In this blog, Professor Miguel Martínez Lucio of the Work and Equalities Institute and the Alliance Manchester Business School and Dr Jo McBride of Durham University discuss the question of how we have failed to value the work and importance of those in the area of cleaning and hygiene-related employment more generally. The need now […]
Whose responsibility is it anyway? Resilience in children and young people’s mental health
The lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increasing focus on mental health, particularly that of children and young people. In this blog, Dr Ola Demkowicz examines the emphasis on resilience in this age group, and suggests how policymakers can better support young people’s wellbeing, while moving away from placing the onus on […]
Prioritising play to promote wellbeing
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 31 states children have the right to access play, rest and leisure. With the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, play opportunities are vital to helping children make sense of their experiences, problem-solve, reconnect with their peers, and promote their own wellbeing. In this […]
Social media and mental health: Can we trust what we’re being told?
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent lockdown initiated in much of the world, has highlighted the crucial role of social media in social connectivity and news dissemination. In this blog, from our publication On Digital Trust, Dr Margarita Panayiotou explores whether social media is as bad for our mental health as we are led to […]
The ‘new normal’ for talking therapies after COVID-19: user-led, remote, informal and universal
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health services are providing support remotely. In this blog, Dr Warren Mansell, Reader in Clinical Psychology, discusses the positive ways that services have adapted and how they can be sustained in the future. The COVID-19 crisis has put into stark relief a chronic, pre-existing problem with the provision of talking […]
Transport and logistics during the COVID-19 pandemic
While the majority of the population is urged to stay at home, the country is relying on the transport and logistics sector to maintain the delivery of goods, and most importantly food and medical supplies, which have seen a substantial increase in demand. People working in the haulage industry are identified as key workers given […]
Examining the impact of social distancing on older adults
Social distancing has transformed the lives of everyone in society. However, some groups have been affected more than others, such as those already socially isolated, people in poor health, or those living in low-income communities. In this blog, Tine Buffel, Patty Doran, Camilla Lewis, Chris Phillipson and Sophie Yarker, from the Manchester Urban Ageing Research […]
Suicide prevention in action: an update on the national programme
Nicola Richards, Research Assistant, and Cathryn Rodway, Programme Manager and Research Associate, work for the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH). In this blog, they discuss the progress of national investment in suicide prevention, and give examples of good practice developed from local quality improvement plans that should help to […]
Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people during the school closures
Following some of the latest Government announcements relating to COVID-19, the majority of children and young people will this week be getting used to not going to school. In this blog, Dr Terry Hanley discusses what this could mean for young people’s mental health and wellbeing. For years, face-to-face support has been the primary […]
Gender and sexual violence
Sexual violence can have devastating consequences for victims. In this blog, Dr Catherine White, Dr Rabiya Majeed-Ariss and Professor David Gadd explore how gender intersects with social demographic characteristics to compound vulnerabilities and complicate access to services. Most adult victims of sexual violence are females, and perpetrators of sexual violence are predominantly male. In 2017, […]