While I was a student I remember being taught “abnormal psychology”. For at least 8 weeks (and it did seem a lot longer) we learnt about all the different ways in which people can have a range of psychological problems. We were very engrossed in the whole convoluted business of mental illness. Of course we do need to understand the different ways in which people experience a range of mental illnesses. That is a useful start. However, at some point I remember asking the lecturers when we were going to learn something about how we can help people to get better. And the truth is in those days very few people were talking about wellness and recovery.  So I have been delighted to see the new policy ideas on “No Health Without Mental Health”. It actually appears to be a strategy for wellbeing. Many people have argued that a more positive model of mental health is about far more than just the absence of symptoms or diagnosable illness. It is about quality of life. Part of this is about how to have meaningful relationships on the one hand and also enjoy solitude some times. How to develop skills in managing difficult thoughts and deal with stress are some other important considerations. In my trainings on Mental Health Awareness I am increasingly looking at how professionals from a range of organisations can work together with people, actively and in collaboration, to develop wellness plans. The idea being that with the right kind of help people can and do recover and develop resilience. People can then contribute to the world around them.

When we are happy we can tell. We can also sense when someone else is happy. However, we often describe it not as having happiness but being happy. This suggests something about action. There is a new group called Action for Happiness which is pointing out that doing things for others, connecting with people, random acts of kindness (there are some who go around giving free hugs to people) are ways in which we can increase happiness. Being engrossed in something you love, walking in nature and exercise have all shown to help. If happiness is something about creating flow states rather than having, then perhaps, it is something that can be cultivated even if it is not easy to quantify.

Until next time.

: Is there more to California than sunshine?

“Mindfulness Meditation” is a phrase that will bring up a series of pre-conceived ideas. What does it bring up for you? That many famous Hollywood stars have been using techniques that have been popular in the United States may or may not inspire you. Certainly mainstream psychology has only recently started to take it seriously. The Mental Health Foundation has taken up the cause and promoted the concept of Mindfulness. The American Archives of General Psychiatry has shown research showing it to be as effective as anti-depressants. Indeed, much of the research is showing it to be effective in terms of preventing relapse. Now NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) has approved it to be used for depression.  More and more research is pointing to the potential benefits of learning how to refocus our awareness can help to actually reshape our experience in any given moment.

Some people who have experienced the benefits of Mindfulness have, for the first time in their life, been able to manage anxiety without medication. It is not a quick fix and learning it requires an active approach towards practicing the skills. This enables the experience of Mindfulness to become a part of our busy life. Many feel it to be an approach that feels gentle, natural and respectful, developing a sense of compassion and change through calmness and developing emotional management skills. This may help whatever the weather.

Mixed messages on Alcohol Consumption

Here is question to consider; what happens to alcohol (and drug) use in a time of recession?

When I used to work for the community drug team in Leicester the focus was very much on illicit drugs, and alcohol problems appeared to have a more low key profile.  A recent article in the Guardian newspaper (“How Britain fell out of love with drugs”, G2 Thursday 24.2.11, by Leo Benedictus) points to a decline in the use of illicit drugs. At the same time a lot more attention is being placed on alcohol consumption in Britain. There was another article which was also widely reported in the press and BBC. A study published in the Lancet (21 February 2011) suggests that up to 250,000 more people than expected may die in England and Wales over the next 20 years due to harms done by alcohol. They point to a doubling of deaths from Liver disease since 1986. Also 1 in 4 people are drinking above what is considered safe levels.

Hence while there is some evidence that, overall, there may have been a slight decline in alcohol consumption, there are many who are drinking more than ever. One statistic above others caught my eye: There are 171 Countries around the world where alcohol consumption is lower than in Britain. How many people know the number of units of alcohol they consume in a week? It may be that fewer people are going to bars to drink, but what about the cheap availability of alcohol in shops that leads to drinking at home? Similarly, harms from problematic drug use are very much with us.

While the politicians and academics discuss the availability and minimum costs of alcohol, much can be done by workers in a variety of settings to help people who may be drinking in a hazardous or harmful way. Anyone working in the addictions field will know that just telling people how something is not good for them does not seem particularly effective. Effective training for staff can highlight how there is far more to alcohol problems than dependant drinking or alcoholism. Good information and an effective way of putting across that information can make a real difference. Ideas borrowed from the field of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing can provide practical skills. There is also good evidence that brief interventions can help people. I am providing training on Alcohol Awareness in Nottingham for those who may be interested in finding out more.