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How to Cope with High Energy Costs

Energy poverty, also known as heating poverty, has become a major problem in recent years. The cost of living crisis has meant that many people are having to choose between ‘heating or eating’. They can either spend money on food or pay for gas/electricity, but not both. This issue has been largely driven by the huge increase in the cost of energy…

Period Poverty — The Price of Being a Woman

Having a monthly period is something every female goes through from puberty to menopause. It is part of life and part of the reproductive cycle. However, the cost of a monthly period is rarely discussed. When money is tight, people make cuts where they can. Very often it is groceries and personal hygiene products that take the hit…

How Bipolar Disorder Identifies and How it Can Be Managed

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day 2023, this blog examines bipolar disorder, its symptoms and the help available for those with the disorder…

The Increasing Rates of Suicide among Migrants and Asylum Seekers

World Suicide Prevention Day is on 10th September 2023 and the theme for this year is: ‘Creating Hope Through Action’. This blog will examine the increasingly troubling area of suicide among migrants and asylum seekers…

The Rise in Health Anxiety

Health anxiety is a condition whereby an individual spends so much time worrying about their health and the possibility of becoming ill that it takes over their life. In the past it was referred to as hypochondria but it is now more commonly known as health anxiety…

Common Reasons for Anxiety Today

In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 and this year’s theme of ‘Anxiety’, this blog will discuss some common causes of anxiety…

The Importance of Netiquette

We all spend a fair amount of time online, whether this is for school, work or for social reasons. Usually it is beneficial and we gain much from our use of IT and new media. However, sometimes things do not go too well, often due to…

The Increase in Pre-Teen and Teenage Suicide

In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day held on 10th September 2022, this blog examines the increase in pre-teen and teenage suicides…

The Cost of Living Crisis and Suicide

The cost of living crisis is a term that is being widely talked about in the media. The rate of inflation is increasing and petrol and diesel prices are rising fast. The cost of electricity and gas are astronomical and are set to increase further this year…

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

This blog is part of the Mental Health Awareness Week series and examines symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition is often overlooked when discussing mental health conditions and many people are not even aware it exists…

How Does Depression Affect People?

In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week, this blog will look at the issue of depression including:

• Symptoms of depression…

The Physical Effects of Stress

As part of Mental Awareness Week 2022, we will look at the signs and effects of stress on the body. In particular, we will examine the physical effects of stress and will look at some ideas for managing stress.

Stress can be defined as a feeling of emotional or physical tension. Stress is the way your body reacts…

Generalised Anxiety Disorder After COVID

Around the world, mental health issues are an ever-growing concern. Global issues such as the recent COVID pandemic, as well as the increased cost of living and worries about climate change have all had a negative impact…

Coping with Loneliness

The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 is loneliness. Many people would describe loneliness as being physically alone or in solitude, whereas loneliness is actually a state of mind. Therefore, loneliness is not about being on your own, it is about feeling all alone. Yet, many people do not now know how to cope with being alone…

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a crime. It occurs when someone steals personal or financial information to commit fraud. This can include making unauthorised purchases and transactions, obtaining credit fraudulently or stealing money…

Being Respectful Online

The theme of Safer Internet Day 2022 is: ‘All Fun and Games? Exploring Respect and Relationships Online’. Showing respect online to individuals or groups of people is different from showing respect in person…

Online Grooming

As part of our series for Safer Internet Day 2022, this blog will examine online grooming and the problems it can lead to…

The Needle Spiking Scourge

The thought of having a drink spiked while out socially is horrendous. We have read of numerous cases where victims had their drinks spiked before being assaulted or raped. In most cases, the victim was unable to remember…

Gaslighting and Coercive Control

Gaslighting and coercive control are both types of bullying. It is important to understand the meaning of these terms so that you can recognise it when it occurs. To coincide with Anti-Bullying Week 2021, this blog will highlight…

Bullying of Women

As part of Anti-Bullying Week 2021, we are looking at the bullying of women and how it has increased in recent years, particularly since the outbreak of the coronavirus. This is a diverse subject which can also be covered by the…

