The weather has been ‘bipolar’ this week, a neat and tidy friend has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and someone who tried to chat you up in a bar was as awkward as someone with Asperger’s.

Using mental health terms as if they are clichés has become commonplace in the past few years, we hear them dropped into conversation as though they are just any other word, but as much as the people who say them don’t do so out of malice, are they accurate and more importantly, are they acceptable?

Much research has suggested that using mental health terms to describe personality traits is becoming increasingly common, with a 2007 study of the terms “schizophrenia” and “schizophrenic” in the UK media revealing that 11% of the references were metaphorical.

According to consultant psychiatrist Arun Chopra who works at Queen’s Medical Centre based in Nottingham, using these terms so flippantly can have a negative impact upon patients who are actually affected by these conditions (and their families) and can contribute to misunderstanding and stigma.

Chopra recalled one particular situation in which the mother of a schizophrenic patient burst into tears when she read in a newspaper article that the weather was “schizophrenic”.

“You would never hear it used in relation to a physical condition. You wouldn’t hear someone being described as a bit diabetic.” Chopra added.

Chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, Andrew McCulloch is of the same opinion, and believes that using clinical diagnosis terms in such a way simply fuels public misunderstanding.

He went onto say that the positive of this negative situation is that at least we have now moved away from not mentioning these conditions at all. Now the hard work lies in educating people about these mental health conditions.

“Five years ago people wouldn’t have known what you were talking about if you mentioned OCD,” he says. “Now they have a sense of what it is about and use it, but don’t really fully understand it. The next five years will be about working to fully educate people.” Said McCulloch.

View and comment on the original BBC News article.

A ten-year-old child, born as a boy, has returned from the summer holidays dressed as a little girl.

The child has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition that means an individual believes they are not the gender they were born with.

The child’s mother has explained to the press that, growing up, her daughter always felt uncomfortable dressing in boy’s clothes because she had a girl’s mind trapped in a boy’s body.

Before the summer holidays, other children knew their classmate as ‘him’. When they returned to school, they were gathered in an assembly and told that their friend has become a girl, and that they must now refer to him as ‘her’.

Relatives and teachers have praised the child for revealing the new look to her classmates, despite having apparently suffered verbal abuse and bullying at the hands of some outraged parents.

Sex change surgery is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 but the youngster already plans to start taking hormone tablets before puberty. The hormones will help counter the effects of puberty by restricting hair growth, aiding the development of hips and breasts and preventing the voice from breaking.

Her mother said: “It’s going to be a hard school life for us and for her as well. But she is a strong person and I’m sure we will get through it as a family. The other pupils have been little stars who have accepted my daughter into the fold.”

The school fully supports the pupil’s extraordinary decision and has allowed her to dress in the female version of the school uniform. Some parents, however, are unhappy with the decision and have since lodged complaints.

15,000 people in the UK have gender dysphoria. If you or someone you care about has this condition and you would like help and guidance, you may wish to speak with a counsellor. A counsellor can take you through every single stage of gender transformation, from the initial surgery to the time spent recovering and adjusting afterwards. Visit the Counselling Directory to find a counsellor dealing with gender dysphoria near you.

View the original Metro article here.

Research has revealed that individuals suffering from serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia can have a life expectancy significantly lower than the national average, reports BBC News.

A london based study which tracked electronic medical records of over 30,000 patients found that many people were dying early from stroke, heart attack and cancer as opposed to suicide or violence.

Experts looking into the life expectancy of patients who were suffering from specific mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or serious depression, found that life expectancy across the illnesses was below the UK average.

Currently the average life expectancy of UK men is 77.4 years and for women a slightly higher 81.6 years. However, those in the study who were most affected, such as women with schizoaffective disorder saw their life expectancy fall by 17.5 years. Similarly, the males who were most affected (schizophrenia sufferers) had their lives shorted by around 14.6 years.

Researchers on the study, which took place at the Biomedical Research Centre for mental health at the Maudsley Hospital in London, believe the reduced life expectancy could be attributed to factors such as long-term anti-psychotic drug use and social disadvantages.

Spokeswomen for the mental health charity Mind, Sophie Corelett, commented that doctors need to be more proactive in helping their patients to make informed choices about long-term medications which could eventually have a negative impact on their health.

“It’s vital that people with mental health problems have access to routine physical health checks and that they are helped to make healthy lifestyle choices. We cannot allow this inequality to continue.” She added.

