Let's Talk: Mental Health

What is computerised cognitive behavioural therapy? Who is it aimed at? Does it fill a gap? Who does it work for? Who doesn't it work for? Why? We discuss all this in the latest of our series with the British Journal of Psychiatry.

On the panel for this episode:

- Lauren Chakkalackal, Senior Research Officer at the Mental Health Foundation

- Aaron Kandola, Research Officer at the Mental Health Foundation

- Derek Tracy, Consultant Psychiatrist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Senior Lecturer at King's College London and member of the British Journal of Psychiatry's editorial board.

This podcast is a free 3-minute breathing space narrated by Ed Halliwell – one of the world's leading teachers of mindfulness. You can listen to it whenever you feel tense and it is a simple and great way to calm your mind and body down. It also gives you a flavour of our online mindfulness course Be Mindful - which is co-presented by Ed.

For more information on Be Mindful and how you could learn mindfulness skills that last a lifetime, visit www.BeMindfulOnline.com

With Mental Health Awareness Week fast approaching, the Mental Health Foundation's Director of Fundraising and Communications Mark Rowland joins us to discuss this year's theme of Surviving or Thriving?

To find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw

A recent study looking at the mental health of medical students found that over 27% of medical students in 47 countries showed symptoms of depression. Why is this? Does it translate to the rest of the student population? What can we do to prevent it? How can we support students who experience mental ill health?

In our latest podcast with the British Journal of Psychiatry, Lauren Chakkalackal is joined by Derek Tracy of the British Journal and the Mental Health Foundation's Anna Hoang and Linda Liao - themselves relatively recent university graduates.

The paper used as a springboard for this discussion was 'Prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among medical students' by Rotenstein et al, published in JAMA and featured in the British Journal of Psychiatry's Kaleidoscope section - a round up of the most interesting recent research. This can be viewed here: http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/210/2/174

In this episode, our panel look at so-called internet gaming disorder, prompted by a recent academic study. They discuss internet gaming, the potential risks, but also the benefits that gaming can bring, both to life in general (children doing maths homework, for example) and to protecting and sustaining good mental health.

This is the second episode in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Internet Gaming Disorder: Investigating the Clinical Relevance of a New Phenomenon", which was published in the American Journal of Psychology and highlighted in the Kaleidoscope section of the British Journal of Psychiatry. The panel for this discussion featured:

- Josefien Breedvelt, Research Manager at the Mental Health Foundation

- Derek Tracy, Consultant Psychiatrist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

- Emma Wilson, mental health policy expert, well-known to some as @MindfulEm on Twitter.

Naomi tells her inspirational story of how she changed her life with the help of the Mental Health Foundation's Young Mums Together project.

Naomi, mum to four-year-old Zach, had a tough upbringing, spending time in the care system and experiencing gang violence. She needed people to listen to her. Through Young Mums Together, Naomi has been given support, advice and, vitally, self-confidence. And Zach is reaping the rewards, too.

Read Naomi's story: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/stories/naomi-and-zachs-story

Help a young parent and their child now: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/donate

In this episode, our panel look at traumatic events and how the effects may not just be localised to where the attacks take place. They look at some interesting evidence in the context of 9/11 which suggests that the psychological effects can travel thousands of miles.

This is part two of the first in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Increased incidence rate of trauma- and stressor-related disorders in Denmark after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States", which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and highlighted in the Kaleidoscope section of the British Journal of Psychiatry. The panel for this discussion featured:

- Josefien Breedvelt, Research Manager at the Mental Health Foundation

- Derek Tracy, Consultant Psychiatrist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

- Chris White, who works for the Mental Health Foundation and has his own experience of mental health problems

- Mark Brown, mental health campaigner well-known as @MarkOneInFour on Twitter and also with his own lived experience of mental ill health.

In this podcast, our panel have a lively discussion on the treatment of depression and look at why some people may not be getting the treatment they need and why some people are being treated when they shouldn't be.

This is the first in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Treatment of Depression in the United States", which was published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal and highlighted in the Kaleidoscope section of the British Journal of Psychiatry. The panel for this discussion featured:

- Josefien Breedvelt, Research Manager at the Mental Health Foundation

- Derek Tracy, Consultant Psychiatrist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

- Chris White, who works for the Mental Health Foundation and has his own experience of mental health problems

- Mark Brown, well-known as @MarkOneInFour on Twitter and also with his own lived experience of mental ill health.

Dr Iris Elliott, Head of Policy and Research at the Mental Health Foundation talks to us about the link between poverty and mental health, just how damaging poverty can be for mental health and how we might go about addressing the problem, with 1 in 5 people in the UK living in poverty.

Our president Dinesh Bhugra talks about fighting discrimination against people with mental health problems around the world as part of World Mind Matters Day. Dinesh talks about different attitudes towards mental health around the globe; discusses his priorities for mental health over the coming months and years; and urges the public to stand up to and work with policymakers on funding, training, policies and the law.