Anxiety disorders, according to the World Health Organisation are the most common mental health conditions experienced by people across the globe, impacting over 301 million in 2019. Anxiety is a commonly used term today but what exactly is it? A shared theme across all descriptions of anxiety is that anxiety holds a specific function for us, i.e. to identify danger or threat and prepare the body to respond to it. One way of understanding this is through the following four steps. Firstly, a system prewired into the brain, and inherited from mammals, nonconsciously assesses danger and communic ..read more

  This March we celebrate World Bipolar Day on the 30th of the month. The theme this year is #BipolarTogether. The day aims to raise awareness, educate, inspire hope, and challenge stigma about bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition that is characterised by extreme changes in a person’s mood, thoughts, and behaviours. These mood changes will be severe enough to be diagnosed as a mental health condition and are likely to significantly impact on how possible it feels to manage day to day life, during an episode. People living with bipolar disorder ..read more

What does 2024 hold for us in terms of advancing our understanding of depression recovery as well as prevention? Perhaps the old adage holds somewhat true here; that in order to understand future behaviour, we might look to past behaviour. So, what does this mean in terms of areas of research focus past and future? Popular areas of research focus in 2023 have included the microbiome and the gut brain axis, the ongoing search for depression biomarkers, and novel depression treatments focusing on ketamine and psilocybin. The debate regarding the role of serotonin in depression rages on, both in ..read more

  “The times are urgent. Let’s slow down.” – Bayo Akomolafe. As I write this blog, it seems like the march to Christmas is gathering pace. The busyness, the buying, the preparing for the Christmas break. This can be an exciting and joyful time for many. It can also feel overwhelming and pressured. Exposing and exacerbating old family wounds. Highlighting the loss of loved ones. Navigating Christmas is even harder when trying to manage depression, and this month can be incredibly difficult for many. Isolation will add into this too, although you don’t need to live alone, or be alone, to f ..read more

At the tender age of 44, I first discovered I was suffering from depression. I’ve had numerous challenges throughout my life, many of them self-made, and some were put upon me. I always understood at the time, or in the immediate aftermath, what factors had led to these difficulties. Knowing what the problem was and how it came to be, gave me a pathway, an understanding of how to overcome them or at the very least, come to terms with them. This time however, it was very different. I didn’t see what was happening, there was no specific or obvious instance that immediately caught my attention ..read more

Challenge yourself to a 5K at your own pace in support of Aware’s vital mental health services. Lace up your runners and kick off the festive season at the 18th annual Aware Christmas 5K on Saturday the 9th December at its new home in Leopardstown Racecourse, from 9.30am. Grab your family, friends, colleagues (and your best Christmas outfit) and join the fun! With festivities for all the family, hourly races for adults (over 16s), kids’ races and play area, live entertainment, festive food, and refreshments – this is a day for everyone! This is a 5K at your own pace – running, jogging ..read more

In celebration of Halloween just gone and all things frightful, the British Psychological Society research podcast ‘Psychcrunch’ explored the phenomenon of fear, looking at how, counterintuitively, people are drawn to things that scare them, and whether research in this area can inform how we manage anxiety. The episode explores the idea of recreational fear, that is, fear as a form of play. Traditionally fear is categorised as a negative emotion as it helps us avoid danger and so by default is unlikely to be pleasurable. However, researchers at the Recreational Fear Lab at the University of ..read more

“I’m finally feeling positive about life” – Wayne’s story Wayne has been experiencing anxiety, depression and OCD for the last 15 years. After using mental health services, opening up to his support network and exercising more regularly, he has been able to enjoy life despite his mental illnesses. I’m 34 years old have been living with anxiety, depression and OCD for the past 15 years now. At the start of my journey, I didn’t really understand the whole mental health subject. I’ve always tried to look back to see when my mental health issues started and I’m sure they started in secondary scho ..read more

Heading firmly into Autumn now, October also marks the annual WHO World Mental Health Day on 10th October. This year the theme is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’. To support this, we at Aware are running a weeklong mental health awareness campaign, highlighting mental health across the lifespan. More information can be found here. The WHO outline several key messages to support in their theme of mental health as a basic human right. Their first message advocates that; ‘Good mental health is an integral part of our overall health and wellbeing’. They argue that good mental health is ..read more

As human beings, we are born to relate. Initially, we need to connect and to be connected with to survive. From the day we are born, from our very first experience of being in relationship with another person – usually our mother – right across the lifespan, we are relating to and connecting with others. Relating to others is specific to all personality types and temperaments. Physical, psychological, and emotional connection are the central planks on which we develop as a person. These are also the central planks on which we buttress and support our mental health across the lifespan. The fac ..read more