This week, we are joined by Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, a clinical psychologist, hairstylist, professor, and the founder of “PsychoHairapy,” an innovative approach that uses hair care as an entry point into mental health in the Black community. As Black women, our hair is more than just what’s at the surface. It shapes identity, signals care,…
It’s also become common to run corporate mental health training workshops, especially around Mental Health Month. These programs don’t just talk about anxiety or stress — they also encourage activities for mental health month that get people talking, connecting, sharing something beyond to-do lists. More teams are also using employee wellbeing programs that go beyond…
Marty taught me to hesitate. — Fran Houston TW: Mention of suicidality and self-harm This blog post was inspired by a recent conversation with Fran. She described how she’s learned from me to hesitate over certain things where previously she’d have acted instinctively — and not always wisely. I knew it was a topic worth…
I noticed recently that people are talking about Japanese walking, which piqued my interest. I wanted to know what it was all about, and if this was all hot air or something that might really help people with their health. This article is a result of what I found out. What Is Japanese…
I was halfway through a yoga session when it happened. I was sitting opposite a stranger and we were about to do a clapping exercise together, like a child’s game of pat-a-cake. I didn’t feel awkward, or silly; I went for it and gave it everything. It was as if the clouds parted and the…
Referrals to children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the UK have increased to unprecedented levels in recent years; in 2022, there were 1,425,193 mental health service referrals for children and young people (CYP) in the UK. This means that after referral, CYP usually have to wait a long time – often over a…
If you’ve tried active listening, “I” statements, and communication workshops but still struggle with your partner, you’re not alone. Many couples discover that communication skills alone can’t fix deeper relationship issues. While the belief that “communication is the key to a successful relationship” is widely accepted, this view oversimplifies the complexity of romantic partnerships. Poor…
Experiencing a mental health relapse is hard. Recovery is long, difficult and not a straight line. It can bring up all sorts of emotions – guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, sadness. And questions, like what to do when you notice you are experiencing a relapse. Here is a simple 10-step guide. It is important to note…
Exploring difficult emotions and experiences may be the key to loosening their hold over us. Gentle awareness of our inner world allows us to transform shame in this practice from Patricia Rockman, MD. Becoming familiar with a difficult emotion means getting interested and curious about the experience, like you might do when visiting a new…
A new study published in the Journal of Current Psychology looked at suicide prevention and intervention for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Our report examined the suicide risk among young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a population that’s been historically excluded from suicide prevention research,” study senior author Alex Fields told…