Christmas will be a tough time for some even without a global pandemic to deal with, say Samaritans, as the charity’s latest research shows being separated from family and loved ones over the Christmas period is one of the biggest concerns facing callers. It is easy for those of us […]

Priti Patel says she didn’t intend to harm staff. Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Geoff Beattie, Edge Hill University I was nine. Some girl, maybe around 15 or 16, old enough to tower over me, asked whether Bill Beattie was my brother. I nodded. Without saying another word she grabbed me by my […]

All care home residents in England should be allowed to receive visits from their family and friends in a COVID-secure way – with social distancing and PPE – following new guidance to be used while national restrictions are in place from Thursday 5 November. The guidance will enable care home […]

I appreciate many people will be deeply worried about lockdown, more furlough, lost jobs, income, food, etc. It is impacting virtually every family I know. I realise not everyone has the time or ability to be creative, etc., because of financial or health worries, but some of the suggestions below […]

Research carried by UK online divorce company Divorce-online.co.uk has found that during the key part of the UK national lockdown, nearly 1 in 4 behaviour-based divorce petitions prepared by the company mentioned alcohol abuse as a key reason for the divorce being filed. The company prepared 700 behaviour petitions between 31st March […]

Fay Bound Alberti, University of York Some UK care homes are to deploy robots in an attempt to allay loneliness and boost mental health. The wheeled machines will “initiate rudimentary conversations, play residents’ favourite music, teach them languages, and offer practical help, including medicine reminders”. They are being introduced after […]

Vergani Fotografia/Shutterstock Nigel Holt, Aberystwyth University There’s a good chance that you when you leave the house today you’ll put on a face mask that obscures your mouth. Such coverings can affect our ability to communicate and provides a particular challenge to those that need to see lips to understand […]

Pexels Avril Rowley, Liverpool John Moores University Most adults will remember spending much of their childhood playing outdoors without much parental supervision. But fears for children’s safety plus the demands of modern life mean many parents don’t allow their children the same freedoms. We live in an age where people […]

Pexels Carol Southall, Staffordshire University For many of us, the forced confinement of lockdown has reiterated the importance of being out and about in nature – along with the benefits it can bring. So as the UK begins to reopen, it’s likely that many people will be craving space away […]

A government policy introduced eight years ago tomorrow is causing mental health issues, one parent households and severe poverty for 10s of thousands of families dealing with long term separation because they don’t earn enough. Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and chronic stress levels are amongst some of the issues experienced […]