Mental Health online directory

Another extremely useful resource, this time from 'Together' (formerly MACA). This site helps guide you through mental health services and can link you with local networks.
http://www.together-uk.org

Male suicide rates down

Despite an ongoing downward trend, suicide is still the main cause of death for males under the age of 35.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5079352.stm

Well being in later life

More than 3 million pensioners will be affected with mental health problems by 2021, an inquiry has shown... time to do something about it then!

http://www.mhilli.org/inquiry/

Personality Disorder and DBT

A further study in America has shown that Dialectical Behaviour Therapy halved the risk of suicide in women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The study was carried out using a group of over 100 women aged 18 to 45 years old.

Archives of General Psychiatry (2006) 63 757-766

Below are two links that you may find useful. The first gives an in depth overview of the therapy and the second offers a variety of resources for those connected with borderline personality disorder.
http://www.priory.com/dbt.htm
http://www.bpdresources.com/

Goths, self harm and suicide

Marilyn Mansun, Fields of The Nephilm, The Mission, Sisters of Mercy... according to research in The British Medical Journal if you have any of these bands in your record collection and you tend to like wearing black and avoiding the sun you could be more likely to engage in self harming behaviours. The research showed that 'Goth subculture' was linked to a lifetime prevelance of self harm of 53% and an attempted suicide risk of 43%.

British Medical Journal (2006)

Self harm in the news...

Self harm has come to the fore recently with debates at the Royal College of Nursing conference to discuss treatment and support. It should be interesting to see the outcomes of the debate and what it will reccomend for future interventions.

Another study focussing on young people who self harm has come up with some unsurprising results: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4842116.stm

Divorce makes you miserable... for life

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=34970

Antidepressents and suicide

There is no increase in risk of suicide when people start taking antidepressent medication according to research in the US. The researchers examined suicide rates amongst 65,000 people who were prescribed anti depressents during a 10.5 year period up to 2002.

American Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 163: 1, 41-47