Category: News

“I had the full-blown mystical revelatory experience – the big psychedelic multi-coloured light and sound show.” This is how Steve recalls his first dose of a hallucinogenic drug, psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms. His experience was part of a clinical trial that some scientists are calling a major step towards a revolution in… Continue reading ‘I felt more joy than I thought was possible’

Irish Travellers suffer some of the worst discrimination and poverty of any ethnic group in Europe, according to European Union research. Members of the community have said it is causing a mental health crisis in their home country. In Ireland, 11% die by suicide and life expectancy is up to 15 years shorter than the… Continue reading Irish Travellers ‘mental health crisis’ driven by discrimination and deprivation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av-embeds/61108854 A man from North Yorkshire has spent months standing in cities across the north of England holding signs encouraging people to talk about their mental health. Ben Ogden, 24, from Harrogate, started the challenge about six months ago on World Mental Health Day. Since then, he’s amassed a huge following online, with millions of… Continue reading The 24-year-old helping people talk about there mental health

Two experts from Wales are leading a specialist programme to help Ukrainian counsellors deal with the psychological effects of the war. Dr Lisa de Rijk and Rhian Price are psychotherapy counsellors who specialise in a treatment developed after the 9/11 attacks. They are training other counsellors to help compatriots in Ukraine who have post-traumatic stress disorder… Continue reading Ukraine War: 9/11 treatments to train councillors

A father whose son took his own life in July 2020 is calling for an “urgent overhaul” of the way some counsellors and therapists assess suicide risk. His son Tom had died a day after being judged “low risk”, in a final counselling session, Philip Pirie said. A group of charities has written to the… Continue reading Father calls for overhaul of ‘flawed’ suicide assessments

Two islanders have set up a podcast to encourage conversation about mental health. This is Me was started by PE teacher Alan Falle and Jersey government employee Stephen Coleman. Both men struggle with anxiety and depression and have shared their experiences on the first episodes of the podcast. Mr Falle said the aim of the… Continue reading Mental health podcast launched in Jersey

“People are frightened to reveal themselves, because they think they’ll be blacklisted and won’t get jobs if they report bullies at work,” says film director Brian Hill. The Bafta-winning director is so concerned about bullying in the film and TV industry, that he has made a short film called Toxic, which features four anonymous, haunting testimonies voiced… Continue reading People fear for their jobs if they report bullies

Research has found the sounds of nature could help people’s mental health. Data was collected from more than 7,500 people as part of the BBC series Forest 404 – a podcast that depicts a world without nature. Participants reported sounds of birdsong provided relief from stress and mental fatigue, the study found. The University of Exeter’s leading… Continue reading Research finds nature sounds ‘benefit mental health’

A new charity fund has launched to help hospitality workers struggling with their mental health, domestic abuse or alcohol and substance problems. Simon Soar set up Mindful Serve to help raise money for those working in the hospitality industry to gain access to private support. It will provide support for those taking “the first step”… Continue reading Jersey group set up for hospitality workers

The mother of a woman who took her own life says her daughter was “utterly failed” by the hospital caring for her. Emma Pring killed herself on 20 April 2021 with anti-ligature clothing given to her at the Cygnet Hospital in Maidstone, an inquest was told. An inquest ruled Ms Pring, 29, had not been… Continue reading Maidstone: Mother says suicidal daughter was failed by hospital