Bullying in the Workplace

As part of Anti-Bullying Week 2021, it is important to highlight that bullying is not just a school problem — adults are also affected by bullying. In fact, the bullying culture among adults in the workplace can be quite significant…

Immigrant Bullying

The recent conflict in Afghanistan has raised the issue of immigration once again as thousands of refugees scrambled to flee the country. According to the United Nations, up to half a million Afghans could leave the area by…

World Suicide Prevention Day 2021

One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide. This is a shocking figure and unfortunately, even in the 21st century, there is still a stigma attached to suicide. While many people are reluctant to talk about this issue…

International Literacy Day 2021

International Literacy Day takes place on the 8th September 2021. This topic has had little attention of late. However, this year it is especially important due to the recent pandemic, which led to the education of huge volumes of…

The Scourge of Racism

It would be nice to assume that, in our modern and enlightened world, racism is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, as recent events have shown hate crimes are on the rise and racism is alive and prevalent. Sadly a small minority…

How To Build A Fairer, More Equitable Healthcare System

Healthcare is a subject which invokes strong feelings and discussions. This is especially true when considering whether healthcare should be free for everyone. Some countries, such as the UK, have a free healthcare system…

The Homelessness and Temporary Housing Crisis

The terms ‘homeless’ and ‘temporary housing’ are becoming increasingly commonplace. The amount of people and families who have no permanent place to live and who are on a waiting list for housing…

No Smoking Day 2021

As today is No Smoking Day, it is a good idea to focus on why quitting smoking is beneficial. Not only are there health benefits, but also financial ones as the price of tobacco is so high. The health problems caused by smoking are…

Budgeting for School Leavers

Personal finance is unfortunately not a subject taught in all schools. For this reason, some young people leave school without knowing how to manage money effectively. Many are also clueless about applying for credit and…

Fuel Poverty — The Stone Cold Reality

Fuel poverty is a very real issue. As with food poverty, it affects every member of a low-income household. Fuel poverty can be defined as: ‘A situation where members of a household cannot afford to keep adequately warm at a reasonable cost, given their income’. So, in a nutshell, the problem is high fuel bills coupled with poverty…

Children and Food Poverty During the Pandemic

An issue that has been discussed many times during the coronavirus pandemic is that of food poverty. The campaign to reinstate free school meals was championed by footballer and food poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford MBE. This led to a turnaround by the government and free school meals were finally provided during the first lockdown…

The Disadvantages of Home Schooling

In our previous blog we highlighted the advantages of home schooling and we explored some of the positive aspects associated with learning at home. However, there have also been some disadvantages which we will discuss…

The Advantages of Home Schooling

The current pandemic has seen home schooling on the rise as many schools have had to close, and individual students may be required to isolate. There is also a good deal of uncertainty around when and how schools will reopen…

Can Gaming Become a Problem?

Gaming is the activity of playing games on computers or some other form of electronic game. This could be on a games console, pc or mobile phone. Gaming is an extremely popular pastime of youths today, but when does gaming cease becoming a hobby and start becoming an addiction…

United Against Bullying and Cyberbullying

This year’s Anti-bullying Week runs from Monday 16th–Friday 20th of November and the theme is: ‘United Against Bullying’. The last part of the Anti-Bullying Alliance manifesto for this year states…

The Long-Term Effects of Bullying

In conjunction with anti-bullying week (the theme for #ABW2020 is: ‘United Against Bullying’) this blog will look at the long-term effects of bullying. Whether it is bullying in schools, bullying in the workplace or online bullying…

Workplace Bullying

The term ‘Sunday Scaries’ is often associated with returning to work on a Monday morning after the weekend. Although it might seem a light-hearted or comical expression, many people experience this feeling, and…

How the Coronavirus Has Affected Mental Health

You do not need to go far today to be confronted with the current pandemic. Wearing a mask as a routine and the constant sanitising of hands and equipment is the new norm. It seems as if the news channels are reporting…

