While bipolar is most recognised in adults and diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood, with 1 in 150 adults having a diagnosis worldwide, signs can be present of bipolar disorder in children. Recognising these signs can be essential to accessing early intervention and professional support, with early diagnosis and management having the potential to ...
Stress is a normal response to daily pressures, such as deadlines or feeling under time constraints, and usually eases once the situation has passed. Anxiety, however, is different. In this video, Dr Andrea Pickering explains that anxiety activates the brain’s survival system, leading to muscle tension, a racing heart, and shallow breathing. ...
If you believe an ADHD assessment may be required for either yourself or close family member, it is first important to understand the forms the condition takes. This will include the ways to recognise signs and the pathways available in assessment and possible assistance. Many of these pathways will be different depending on age and geographical lo...
With October being Black History Month, we wanted to take the time to highlight the experiences of black individuals when seeking healthcare in the UK. While there have been improvements historically, it would be a disservice to not raise awareness of ongoing inequality in healthcare settings for black British people. The NHS has highlighted reduci...
Sleep anxiety in children is a common issue that many face at some stage, defined as stress or fear of going to sleep. It can occur at any age, whether it is a toddler who becomes more clingy around bedtime to avoid being put to bed or a teenager who finds it hard to get to sleep because of racing thoughts. Despite being common, it’s importan...
Living with anxiety can be really challenging and often needs some sort of help or intervention. However, taking medication isn’t for everyone, so it can be helpful to understand what other changes you can make in order to better support yourself if you are experiencing anxiety. In this video, Dr Andrea Pickering discusses how anxiety can be ...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can affect individuals both personally and professionally and presents unique challenges. When you have ADHD, it can feel like juggling a dozen thoughts at once. This leads to a struggle to focus and being distracted easily. Tasks that seem simple to others can become challenges. Impulsivity can often...
Postnatal depression (PND) affects many new parents and should be a consideration in care during pregnancy and beyond but, with mounting evidence that this experience can be more complex, serious, and under-recognised in new parents with ADHD, we must explore this condition further to better support those affected. While links between ADHD and ment...
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It’s an NHS service that helps children and young people up to the age of 18 who are experiencing emotional, behavioural, or mental health difficulties. If your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-harm, or other mental health concerns, CAMHS may be able to prov...
Statistically, more males than females are diagnosed as autistic. Unfortunately, societal expectations of gender roles can heavily influence how behaviours are perceived and whether they are recognized as potentially autistic. Girls and women are more likely to internalize challenges they encounter and mask their differences in order to fit in, oft...
There isn't a single known cause of autism. However, research suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to its development. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. ASD affects how people communicate, interact, and experience the world. While autism is often present from birth with noticeable characteristics d...
Talking about the impact of poor mental health, especially topics as emotionally charged as suicide, may never feel particularly comfortable or natural for many of us. But, with suicide being the leading cause of death in men under the age of 50 and an increasing threat to 15–24-year-olds, we cannot responsibly shy away from the conversation ...
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective form of talking therapy that has gained great popularity in managing mental health issues in children and teenagers. It empowers children and teenagers to identify and challenge negative thoughts and behaviours and replace them with positive, healthy ones. CBT is commonly used to manage cond...
Bipolar disorder is characterised by significant shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels, and people with the condition commonly experience episodes of mania (elevated mood) alternating with depression. In this video, Dr Angus McLellan explains the early signs of a depressive episode, from persistently low mood to shifts in sleep patterns, low ...
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can pose learning challenges for children, students, and adults. Understanding ADHD and learning is important for creating supportive learning environments. By knowing how ADHD affects learning, parents and teachers can incorporate inclusive teaching strategies. In this guide, we look at the relations...
Many of us are increasingly aware, and concerned, about the impact of climate change on wildlife, our environment, and the planet as a whole. Predictions for the global impact of climate change if action is not taken can be anxiety inducing, especially as such a small percentage of emissions are created by UK households, which can make it hard for ...
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder. Someone with bulimia may experience episodes of binge-eating, followed by behaviours to prevent weight gain. Behaviours may include vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives. These cycles are often driven by a need to regain control or manage difficult emotions. They can have serious effects on both...
Many autistic people rely on routine for a sense of safety and consistency and for some, public holidays can be a source of anxiety rather than relaxation. Whether the change in your usual routine is down to school closures, summer holidays, travel, or any other kind of public holiday, changes to your usual routine might need some additional consid...
After receiving an autism diagnosis, you should be kind to yourself. It's important to take time to understand your feelings, and how autism may affect you. Receiving an autism diagnosis does not change who you are. However, it may allow you to access the support you may need and further understand your unique challenges and strengths. In this arti...
Cannabidiol (CBD) was initially discovered in 1940 and has since been studied for its potential uses, receiving its own awareness day in 2018. Differing from THC (which is found in higher concentrations in marijuana), CBD is non-psychoactive and does not cause a high, meaning it could be used without causing intoxication. Since this discovery, ther...
