Changing the conversation about health

mentalhealth

Barnardo’s urges government to invest in social prescribing to help mental health of young people
Barnardo’s urges government to invest in social prescribing to help mental health of young people

Barnardo’s urges government to invest in social prescribing to help mental health of young people

Social prescribing could help young people suffering with mental health problems, new research says. Children’s charity Barnardo’s says referrals for non-clinical treatments could help to ease current pressure on child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) and help young patients…

Nine holes for health? Social prescribing pilot offering free golf proves a big hit in Scotland
Nine holes for health? Social prescribing pilot offering free golf proves a big hit in Scotland

Nine holes for health? Social prescribing pilot offering free golf proves a big hit in Scotland

Social prescribing comes in many forms, as a pilot scheme offering games of golf to help boost health and wellbeing has proved. The Golf for Health pilot took place recently in Fife, Scotland and saw patients with varying health conditions…

Beyond Pills Campaign: Dr William Bird on the impact Green Social Prescribing can have
Beyond Pills Campaign: Dr William Bird on the impact Green Social Prescribing can have

Beyond Pills Campaign: Dr William Bird on the impact Green Social Prescribing can have

Reading GP Dr William Bird, the College of Medicine’s Nature Lead and a pioneer of Green Social Prescribing, talks to Sarah Stacey about the healing power of nature for every age group… Think of the shapes, colours and sounds of…

Blog: How arts and creativity can help young people deal with difficult transitions
Blog: How arts and creativity can help young people deal with difficult transitions

Blog: How arts and creativity can help young people deal with difficult transitions

This week, Professor Chris Drinkwater, Executive Lead for Arts and Creativity at the North East & North Cumbria Child Health and Wellbeing Network, wrote a blog for theatre company Damn Cheek on the benefits of drama for helping children to cope…

‘Social Prescribing can change lives – and the Government is backing it with money’, says Health Secretary
‘Social Prescribing can change lives – and the Government is backing it with money’, says Health Secretary

‘Social Prescribing can change lives – and the Government is backing it with money’, says Health Secretary

The UK minister for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has said the Government is committed to Social Prescribing, following last week’s Social Prescribing Day, saying funding of £3.6million will be poured into it over the next two years. Writing…

Beyond Pills Campaign: BMJ article examines how use of medicine for treating chronic pain is changing
Beyond Pills Campaign: BMJ article examines how use of medicine for treating chronic pain is changing

Beyond Pills Campaign: BMJ article examines how use of medicine for treating chronic pain is changing

An article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) this month debates how recent research on the treatment of chronic pain suggests social prescribing – including exercise and psychological and social support – could have a positive impact for patients living…

Beyond Pills Campaign: ‘Pain Cafes’ launch at 15 locations across Cornwall
Beyond Pills Campaign: ‘Pain Cafes’ launch at 15 locations across Cornwall

Beyond Pills Campaign: ‘Pain Cafes’ launch at 15 locations across Cornwall

Support groups for people suffering from chronic pain, dubbed ‘Pain Cafes‘, have opened across Cornwall in a bid to help people manage their pain without relying solely on prescription painkillers. The Pain Cafes, led by Chronic Pain in Cornwall (CPIC),…

Beyond Pills Campaign: “GP surgeries should operate like ‘mini hospitals’ to save money and time”, says Professor Sir Sam Everington
Beyond Pills Campaign: “GP surgeries should operate like ‘mini hospitals’ to save money and time”, says Professor Sir Sam Everington

Beyond Pills Campaign: “GP surgeries should operate like ‘mini hospitals’ to save money and time”, says Professor Sir Sam Everington

GP surgeries in the UK should evolve to be more like ‘mini hospitals’ to help the whole NHS system run more effectively, The College of Medicine’s Vice President, Professor Sir Sam Everington, has said. Speaking to the Sunday Express, Sir…

Beyond Pills Campaign: The UK football clubs using the power of sport to help fans with mental health problems
Beyond Pills Campaign: The UK football clubs using the power of sport to help fans with mental health problems

Beyond Pills Campaign: The UK football clubs using the power of sport to help fans with mental health problems

If ever the phrase ‘It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts’ was applicable, then it’s in the growing arena of football teams for mental health. In the last decade, new clubs dedicated to helping those who love…

