Posts Tagged ‘society’

I don’t conceive of counselling as a navel gazing activity, nor as one which encourages the individual to take either the blame or the responsibility for their circumstances. It is not my intention to imply this when I state that although we did not create this structural, institutional power imbalance under which we live, the only way we can change it is by empowering ourselves to take action.

What should we be asking about the social, cultural, historical and evolutionary contexts in which compromised mental health arises and how it is compounded? Has humanity lost its way somewhere? Is it heading for its own imminent destruction via anthropogenic climate change, exhaustion of planetary resources and geopolitical conflict? Professor Colin Feltham is taking the dark view seriously. Here, he shares a precis of his new book, “What’s Wrong With us? The Anthropathology Thesis”.

Whereas once the bullying that occurred in school corridors or in the streets could be escaped from at home, now every part of a child’s private world can be touched by bullying, and it can be seen by absolutely everyone who knows you and thousands who don’t. The scope for harassment and bullying is now immense.

While friendships help us to cope, many people experiencing mental illness are still too scared to tell their friends. Almost 80 percent of people know at least two friends who have experienced mental distress, yet many don’t want to admit their own mental health problems for fear of what their friends might think, according to new research from the Mental Health Foundation.

On Monday 9 April, G4 star Ben Thapa will begin an online auction of sports, music and showbiz goodies to raise money for charity. Prizes include VIP tickets to meet the team at any Bolton Wanderers premiership match, tickets to meet G4 on their forthcoming tour, and a signed Manchester United football. Ben has organised the auction, which is being held on eBay to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation.