist services for people with schizophrenia, dementia and other mental health problems are, of course, vital, prevention has got to be better than cure. We know there are particular groups such as children [in care] who are particularly vulnerable but this is not just about illness. For the first time we will focus attention on improving everyone's emotional resilience as individuals, families, communities and employers can all benefit from strong mental health. Like good education, good mental health is a stepping stone for a whole range of positive outcomes in adult life which benefit individuals, the welfare system, the health service and the criminal justice system."
For more stories about psychotherapy, counselling and mental health you can visit www.therapyme.com.
The newspaper quotes Louis Appleby, the Government's 'mental health tszar': "While specialist services for people with schizophrenia, dementia and other mental health problems are, of course, vital, prevention has got to be better than cure. We know there are particular groups such as children [in care] who are particularly vulnerable but this is not just about illness. For the first time we will focus attention on improving everyone's emotional resilience as individuals, families, communities and employers can all benefit from strong mental health. Like good education, good mental health is a stepping stone for a whole range of positive outcomes in adult life which benefit individuals, the welfare system, the health service and the criminal justice system."
For more stories about psychotherapy, counselling and mental health you can visit www.therapyme.com.
Sunday 5 July 2009
News: Self-help 'makes you feel worse' - BBC News
Some self-help books can make you feel worse according to research published by the University of Waterloo and the University of New Brunswick in Canada. Repeating positive statements (or mantras) such as "I am a lovable person" made people with low self-esteem feel even worse about themselves although people with high self-esteem responded well. The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.
This BBC story (3 July 2009) takes a look at the history of the self help industry when Samuel Smiles published his book Self Help 150 years ago. It include a playful feature: Self help Victorian style.
For more news stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health, you can visit TherapyMe.com.
This BBC story (3 July 2009) takes a look at the history of the self help industry when Samuel Smiles published his book Self Help 150 years ago. It include a playful feature: Self help Victorian style.
For more news stories about counselling, psychotherapy and mental health, you can visit TherapyMe.com.
News: Divorcees and widows 'face three times the risk of Alzheimer's' - Telegraph
Research conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that those people who lived alone in middle age doubled the risk of Alzeheimer's, and the risk was even higher for those who were divorced or widowed.
Reporting on the study published in the British Medical Journal, The Telegraph (3 July 2009) quotes Dr Susanne Sorensen of the Alzheimer's Society: "Evidence suggests that remaining socially active may reduce your risk of dementia and living with someone is certainly a good way of doing this.
"Other lifestyle factors associated with living together may also help reduce your risk. However, single people shouldn't worry - there are many other ways to reduce your risk of dementia. The best evidence is around eating a Mediterranean diet, exercising regularly, and getting your cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly."
You can read more stories related to counselling, psychotherapy and mental health at TherapyMe.com.
Reporting on the study published in the British Medical Journal, The Telegraph (3 July 2009) quotes Dr Susanne Sorensen of the Alzheimer's Society: "Evidence suggests that remaining socially active may reduce your risk of dementia and living with someone is certainly a good way of doing this.
"Other lifestyle factors associated with living together may also help reduce your risk. However, single people shouldn't worry - there are many other ways to reduce your risk of dementia. The best evidence is around eating a Mediterranean diet, exercising regularly, and getting your cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly."
You can read more stories related to counselling, psychotherapy and mental health at TherapyMe.com.
Monday 22 June 2009
News: Prozac use up 25 per cent in recession depression - The Mirror
Prescriptions in the UK for Prozac and other antidepressants have increased by nearly 25% in the last five years.
Last year, doctors wrote 2.1 million more prescriptions for antidepressants in the wake of the credit crunch.
Philip Hodson, from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, is quoted in this piece in The Mirror (22 June 2009): "Depression can be caused by unacceptable change happening at an unacceptable rate. For some, too much change can be paralysing. Pills have a role, but play better with some people than others."
Victoria Walsh, from mental health charity Rethink, adds: "We are seeing people who have been high fliers and now find life without their jobs overwhelming."
The Guardian also covers this story.
www.therapyme.com
Last year, doctors wrote 2.1 million more prescriptions for antidepressants in the wake of the credit crunch.
Philip Hodson, from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, is quoted in this piece in The Mirror (22 June 2009): "Depression can be caused by unacceptable change happening at an unacceptable rate. For some, too much change can be paralysing. Pills have a role, but play better with some people than others."