Orthorexia — When Healthy Eating Becomes Unhealthy

Orthorexia is a term that many will not be familiar with. It is not a commonly known eating disorder because it is a relatively new condition. A clear definition of orthorexia is that it is an eating disorder that involves an intense…

Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia — A Documentary Review

This article presents a review of the recently aired BBC1 documentary ‘Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia’ (BBC1, 28th September 2020, 9pm). It was a harrowing report of a man in the public eye struggling with an eating disorder…

Male Eating Disorders

A common misconception people have about eating disorders is that it only affects women. However, this is completely untrue. The rise in eating disorders among men is alarming. Between 10–20% of people diagnosed…

The Increase in Male Suicides

Recently there has been an alarming increase in mental health problems across the board. Medical professionals are reporting an increase in individuals seeking help for anxiety & depression and other mental health disorders…

The Business of Drugs:

Opioids

The sixth and final episode of the Netflix series ‘The Business of Drugs’ covers opioid use and opioid addiction. As the episode begins, we are given a set of statistics which are truly shocking…

The Business of Drugs:

Cannabis

The fifth episode of the Netflix series ‘The Business of Drugs’ examines the production and sale of cannabis. The presenter, Amaryllis Fox, focuses largely on the legality of cannabis in the US — she examines certain…

The Business of Drugs:

Meth

This blog is a review of the fourth episode of the Netflix series ‘The Business of Drugs’ and it is about the drug meth.

This episode begins with a trip to Myanmar in South East Asia. It is a relatively unknown fact that the biggest…

The Business of Drugs:

Heroin

The third episode in the Netflix series ‘The Business of Drugs’ looks at heroin production. The episode begins in the slums of Kenya where a heroin dealer explains his reasons for producing the drug. Selling heroin is his only means…

The Business of Drugs:

Synthetics

The second episode in the Netflix series ‘The Business of Drugs’ covers synthetics — drugs made from synthetic substances. Amaryllis Fox introduced the episode by acknowledging Dr Alexander Shulgin. When he was…

The Business of Drugs:

Cocaine

‘The Business of Drugs’ — Episode 1 deals with cocaine addiction. The presenter of this series is a former CIA analyst, Amaryllis Fox. Her research and investigation into the war on drugs delves into the economics of…

How to Be Financially Secure Online

We live in a time where nearly everything can be purchased online. Personal banking, bill payments, holidays, food shopping — they can all be done online. There is no need to have access to cash when out shopping because contactless cards along with Apple Pay and Android Pay have become the norm. Such advances in technology are amazing and extremely convenient, but there is also a danger…

Avoiding Debts and Payday Loans

Following on from our blog about learning budgeting basics, it is equally important for teens and young adults to be educated about debt, in particular the dangers of taking out payday loans. Debt seems to be part of adult life in today’s society. This is evident with the ‘buy now pay later’ offers and the easily accessible credit cards and store cards that are offered in abundance…

Budgeting Basics

Budgeting and money management are generally not subjects taught in school or college. However, it is very important to be taught budgeting basics. Learning how to manage money and avoid getting into debt at a young age helps to build financially responsible adults.

In order to educate individuals in budgeting and financial management, it is vital to explain exactly what we mean by ‘budget’…

The Increasing Rise in Knife Crime

Knife crime is not something restricted to TV, films or violent inner city neighbourhoods in America. In fact, knife crime statistics are a much closer reality. For example, 2018 was London’s bloodiest year in almost a decade with the murder toll from knife crime claiming 134 lives. On 3rd July 2019, the Sun Online reported that in London so far this year, more than 30 knife-related deaths have been reported…

Suicide and Social Media

The recent story of the death of the YouTuber ‘Etika’ to suicide has been truly shocking not only to his subscribers and fans but to the social media community as a whole. His tragic death, and the recent suicides of reality TV stars, has led to increased media awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. Many questions have arisen including…

What Does it Mean to Have a Positive Body Image?

