I’m sure as kids we all kept that one diary that lasted for no more than 2 days with a constant thought we would “keep it up.” Even if you didn’t, I know I did, and back then I didn’t realise how beneficial it would’ve been to continue writing. Now – with that in mind – I’ve come to realise, writing down your feelings in a journal every day can really help you come to terms with how you’re feeling. Every day only negative thoughts would take over and carrying that weight was only a burden. That’s why I turned to journalling: not ..read more

The truth spills out of me just like the bottom of your morning coffee does as you empty it down the drain before seeing me. 9:00. Although we have to distance ourselves because of the virus in the air, the coffee beans grinded between your teeth still manage to travel towards me with every ‘mhm, and how do you feel about this?’. But I’m scared to let my coffee spill down the drain, just like yours, because I keep thinking and thinking of the what ifs. What if I spill it on me? What if I spill too much? What if I’m not finished? What if you don’t li ..read more

The region’s first dedicated children’s hospital has taken another step forward this week by submitting a planning application to Cambridge City Council consisting of early designs for Cambridge Children’s Hospital. The submission of the formal ‘reserved matters’ planning application builds on the existing outline planning permission which was granted for the site previously. The move comes after the early designs and floor plans were shared with the Council’s planning committee in August. Built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the hosp ..read more

You are with your friend and they seem very quiet – you get the sense that they want to tell you something but they just can’t seem to. Then they tell you that they have been abused. It can be really hard to know what to say and what to do. When the abuse is then reported, which is the right thing to do, unfortunately for a lot of people the world changes at that moment. What should be a moment of support, help, reassurance, relief and the start of being safe can often, in reality turn into confusion, uncertainty, loss of control  ..read more

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is common but hugely misunderstood. I was diagnosed with OCD in 2011, at 18 years old, and I’m still learning about my disorder and installing effective coping strategies into my daily life. Before my diagnosis, I had a minimal understanding of what OCD was, although as I’ll explain, OCD is very misunderstood. The diagnosis can often be used as a throw-away remark in response to someone’s desire to have their house or self ‘neat and tidy’. This is one of the most common mi ..read more

It is getting hotter outside, the sun lights up your room longer at night, and your friends keep asking you to go out for ice cream. Summer is here and it is here to stay. But with the weather getting warmer and the clothes getting thinner and shorter, often times our personal insecurities rise. Especially when it gets to our body and the way we look. Some of us might regret to not have been on a diet or to not have been working out those last months. Usually summer hits us faster, than eating up a cup of ice cream, doesn’t it? The things we feel insecure about often fade away in winter, whe ..read more

How modern media’s attempts to combat the taboo surrounding mental health may be more damaging than it seems. In recent years mental health has become a largely discussed topic throughout all forms of media, especially in film and television. As we are seeing a rise in representation of characters struggling with these issues, it leads many of us to question both the motives and impacts of these stories being told. There is no doubt that as a society we have adapted hugely in comparison to decades ago in terms of attitudes to mental health, with there being so many positive changes includin ..read more

I’m sorry. I’m so-so sorry. I should have seen the signs right from the start, but I didn’t. I was too angry, too hateful, and now you lay 6-feet under the earth with only a stone slab as your last mark in history. We used to be so close. What happened? I guess it all changed once mum died. You couldn’t cope and you needed something to keep you afloat in life. I thought that role was mine… not the substance that you injected into your arm. Your eyes used to be a source of light and warmth during winter nights – so how come I didn’t question when they began radiating despair. We used to be so ..read more

Hi! I am Pippa. I grew up in Winchester, Hampshire, but moved to Ipswich 2 years ago. Since being here, I have had various roles caring for people with Special Educational Needs or mental health difficulties. I’m a student at University College London (UCL) studying a part time Masters in Clinical Mental Health Sciences. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, a lot of it has been online, but I hope to travel to London a bit next year for some in-person teaching. I am really passionate about spreading awareness around mental health and particularly interested in a holistic view of mental health – so ..read more

As the restrictions start to ease on this roadmap out of a country-wide lockdown, our immediate thought may be to submerge ourselves into every activity, visit every bar and shop and see as many of our friends as we can. While of course many of us are longing to get back to the life we knew before, it’s important to be mindful that throwing ourselves at a taste of normality might not be what we actually want or what our mind needs. We must remember that we’ve spent so long living within government restrictions and actually, whether we’re aware of it or not, we may feel overwhelmed once we’re ..read more