Analysis

A service user’s view of using cognitive behaviour therapy
I had mixed feelings when I was accepted on to the trial because I feared the voices would punish me for doing so. I thought I would be made to do things that I would find uncomfortable, and discuss things that would distress me. I thought I would feel worse than ever.

A&E staff need training in care of people who self-harm
The National Patient Safety Agency has developed a toolkit to help staff prevent suicides. Charlie Callanan reports.

Bridging the gap between children and adult services
For many people, the transition from childhood to adulthood is difficult and stressful. For people who have or who are at risk of developing mental health problems, the transition years can be even more fraught.

Charity hopeful for major breakthrough on stigma
Paul Farmer, head of Mind, spoke to Sophie Blakemore about achieving equality between mental and physical care, and improvements in attitudes towards mental illness.

Front line staff urged to take ‘whole family’ approach
Families with a parent who has a mental health problem often struggle to access the support that could help them as a whole unit, according to research by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (Scie). However, the institute hopes that the lessons learned from its 'Think child, think parent, think family' programme will help to break down the organisational and cultural barriers that may be preventing effective joint working between adult mental health and children's services.

Government launches its suicide prevention strategy
From research to community work, a range of initiatives will help to improve services. Beena Hammond reports.

Help available for clients who are struggling to settle debts
The recession and rise in personal debt may be seriously affecting the mental health of the population.

Improved patient safety has led to lower suicide rate
The latest research on interventions to help prevent suicides and homicides by people with mental illness has shown how particular interventions reduce such incidents (While et al 2012).

Independent inquiry outlines failings in schizophrenia care
An independent inquiry into services for people with schizophrenia and psychosis has uncovered major failings and called for a radical overhaul of how care is delivered.

Involuntary admissions on rise yet fewer beds are available
The number of involuntary admissions to hospital has risen over the past 20 years despite the number of beds having fallen, according to a study published in July by the British Medical Journal (Keown et al 2011).