Victoria Walsh, from mental health charity Rethink, adds: "We are seeing people who have been high fliers and now find life without their jobs overwhelming."
The Guardian also covers this story.
www.therapyme.com
Saturday 13 June 2009
News: Attitudes to mental illness 'changing for the better' - Guardian
This piece in the Guardian (12 June 2009) reports on research from the UK government's Department for Health which found a favourable shift in the way people regarded mental illness. When questioned 73% of people felt that people with mental health problems should have the same employment rights as other people - an increase of 7% compared to last year.
Some ignorance about mental health still persists according to Paul Corry from Rethink who comments: "One in five people still believe that anyone with a history of mental health problems should be excluded from taking public office. This is a shocking statistic on the eve of a general election which will be fought against the background of politicians from all parties being seen as out of touch with voters. If we as voters really want politicians to reflect the constituents they serve, we need to change our attitudes and open up parliament to the one in four people with mental health problems who will think twice before standing and coming out about their experiences."
www.therapyme.com
Some ignorance about mental health still persists according to Paul Corry from Rethink who comments: "One in five people still believe that anyone with a history of mental health problems should be excluded from taking public office. This is a shocking statistic on the eve of a general election which will be fought against the background of politicians from all parties being seen as out of touch with voters. If we as voters really want politicians to reflect the constituents they serve, we need to change our attitudes and open up parliament to the one in four people with mental health problems who will think twice before standing and coming out about their experiences."
www.therapyme.com
Tuesday 12 May 2009
News: Men with depression 'failing to ask for help' during recession - Telegraph
Men are much less likely than women to be diagnosed with mental illness because they feel embarrassed about asking for help, according to UK mental health charity, Mind.
This Telegraph (11 May 2009) story refers to the YouGov survey of 2,055 adults in the UK. The research reveals that the top concern for men is job security.
Paul Farmer, Mind's CEO, is quoted: "The recession is clearly having a detrimental impact on the nation's mental health but men in particular are struggling with the emotional impact. Being a breadwinner is something that is still crucial to the male psyche so if a man loses his job he loses a large part of his identity putting his mental wellbeing in jeopardy.
"The problem is that too many men wrongly believe that admitting mental distress makes them weak and this kind of self stigma can cost lives. At this time, it's really important that it's as easy as possible for men to find the help they need."
www.therapyme.com
This Telegraph (11 May 2009) story refers to the YouGov survey of 2,055 adults in the UK. The research reveals that the top concern for men is job security.
Paul Farmer, Mind's CEO, is quoted: "The recession is clearly having a detrimental impact on the nation's mental health but men in particular are struggling with the emotional impact. Being a breadwinner is something that is still crucial to the male psyche so if a man loses his job he loses a large part of his identity putting his mental wellbeing in jeopardy.
"The problem is that too many men wrongly believe that admitting mental distress makes them weak and this kind of self stigma can cost lives. At this time, it's really important that it's as easy as possible for men to find the help they need."
www.therapyme.com
Tuesday 21 April 2009
News: State must stay out of psychotherapy - The Guardian
Opposition to the UK Government's plans to regulate talking therapies is gathering pace. A letter published in The Guardian (9th April 2009) from the Coalition Against Over-Regulation of Psychotherapy has been signed by a host of well known names including Hanif Kureishi, Susie Orbach, Oliver James, Tracey Emin, Will Self and Alain de Botton.
The letter reads:
"Under new government proposals, psychoanalysis and the talking therapies will be regulated by the State under the Health Professions Council. We the undersigned wish to register our protest and disagreement with this initiative. Psychoanalysis is a private conversation between adults, and the proposed regulations threaten to limit the basic human right to freedom of speech. Each individual should have the freedom to choose the therapist they wish to consult, without the State dictating who is legitimate and who is not.
"The new proposals have shown a serious and bizarre misunderstanding of the nature of talking therapy. They see it as a definable technique to be applied with predictable outcomes. Yet the key to talking therapies is the nature of the relationship between the parties rather than the performance of any particular procedure. Analytic work involves an open-ended relationship, where results may emerge that were never predicted or even thought of beforehand. The proposed regulation leaves no room for the unknown, as if the solution to each person's problems were known in advance: therapist and patient will be expected to adhere to a clear predetermined agenda. Government intervention thus threatens the very foundation of analytic work, compromising both its creativity and authenticity.
