People suffering from depression are not getting enough access to exercise on prescription, which can be helped to treat depression, reports the BBC.
Research carried out by the Mental Health Foundation showed that only half of GPs are able to refer patients to exercise schemes due to availability. The schemes have proved to be as successful read more »

A feature on the Independent website today highlights the emotional cost of the recession.
The Samaritans are reporting a rise in the number of calls, mainly from people worried about money. One in ten calls are related to financial worries, with over half of these being from people worried about job security.
Drinking has also risen, with read more »

Families of drug addicts are to be given a drug that can help reverse the affects of an overdose as part of a new trial, reports the Guardian.
In a quarter of over dose cases, a family member is present, but they are left feeling helpless and unable to help the addict, apart from calling an read more »

Speakers at an alcohol summit held in Edinburgh have called for a minimum pricing on alcohol to be put into action in Scotland, reports the BBC.
Alcohol abuse is a major problem in Scotland, with over 42,000 people being admitted to hospital between 2007 and 2008 for alcohol related problems, and nearly half of prisoners claiming read more »

Instead of encouraging smokers to quit the habit and save money, the recession has meant many are continuing to smoke to help deal with stress, reports the BBC.
A survey of 877 smokers and ex-smokers by Ipsos Mori revealed that nearly a quarter of smokers had abandoned plans to try and kick the habit, and 28% read more »

Many dementia sufferers are not receiving appropriate treatment due to poor staff training, reports the Guardian.
A new report, called Prepared To Care, revealed that less than half of those who carried out home visits to dementia patients, to help with dressing and washing, were trained to do so. One in three care homes who had read more »

A new survey shows that there has been a significant increase in young girls drinking, reports the Guardian.
11 to 15 year-olds in London alone consume around 180,000 bottles of lager a week, and girls now drink as much as girls. Hospital admissions, however, are twice as high for girls than boys, due to their lower read more »

New figures show the that depression is costing £8.6 billion a year, reports The Independent.
Over the last decade the figure has risen by £3 billion. The figure does not include the impact on the NHS, just the cost on the economy caused by people taking time off work. Those who become unemployed due to mental read more »

New patterns in cocaine use could put younger users at even more risk, reports the Guardian.
A new trend amongst cocaine users of mixing the drug in with other substances to allow them to drink for longer is causing health problems for 20 to 30 year olds. However, it is resulting in many users being admitted read more »

An article on The Independent website highlights the importance of encourage children to talk if they’ve experienced a bereavement.
There is a lack of statistics about how many children suffer a bereavement, but in Britain a child loses a parent every half hour.
Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children’s Commissioner has been discussing the issue, particularly as he read more »