Tag Archives: mental health

Kindness shown by a complete stranger

Love letters and kindness may improve mental health

“You matter to me. In a way I cannot explain, you matter to me. And you, you are a marvel… you and all the parts of you.”

It’s not the kind of thing you normally write to a complete stranger.

But after graduating from college and moving to New York City, Hannah Brencher was feeling anxious and depressed. She found herself not wanting to be around other people and “just really unravelling”.

Then she started writing love letters to strangers and leaving them all over the city. The first letter she left on a train simply addressed: “If you find this letter then it’s for you.”

Hampshire constabulary launches new poster to help disabled

Mencap’s Learning Disability Week (August 19-25)

The poster is aimed to help people with learning difficulties make both emergency and non-emergency calls. The poster is aimed to help people with learning difficulties make both emergency and non-emergency calls.

HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has launched a new poster to help adults with learning disabilities call the police.

In line with Mencap’s Learning Disability Week (August 19-25) the new poster aims to be easier to read and explains when to dial 101 and 999.

Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “Some of the feedback we’ve received is that often people with a learning disability aren’t sure when to call 101 and when to call 999. “I hope that this poster, alongside the work we’ve been doing to engage with communities affected by disability, will encourage people to come forward to report problems they’re experiencing, demonstrate that the police are here to help and that we can make a difference.”

Basic rights of mentally ill 'violated'

Basic rights of mentally ill ‘violated’

 The cross-party group of MPs is urging Parliament to take action

The basic rights of some mental health patients in England are being “violated” because of a shortage of beds in psychiatric units, MPs say.

The Health Select Committee said there was evidence some people are being sectioned unnecessarily to secure hospital treatment.

It also warned safeguards to protect patients who lack capacity are often ignored.

The charity Rethink said the findings were “shocking”.

Changes to mental health laws in 2007 were supposed to ease pressure on psychiatric units by extending the treatment available out of hospital.

Legislation provided for Community Treatment Orders so some people previously detained in hospital could be treated – under supervision – in the community.

But compulsory detention has continued to increase.