Having a positive body image is frequently in the media both online and offline. Body positivity is the belief that all people should have a positive body image, and it challenges the ways in which society presents and views the physical body. Body positivity does not come naturally to many people. We are constantly bombarded with images of what is and isn’t acceptable in relation to body image…

Homophobic Bullying

The graphic image of the two women on the Camden night bus in London on 30th May 2019 was truly shocking. This unprovoked attack was a case of vile homophobic bullying. The bloodied and distraught faces of the two innocent women caused shock and outrage. The UK is largely an inclusive and tolerant nation. However, this vile incident highlights the bigoted view that many…

The Bullying Epidemic in Schools

A shocking report by the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) has indicated that England is ranked highest in the world for bullying and cyberbullying among students. This survey, which was reported in a number of daily papers including the Telegraph, revealed that 13.9% of head teachers reported that students had been targets of online bullying…

A Practical Guide to Healthy Eating and Fitness

The ongoing obesity problem doesn’t show any signs of decreasing. The major worry is how this affects school-age youths. Healthy eating and fitness education from a young age will lay the groundwork for living a healthy life into adulthood. When educating young people about health and nutrition, the key is to keep it simple and straightforward…

How an Unhealthy Relationship with Food Can Lead to Eating Disorders

We need food to survive — a fairly simple concept. However, the rapid rise in eating disorders indicates a fundamental problem whereby many people have a distorted relationship with food which leads to eating disorders. The definition of an eating disorder is a health condition which causes a serious change in ones normal eating habits and which could, if left untreated…

The Government’s Role in Promoting Healthy Eating

The cost of eating a healthy diet compared to a diet of convenience and processed foods can be prohibitive to those on a low income. The price of fresh fruit and vegetables is often higher than sugary, high-fat, processed foods. It is therefore difficult for many people to provide their families with a healthy diet containing all the necessary nutrients. When healthier foods are more expensive, it leaves little choice to those on a strict budget…

The Importance of Teaching Healthy Eating in Schools

The increase in childhood obesity and teenage obesity is steadily growing. The health risks linked to obesity are serious and it is of greater concern if these health risks are appearing in a younger age group. Of major concern is the increase in weight-related diabetes. Teaching children about healthy eating and fitness has never been more important. To ensure youngsters live a fit and healthy lifestyle, they need to receive accurate education in school…

Social Media and its Negative Effects on Body Image

Never before has the focus on body image been as prevalent as it is today. We live in an age of social media with an abundance of Instagram stories, Snapchat filters, Twitter feeds, Facebook threads… the list goes on. Sadly a large number of the pictures and images posted on social networks focus on body image and the pressure for people to resemble their idols and those they follow…

How to Deal with Bullying

Our final blog in conjunction with Anti-Bullying Week 2018 looks at how to deal with bullying.

The areas discussed are:

• how to deal with bullies…

Educating Children from a Young Age About Bullying

This blog discusses the issue of educating children from a young school age about bullying. In general, if children are taught from a young age that bullying is unacceptable, these lessons and values will carry on into adulthood. Bullying education in schools is vital, as is an anti-bullying policy which teachers must be familiar with…

The Link Between Bullying and Substance Abuse

This blog is going to examine the link between bullying and substance abuse. As discuseed in our previous blog, there is a ink between bullying and mental health issues, but what do bullying and substance abuse have in common? To answer this, it is important to look at the relationship between bullying and substance abuse. The term substance abuse is not limited to just drugs and alcohol…

The Effects of Bullying on Mental Health

Following on from our blog on bullying in secondary schools, this article is going to examine the effects of bullying on mental health.

Bullying and mental health are two factors that tend to go hand in hand, but can bullying cause mental illness in children? Is the statement that ‘bullying leads to mental health problems’ always the case…

Bullying in Secondary Schools

This blog is going to discuss the issue of bullying in secondary schools. It will discuss the types and effects of bullying and also how to tackle bullying in secondary schools.

