A programme aired on BBC2 yesterday evening aimed to highlight how the authorities are playing down the number of murders committed by the mentally ill, reports The Independent.
The head of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Health Problems (NCISH) has said that approximately 50 people a year who read more »

A fascinating show recently aired on BBC Radio 4 about the emotional effect of taking a stand if someone you love has a mental illness.
The show focussed on the lives of William and Kate Lyons’ a young married couple whose experience with bipolar disorder radically changed their lives.
According to the mental health charity read more »

A recent article featured in The Guardian has exposed fears that taking antidepressants may change aspects of a persons personality.
The personality traits we inherit from our parents often have a huge bearing on our chances of becoming depressed. Neuroticism means that a person has a strong tendency towards negative emotions and emotional instability and read more »

Mood tracking can be more effective for bi-polar sufferers than prescription drugs, reports The Times.
Plotting your moods on a chart and making changes based on these patterns can be an effective tool for treating bipolar disorder, or anyone suffering from negative moods.
Psychologists have long since used this method. Encouraging patients to write a mood diary, read more »

The Times recently reported a controversial and little known condition in men that has been coined ‘Love shyness’.
‘Love shyness’ is the term used to describe a specific type of chronic shyness in men. The term was coined in 1987 by the American professor Brian Gilmartin, but is still not officially recognised as a condition.
Men who read more »

Times online have recently created a number of questionnaires to help you determine if you might have a mental illness. If you are worried that your winter blues might be something a little more serious then find out if you need to seek help. We are all guilty of using the terms stressed and depressed read more »

A recent article featured in The Daily Mail has reported that mental illness does indeed run in the family and a breakthrough has been made in finding the genetic cause.
Manic depression is characterised by frantic highs, known as ‘manias’ and periods of depression. Scientists have now made a breakthrough in finding the genetic cause read more »

A new project in cornwall is to help people living with post tramatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a career in the armed forces reports the BBC.
One of the most difficult aspects of PTSD is that it isn’t apparent straight away and can often go unnoticed for years before it rears its head. Suffers have described read more »

New research has shown that there may be a link between a genetic variation and developing schizophrenia, reports the BBC.
Three separate teams analysed thousands of DNA samples in the biggest study ever into the genetics of schizophrenia, and the findings showed that the illness can come from common as well as rare genetic forms. It’s read more »

Research shows that children whose fathers suffer from mental health problems are more likely to suffer themselves, reports the BBC.
Reviewing previous research, the team from Oxford University said too much emphasis had been placed on mothers’ mental health rather than fathers, as mothers are considered to provide the most childcare. However, with shifting roles within read more »