"The new regulations proposed for the talking therapies - which include 451 rules for the analytic session - would effectively make it impossible to practice psychoanalysis and many other forms of therapy in the way they have been practiced for the last hundred years. The Health Professions Council plans a public campaign to discredit those practitioners whose own practice and ethical code would not allow them to sign up to its market-led vision of therapy and normality."
"The main reason given for the regulatory project is protection of the public. Yet all analytic and therapy organisations already have stringent codes of ethics and practice, as well as complaints procedures. Replacing these with an inherently unsuited model of healthcare will destroy the growth and vitality of the field for both therapists and those who consult them. We urge an alternative model, like that adopted in other countries, where government intervention is limited to the requirement that all therapists join a register which is administered by an independent professional body, giving full details of their training and affiliations. This would enable members of the public to make their own informed choice rather than having politicians make it for them."
www.therapyme.com
The letter reads:
"Under new government proposals, psychoanalysis and the talking therapies will be regulated by the State under the Health Professions Council. We the undersigned wish to register our protest and disagreement with this initiative. Psychoanalysis is a private conversation between adults, and the proposed regulations threaten to limit the basic human right to freedom of speech. Each individual should have the freedom to choose the therapist they wish to consult, without the State dictating who is legitimate and who is not.
"The new proposals have shown a serious and bizarre misunderstanding of the nature of talking therapy. They see it as a definable technique to be applied with predictable outcomes. Yet the key to talking therapies is the nature of the relationship between the parties rather than the performance of any particular procedure. Analytic work involves an open-ended relationship, where results may emerge that were never predicted or even thought of beforehand. The proposed regulation leaves no room for the unknown, as if the solution to each person's problems were known in advance: therapist and patient will be expected to adhere to a clear predetermined agenda. Government intervention thus threatens the very foundation of analytic work, compromising both its creativity and authenticity.
"The new regulations proposed for the talking therapies - which include 451 rules for the analytic session - would effectively make it impossible to practice psychoanalysis and many other forms of therapy in the way they have been practiced for the last hundred years. The Health Professions Council plans a public campaign to discredit those practitioners whose own practice and ethical code would not allow them to sign up to its market-led vision of therapy and normality."
"The main reason given for the regulatory project is protection of the public. Yet all analytic and therapy organisations already have stringent codes of ethics and practice, as well as complaints procedures. Replacing these with an inherently unsuited model of healthcare will destroy the growth and vitality of the field for both therapists and those who consult them. We urge an alternative model, like that adopted in other countries, where government intervention is limited to the requirement that all therapists join a register which is administered by an independent professional body, giving full details of their training and affiliations. This would enable members of the public to make their own informed choice rather than having politicians make it for them."
www.therapyme.com
Saturday 28 March 2009
News: One in six therapists 'has tried to cure homosexuals' - Telegraph
The Telegraph (25 March 2009), like many other media outlets, jumped on this story about a "significant minority" of mental health professionals who said they had tried to help their clients change their sexual orientation.
The research conducted by Annie Bartlett, Glenn Smith and Michael King is published in the open access journal, BMC Psychiatry (26 March 2009). Surveying 1400 healthcare professionals, 17% reported treating clients to help them reduce or change their homosexual or lesbian feelings.
Quoted in the Telegraph, Professor Michael King, of University College London, said: "There is very little evidence to show that attempting to treat a person's homosexual feelings is effective and in fact it can actually be harmful. So it is surprising that a significant minority of practitioners still offer this help to their clients. The best approach is to help people adjust to their situation, to value them as people and show them that there is nothing whatever pathological about their sexual orientation.
"Both mental health practitioners and society at large must help them to confront prejudice in themselves and in others."
The research conducted by Annie Bartlett, Glenn Smith and Michael King is published in the open access journal, BMC Psychiatry (26 March 2009). Surveying 1400 healthcare professionals, 17% reported treating clients to help them reduce or change their homosexual or lesbian feelings.
Quoted in the Telegraph, Professor Michael King, of University College London, said: "There is very little evidence to show that attempting to treat a person's homosexual feelings is effective and in fact it can actually be harmful. So it is surprising that a significant minority of practitioners still offer this help to their clients. The best approach is to help people adjust to their situation, to value them as people and show them that there is nothing whatever pathological about their sexual orientation.
