Breaking the silence

Mental health and the internet, a report from The Mind Sanctuary

SINCE I started blogging about stuff to do with mental illness, the connection between the internet and our state of mind has remained of interest.

This is not least because on the one hand, the web can be a place to find understanding and support, while on the other a cloak of anonymity makes it easier to say hurtful things, which can cause a lot of emotional pain at a time when you are feeling low.

Sometimes the people behind those cruel words may be ill themselves.

One in four suffer mental health problems - where does that figure come from?

HOW many times have you read that one in four people in Britain are affected by a mental health condition? 

Just over a week ago, as the coalition government's No Health Without Mental Health strategy was launched, care services minister Paul Burstow said one in four people will suffer a mental health problem during their lives, while one in six do so at any one time, with an  estimated yearly cost to society of up to £105 billion.

Back in 2001, The World Health Organisation reported that one in four people will suffer mental health problems at some point their lives.  It said 450 million people worldwide were suffering from mental or neurological illnesses and were being failed by their communities.

Blogging at NHS Local for the West Midlands

THANK you very much to Jo Ind at NHS Local for asking me to blog about mental health.

Jo has given me a very warm welcome.

My first post is entitled Why depression isn't a designer illness.

I'll be posting regularly when time allows so I hope to see you there.

Concerns raised over new government strategy on mental health

THE government's new strategy No Health Without Mental Health was announced on Wednesday, with £400m being pledged over four years to extend the IAPT scheme (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) so that talking therapies, including counselling, will be more widely available - especially to children and young people.

Read what counsellor Frances Weston has blogged about the plans.

Thank you, we won a Brilliance in Blogging award: 'Most Inspirational blog'

THANK you to everyone who voted for Speaking up, breaking the silence, in the Brilliance in Blogging awards.

This week there was a tweet-up to announce the winners and there we were. This post from the British Mummy Bloggers network listed all those who emerged victorious.

We shared top spot in the inspirational category with the wonderful Josie from Sleep is for the Weak and Maja from Pinchy Pants. Both of these bloggers write so beautifully and movingly so it was lovely to be in such auspicious company.

Research reveals negative newspaper coverage of mental illness has risen

Photo by GiantsFanatic on Flickr

OKAY tell us something we didn't know...

We recently discussed media coverage of the Cumbria killings on this blog.

Guardian writer Mary O Hara reported that some people with mental health problems felt stigmatised by association in the wake of headlines and stories about the murders.

TV drama's unhelpful and misleading portrayal of mental illness

By Frances Weston

I was interested to see a piece in Therapy Today, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's professional journal, yesterday complaining about the way fictional characters with mental health problems are portrayed on television.  Having just seen the second part of BBC's Silent Witness a couple of nights before, I was already fuming about this very topic!

See the full post here:

TV drama's unhelpful and misleading portrayal of mental illness

Picture from BBC press office via Image.net.

Shortlisted for a blogging award, thank you

THIS isn't a blog you will see topping any lists compiled by marketing agencies or consultants to highlight 'mum blogs' or that's read by thousands of people a day.

But it is a blog that (forgive the cliche) I'm passionate about so when someone tells me they have appreciated something written here, or that it has helped them, to say it makes my day is a bit of an understatement.

One in Four web exclusive: So you want to be a blogger?

ONE in Four editor Mark Brown presents a simple guide to setting up and keeping a blog in a web exclusive to accompany the autumn 2010 edition.

Here's a snippet:

So, what do bloggers write about?

Bloggers write about anything and everything. If you can think of a topic, you can guarantee that there are people out there blogging about it. Generally, the format of blogging has changed very little. Most successful blogs still involve sharing links to other pages, sites or events on the internet and most involve comment. If you need to get the idea of what a blog is fixed in your mind, you could do worse than thinking of it as 'a place where I can share what I've been thinking, doing, reading or watching'.

Five safety tips for seeking mental health support online

IN a feature in the current One in Four magazine, people share their stories of how they may have sought support from fellow mental illness sufferers online.

If you're looking for a helpful community online, remember online forums and blogs aren't a quick fix. Don’t expect to post once and benefit greatly. Here are some straightforward tips to help:

• Do not reveal personal information about yourself with anyone you don’t know. Never give out your real address, or any personal details. Everything you say in some online environments can be open to the world, while others will share your contributions with members