If you are suffering from a mental illness and would like to find out how counselling or psychotherapy could help you to understand and overcome your problems then please visit our Types of Distress page for further information. Alternatively, if you would like to contact a counsellor or psychotherapist in your local area, please use the search tool located on the homepage of this site.

School Phobia is a condition which is currently estimated to affect between one and five children in 100. The little known condition was recently highlighted in the press, when a judge ordered Suffolk County Council to apologise to parents of a 16 year old boy for prosecuting them for keeping their son off school, despite evidence from his GP and psychologist that he had a genuine phobia of school.

Sufferers are not simply playing truant, but simply can’t face going to school. Sometimes their symptoms even manifest on a physical level, causing stomach cramps, headaches, nausea and panic attacks and behaviourally they may display temper tantrums.

Of those affected the condition is most common among five to six and 11 to 14 year olds, though children can become school phobic at any point.

School phobia was recognised as early as 1932, when experts found that some children who persistently missed school were not bunking off but simply appeared to have a psychological problem. By the 1960s the condition had been named but psychologists were and are still puzzled as to why typically well-behaved and socially conforming children, who do well academically when they do work, can’t cope with school.

For some parents the fear of prosecution over truancy is also a huge factor, though awareness of the condition is spreading and truancy officers should be aware of the condition.

Experts have said that the phobia is often related to crowds and large buildings, so a good idea is to start by teaching at home or in a quiet area. Trust needs to be built up so the idea of learning and school doesn’t have to be a problem that fills them with horror.

Ann Newstead, spokesperson for the charity Education Otherwise, thinks home schooling is the answer. ‘You wouldn’t dream of shutting a claustrophobic in a cupboard. Why would you put a child in an environment which isn’t beneficial for them?’

If you are concerned that your child may be affected by school phobia then there are certain symptoms to look out for which will separate the school phobic from the skiver.

Firstly school phobia is an ongoing issue that could go on for a period of months. Skivers on the other hand tend to only go through stages of not wanting to go to school. Additionally school phobics will exhibit physical symptoms ranging from headaches to sickness and stomach ache. Irrational behaviour such as anxiety, kicking and screaming are also common reactions.

If you do believe your child is suffering with school phobia then the first step is visit a GP for a formal diagnosis and then discussions with the school will need to be put into motion. Another option which many parents turn to is that of counselling. A counsellor will be able to help both child and parents understand and explore the underlying issues which may be contributing to the overall problem before trying to dispel them. If you would like to contact a counsellor in your local area please visit the homepage of this site where you can use the search tool to locate a qualified practitioner.

Original article featured in You magazine (29/08/10)

A team of British scientists from Nottingham University have found specific patterns of brain activity which could be ‘makers’ of those who will go on to develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to this they have said it may be possible to one day use this information to help youngsters before they begin to develop symptoms.

Lucie Russell, Campaign Director for mental health charity Young Minds agree’s that the possibility of predicting the risk of young people developing mental illness could be very useful. However, she also highlights how gene testing comes with the risk of labelling children and believes that a stable and loving background is still a huge factor in a child’s ell-being and emotional state.

The stigma attached to mental illness has been around for a long time, but it seems a new group of people have arisen who are actively seeking out diagnosis of a mental illness, but why?

Psychiatrist Dr Diana Chan and Dr Lester Sireling believe that increased public awareness through mediums such as the internet, radio and T.V plus an increase in the willingness of celebrity figures to discuss their own experiences with mental illness has lessoned the stigma.

This is fantastic news for those who were previously concerned about seeking help for the disorder but there are a large number of individuals diagnosing themselves with the disorder before seeking advice from a professional.

Experts believe this could be a reflection of a persons aspirations for a higher social status as often mental illness is associated with being extremely creative and intelligent.

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder which is characterised by instability in mood, with sufferers experiencing periods of mania ‘highs’ and then periods of depressions ‘lows’.

It is a very serious mental condition which could result in lack of social functioning and could effect both home and working life. It is essential that the condition is diagnosed where valid so the sufferer can receive the help they need and it is equally important to help people understand that having ‘mood swings’ or chaotic behaviour does not necessarily mean they are suffering with the disorder.

The work has been done to increase awareness of bipolar disorder and reduce the stigma, but the challenge is now sensitively dealing with individuals who wish to be diagnosed. This can hopefully be achieved by helping the public to better understand illnesses such as schizophrenia.

More information on mental health can be found here.

Last week during an interview with Radio 4′s Today programme, former boxer Frank Bruno opened up about being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and how he coped living with the illness for years.