"Both mental health practitioners and society at large must help them to confront prejudice in themselves and in others."
Tuesday 10 March 2009
News: Cash for 'recession depression' - BBC News
The UK Government has announced an extra £13million to help people who experience mental health problems during the recession.
The BBC News story (8 March 2009) quotes Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind: "Redundancy and money worries put strain on family relationships, cause sleepless nights, trigger stress and increase the risk of developing depression. When it comes to the scale of the current recession we are in uncharted territory about how many people could be affected.
"We must learn from the mistakes of past recessions where people lost their job, their confidence and their self esteem leaving them unable to return to the workforce."
The BBC News story (8 March 2009) quotes Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind: "Redundancy and money worries put strain on family relationships, cause sleepless nights, trigger stress and increase the risk of developing depression. When it comes to the scale of the current recession we are in uncharted territory about how many people could be affected.
"We must learn from the mistakes of past recessions where people lost their job, their confidence and their self esteem leaving them unable to return to the workforce."
Wednesday 25 February 2009
News: Stroke post-traumatic stress risk - BBC News
UK researchers say stroke victims are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The team of researchers from Durham University, James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough, and Newcastle General Hospital assessed patients 13 months after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
More than a third of those who took part in the research reported flashbacks and painful memories of when their brain haemorrhage occurred.
Professor Allan House of the Stroke Association said: "Doctors do realise this type of stroke is stressful for the patient, but they do not always ask the patient about anxiety and depression. Someone needs to. Some patients undoubtedly have PTSD, while others might have depression or anxiety after a subarachnoid haemorrhage and it is understandable why."
Researchers say PTSD is under reported because clinicians focus more on physical recovery.
More than a third of those who took part in the research reported flashbacks and painful memories of when their brain haemorrhage occurred.
Professor Allan House of the Stroke Association said: "Doctors do realise this type of stroke is stressful for the patient, but they do not always ask the patient about anxiety and depression. Someone needs to. Some patients undoubtedly have PTSD, while others might have depression or anxiety after a subarachnoid haemorrhage and it is understandable why."
Researchers say PTSD is under reported because clinicians focus more on physical recovery.
Monday 5 January 2009
News: Survey reveals depressed youths - BBC News
A survey by The Prince's Trust found that one in 10 young people in Scotland are wrestling with depression. Nine per cent of young people who answered the survey said life was not worth living.
BBC News (5 January 2009) quotes Peter Kellner of YouGov, who conducted the research: "Most young people have a positive outlook on life, but the Youth Index reveals a significant core of unhappy people aged under 25.
"Their concerns need to be addressed, and not only for the sake of the youngsters themselves; for if we ignore their concerns, we shall be storing up big problems for the future."
The survey results found that 23% of respondents said they were 'often' or 'always' down or depressed and 48% said they were regularly stressed.
Geraldine Gammell, director of the Prince's Trust Scotland, comments: "This is an increasingly vulnerable generation. There has never been a greater need for programmes which help steer young people away from false support systems such as gangs, drugs and alcohol, whilst giving them new direction."
BBC News (5 January 2009) quotes Peter Kellner of YouGov, who conducted the research: "Most young people have a positive outlook on life, but the Youth Index reveals a significant core of unhappy people aged under 25.
"Their concerns need to be addressed, and not only for the sake of the youngsters themselves; for if we ignore their concerns, we shall be storing up big problems for the future."
The survey results found that 23% of respondents said they were 'often' or 'always' down or depressed and 48% said they were regularly stressed.
Geraldine Gammell, director of the Prince's Trust Scotland, comments: "This is an increasingly vulnerable generation. There has never been a greater need for programmes which help steer young people away from false support systems such as gangs, drugs and alcohol, whilst giving them new direction."
Sunday 4 January 2009
News: Psychiatrists Revise the Book of Human Troubles - New York Times
The American Psychiatric Association are working on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). This article in the New York Times (17 December 2008) highlights the challenge of defining and classifying mental illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, binge eating, Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism and bipolar disorder amongst others.
Contributors to the DSM-V have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Amendments to the book are often hotly debated and contentious. The previous edition sold more than 830,000 copies.
Contributors to the DSM-V have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Amendments to the book are often hotly debated and contentious. The previous edition sold more than 830,000 copies.
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