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Medical leaders have warned that ‘unsustainable’ pressures within the industry are leading to high levels of divorce and suicide in doctors. During the British Medical Association’s annual conference attendees were told that the dangerously large caseloads are forcing older GPs to retire early as well as discouraging younger trainees from joining the profession.

Zoe Greaves, a public health specialist, commented to her colleagues to say that suicide levels are twice as high among GPs and conditions such as anxiety, depression and insomnia are widespread. On top of this, medical professionals have been found to be 10-20% more likely to divorce.

“We all know first-hand of the challenges faced by those in our profession, of the impact these stresses can have on our lives, homes, relationships, and our health, both physical and mental.

“We all know of tragedies that have occurred, of lives lost and of bright futures snuffed...

Young Minds charity has released figures showing that more than half of councils have cut or frozen budgets for child and adolescent health.

Concerns are now rife that too many young people are not receiving the care they need in the early stages of their illness – which can lead to serious consequences.

Young Minds found that lack of care can see many children needing time in hospital, and some may even remain ill during adulthood.

These findings were reached when the charity submitted a Freedom of Information request about funding of child and adolescent mental health services for 2014-15 and the previous four financial years.

Out of the 151 councils contacted, 99 responded and it was revealed that more than half had made cuts over the last five years.

Only nine councils had kept funding at the same level.

The biggest reduction was at Birmingham City Council – from just over £2.3m in 2010-11 to £125,000 in 2014-15. This marks...

Mindfulness is a form of Buddhist meditation practiced by a growing number of people to help them combat stress and become more aware of their emotional and physical being.

Being mindful involves focusing on what is happening in our lives in the present moment – tuning into sounds, sights and physical sensations whilst trying to reduce stressful thoughts and mindless brain chatter.

Practicing this on a regular basis enables us to take notice of, and lessen our negative, habitual reactions to life’s pressures.

Mindfulness expert Padraig O’Morain claims the meditation technique – most commonly used to tackle depression and anxiety – can also be used to resolve and prevent relationship issues.

He explains: “Areas of the brain that are linked to switching our perspective are enhanced by mindfulness practice.

“For example, it can help you see a situation from another person’s point of view. It can encourage us to step out of...

Of the 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, around a quarter are over the age of 50. Data from the Terrence Higgins Trust has revealed that two-thirds of these are receiving treatment for other long-term health conditions too, that’s twice the rate of those without HIV.

The charity and the Royal College of Nursing have spoken out to say this ‘silent generation’ of older people with HIV need better coordinated care in order to stay well. The concerns will be raised this week at the Royal College of Nursing conference.

Thanks to advancements in the treatment of HIV, nurses are seeing more people with the condition reaching out for help with age-related ailments.

The public health forum chairman for RCN, Jason Warriner, said:

“For the first time, we have a generation of older people living with HIV and having to cope with the ageing process. They have respiratory problems, diabetes and heart disease. That is proving challenging...

How you feel about yourself can affect your mood, attitudes, thoughts and relationships. When you look in the mirror – how do you feel about the person looking back at you? Those with low self-esteem tend to have distorted views of themselves, and these views rarely have anything to do with what other people really think of them.

Whether the attitudes surrounding your self-esteem are positive or negative, they are likely to be products of a lifetime, imprinted on your mind due to certain experiences. So, if low self-esteem is an issue you struggle with – how can you change?

Recognise the problem

Recognising that the way you feel about yourself is holding you back is an important first step. It may sound easier said than done, but only you have the ability to shift your perceptions, so try not to avoid the issue – own up to it and make a commitment to change.

Reflect on why you feel this way

Take...

When we fall ill, our instincts shift us into survival mode – making us more selfish (whether we like it or not). When you have a healthy partner who is keen to go out and do things, the situation can lead to resentment on both parts and increased tension within the relationship.

If you are living with a chronic illness or disability, take a look at the following advice to help keep your relationship strong and thriving:

Remember you are not the only one in pain

It can be easy to get caught up in your own pain when you’re dealing with it daily, and you may forget that your partner is feeling pain too. While their pain may be different from yours, it is no less real. Ignoring their hurt and frustrations will only make things worse, so try to avoid getting lost in your own struggles and remember they have theirs too.

Designate technology-free time

Escaping the realities of your illness/disability can...

A group of women are coating their hands with resin as they watch Amanda Miles, owner and teacher at My Aerial Home, swinging effortlessly through the air on a trapeze. Nerves in the South London sports hall grow, but the women are encouraged to at least give it a try.

The class these women are attending is more than your usual ‘fitness’ class; it is designed to help those with depression and anxiety. One of the participants, Jo Rixom, took the idea of engaging women with depression through a trapeze lesson to her employer, Status Employment (a charity that helps those struggling with mental health issues return to work). The project received funding for both those referred by GPs and those referred by community mental health teams.

One participant who has found the classes helpful is Catherine Eaglestone, who found herself struggling to cope as a single parent to three children while training to be a teacher. Developing depression and anxiety, Catherine...