Beyond Pills Campaign: From helping with finances to finding local activities, a former nurse turned link worker reveals how her role is making a difference to one London community
Beyond Pills Campaign: From helping with finances to finding local activities, a former nurse turned link worker reveals how her role is making a difference to one London community

Beyond Pills Campaign: From helping with finances to finding local activities, a former nurse turned link worker reveals how her role is making a difference to one London community

Sarah Stacey meets Gay Palmer, a Social Prescriber Link Worker Team Lead in South Southwark, who explains how her work successfully went online during the pandemic – and how the power of community can help transform individual lives… Until autumn…

The College of Medicine reflects on our achievements in 2022 – and looks to 2023
The College of Medicine reflects on our achievements in 2022 – and looks to 2023

The College of Medicine reflects on our achievements in 2022 – and looks to 2023

As we welcome a new year, our Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, looks back at what The College of Medicine has achieved in the last 12 months, and what the year ahead looks like for our organisation… ‘2022 was a mix…

A lockdown success! How a team of healthcare professionals is transforming mental health support in their region
A lockdown success! How a team of healthcare professionals is transforming mental health support in their region

A lockdown success! How a team of healthcare professionals is transforming mental health support in their region

Two GPs who helped to create a mental health referral team during the height of the first lock-down have shared with the College of Medicine the challenges and successes of its first year in operation. The Andover Primary Care Mental…

Employers encouraged to offer yoga and meditation to help improve mental health in the workforce
Employers encouraged to offer yoga and meditation to help improve mental health in the workforce

Employers encouraged to offer yoga and meditation to help improve mental health in the workforce

Public Health England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is urging employers to introduce a raft of new measures to help improve the mental health of their workers. Yoga and meditation sessions, more flexible working hours and…

Our community’s voice: How the College of Medicine is helping our members
Our community’s voice: How the College of Medicine is helping our members

Our community’s voice: How the College of Medicine is helping our members

The College of Medicine works to re-define medicine beyond pills and procedures, and our members and wider community are vital to our success. By engaging with our online classes – covering everything from mindfulness to hypnosis and nutrition – our…

The best medicine? “How Laughter Yoga helped me to recover from depression – and now I teach others how to chuckle their way to better health”
The best medicine? “How Laughter Yoga helped me to recover from depression – and now I teach others how to chuckle their way to better health”

The best medicine? “How Laughter Yoga helped me to recover from depression – and now I teach others how to chuckle their way to better health”

Sara Kay laughs out loud all day long for a living. She isn’t a comedian but she does recognise that a hearty belly laugh is brilliant for well-being and particularly mental health. After training to be a Laughter Yoga teacher…

Listen, support, connect: How we marked International Social Prescribing Day 2021
Listen, support, connect: How we marked International Social Prescribing Day 2021

Listen, support, connect: How we marked International Social Prescribing Day 2021

A vital event in the College of Medicine’s annual calendar, Social Prescribing Day, which took place this year on March 18th, aims to celebrate the social prescribing movement by highlighting stories of progress, the importance of community and, this year,…

“We’re empowering people to make a difference in their own lives – that’s priceless” London health professionals discuss social prescribing
“We’re empowering people to make a difference in their own lives – that’s priceless” London health professionals discuss social prescribing

“We’re empowering people to make a difference in their own lives – that’s priceless” London health professionals discuss social prescribing

Healthy London Partnership, an initiative that aims to make the English capital the world’s healthiest city, has created a new film that highlights how valuable social prescribing can be in building and supporting community resilience – by linking people to…

‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile
‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile

‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile

Social Prescribing featured on BBC One’s Countryfile this weekend, with presenter Anita Rani meeting Dr Marie Polley to discuss finding solutions to problems without medical intervention. Anita joined Dr Polley, who is co-Chair of the Social Prescribing Network, to discuss…

Lockdown depression: ‘A GP who has time to engage properly with a patient can reduce the need for a referral’
Lockdown depression: ‘A GP who has time to engage properly with a patient can reduce the need for a referral’

Lockdown depression: ‘A GP who has time to engage properly with a patient can reduce the need for a referral’

The rise in the number of people being referred for depression – particularly during lockdown – could be directly linked to a reduced number of GPs, the College of Medicine’s Chair has said. Depression rates continue to rise in the…