Bullying can be defined as the on-going abuse of another person by physical and mental means. The major problem with bullying in secondary schools is that it is conducted out of sight of the victim’s parents or loved ones…

Social Media and Bullying

To kick start our blogs in conjunction with Anti-Bullying Week 2018, the first subject we are covering is social media and bullying. As social media has such an extensive audience and influence today, the negative side of it is the alarming amount of cyberbullying that occurs via social media. It is important to understand the role that the internet has in bullying and how cyberbullying…

Why Are Males More Likely to Attempt Suicide than Females?

This blog will examine the issue of male suicide. It will compare male vs female suicide rates and also discuss the issue of male depression and the link to suicide. We ask why suicide rates among men are so high, and what can be done about these distressing statistics…

Is Self-Harm and Suicide Linked?

The number of individuals self-harming has rapidly increased in recent years. A recent study by The Children’s Society reported that one in four 14-year-old girls in the UK are self-harming. This statistic is alarming. However, we are investigating a possible link between self-harm and suicide and this blog will examine if there are ties between the two…

Suicide and How to Recognise the Signs

Why would someone attempt suicide and what are the signs of suicidal behaviour in an individual? These questions are the subject of this blog.

A common expression synonymous with suicide is that it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem…

Starting a New Secondary School

Starting secondary school can be a daunting experience not only for the child but also for their parents. Once you have gone through the exercise of choosing a secondary school and enrolling your child, then the real work begins…

Is there a Link Between Social Media and Suicide?

In recent years, the rise in teenage suicides has been shocking. Although the role social media plays in suicides is not totally transparent or clear-cut, recent studies have linked a rise in rates of anxiety and depression in teenagers to their use of social media…

Positive Steps to Leaving a Gang

This is the third blog in our gang series which will discuss how to help and advise youths if they want to leave a gang.

All gangs are different and have different sets of rules. However if you are involved with gang culture or you are worried about a family member or student or friend, there are ways to leave a gang…

How to Recognise if Your Child is in a Gang

Youth gang involvement is a growing problem. Following on from our previous blog Why Do People Join Gangs?, this article will examine how you can know if a child is a gang member. The thought that your child may be affiliated with a gang is extremely upsetting and worrying. However, it is important to look out for the signs of gang membership…

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The final blog for Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 examines the issue of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD.

Many people have a narrow view of OCD and regard it as an odd, quirky condition where the sufferer is obsessed with constant cleaning or repeating certain actions such as turning on and off switches. However, there is so much more to this disorder…

Coping with Panic Attacks

The next blog in the series for Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 is highlighting the anguish of panic attacks.

A panic attack is an intense reaction to fear. While an attack can be a one-off occurrence, in most cases the initial attack is the first of many. There are many physical symptoms of panic attacks and these include sweating and trembling, anxiety, nausea, rapid pulse, lack of air & trouble breathing and a rapidly beating heart…

Seasonal Affective Disorder

In the fourth blog for Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 we are looking at the issue of seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is more than just a case of the winter blues. It is actually a type of mental health disorder — a type of depression that is caused by the changing seasons…

Loneliness

In our third blog for Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 we are covering the issue of loneliness.

Loneliness may seem to be more of an emotional issue than a mental health condition. However, there is a big difference between being on your own — enjoying your own company and having a certain amount of solitude…

Workplace Stress and Anxiety

In the second of our Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 blogs we examine the growing problem of stress and anxiety in the workplace.

A study by HR Review 2018 revealed that: “Nearly a third of UK businesses say that mental health is now a bigger issue among employees than physical illness”. Anxiety at work is often not mentioned or even ignored by individuals…

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

During Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 we have produced a series of blogs which highlight the increase in mental health disorders and the impact this has on physical wellbeing. A key point to remember is that maintaining good mental health is as important as maintaining good physical health. Our first blog will examine generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)…

Dealing with Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a word we hear a lot today, but many people are unaware how prevalent it is.

Anyone can be a target of bullies. Bullying is not restricted to a certain age, race, gender, religion or sexuality. In fact, cyberbullying has become one of the most pervasive forms of bullying mainly due to the increase in technology…