He told Radio 4 of the breakdown in his marriage which led to difficulties with his children which eventually proved too much for him causing a breakdown and eventually leading to his bipolar diagnosis.

He explained how the condition often made him behave in bizarre ways. “It makes you high, it makes you low, it makes you cry, it makes you race,” he said. “It is a very horrible thing and when it is at its height, you do some stupid, silly little things. You make comments and you make phone calls at night time. You are aware of what you are doing but you can’t stop yourself from doing it.”

Since his recovery Bruno has given his full support to a campaign which is aimed at improving the way sufferers are treated (time-to-change.org.uk) which hopes to challenge the stigma attached to being mentally unwell.

Bruno explains that the debilitating illness can strike anyone. It doesn’t matter if you believe yourself to be living a perfect lifestyle with a family and a house and a good salary, anyone can snap at any point. “So, you know, it can happen to a barrister, a policeman, a dustman, a Tesco worker . . . We’re all human at the end of the day.”

To keep himself on the right track Bruno takes certain precautions such as monitoring himself everyday and taking fantastic care of his health by regularly exercising and taking the right supplements.

If you believe yourself to be suffering from a mental illness such a bipolar it is essential you visit your GP so they can give you a proper diagnosis. You may also find a talking therapy such as counselling to be of help to you. If you would like to contact a counsellor in your local area you can do so using the homepage of this website.

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 had been in contact with specialist mental health care in the 12 months before the incident were convicted of homicide.

The statistics are not accurate. If one person was responsible for a homicide where there was more than one victim then it would still only count as one incident and then you have to take into account that sometimes the person who committed the homicide then commits suicide, resulting in no conviction so no statistic.

After investigating the figures it was found that since 1993 there has been more than 100 incidents per year, compared with the 50 stated officially.

The statistics have caused many people to call for prompt and effective treatment for the small minority of mentally ill people who are violent and for all figures to be included in the statistics which will allow a more in depth understanding of the situation.

If you believe that you or anyone you know are suffering from a Mental Illness then the first step is to contact your GP so they can diagnose the issue. Talk therapies are known to have a positive effect on many mental health issues and should you wish to contact a counsellor regarding this matter or any other then you can find one in your local area using the homepage of this site.

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 Mind, two thirds of the population will know somebody close to them who has experienced some form of mental illness.

Bipolar depression is an illness characterized by a mixture of delusional highs and disabling lows. After years of suffering but suppressing her symptoms through medication, Kate believed it was safe for her to stop taking her pills.

Unfortunately for both of them, Kate had not fully recovered from the illness and her illness began to have a dominating presence on their relationship.

One day when William realised he could no longer cope with the situation on his own he took a stand and had his wife sectioned under 1983 Mental Health Act.

The experience of having his wife sectioned was deeply effecting for William but he also felt a huge sense of relief to be getting some help for Kate.

A little way down the line and Kate now understands that her medication is essential if she wants suppress the illness.

The couple would love to have children, but are concerned that the condition could be passed down to the next generation.

If you are caring for someone with a mental illness and are struggling to cope on your own, or you yourself believe you have a mental illness then please seek help from a professional. Visit your GP who will help you diagnose the issue and provide you with medication if needed. You may also find that talk therapy will help you to tackle some mental heath issues. Please visit the homepage of this site where you can contact a qualified counsellor in your local area.

Taking a Stand aired on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 16 February and is now available on BBC iPlayer.

To view the original article please click here.

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 scientists believe that this is one of the main links to depression.

Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat depression by boosting the amount of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. Doctors previously thought that SSRIs boosted mood by increasing levels of serotonin in people whose levels were depleted. People who have used the medication reported positive effects such as feeling more sociable, less emotional and an improvement in mood but upon reflection, doctors have said these side effects could be a result of changed personality.

The new study to investigate the matter further looked at how both personality traits and depression changed in three groups of patients. The first groups received the antidepressant parotoxtine, another took placebo pills, and the third received cognitive therapy.

Those who were treated with the antidepressant or cognitive therapy showed great improvement and reported feeling less depressed, less neurotic, and more extroverted. Those who took the dummy placebo pill were also less depressed but saw little change in their personality scores for being neurotic or extrovert.

A standard measurement for personality traits and depression was used to gage the effect of each treatment. Researchers found that changes in personality for people treated with parotoxtine were much greater than the change in depression alone. Those who received cognitive therapy did experience change but the difference could be attributed to improvements in depression.

Lastly, those taking the antidepressant showed the biggest decrease in neuroticism during the study and were the least likely to become depressed again during the following year.