Quote from Lisa McNally: "When serious distress is dismissed, people stay ill longer, relationships strain, productivity falls, and the costs of crisis care and lost participation mount... Pretending the rise [in mental health problems] is merely “over diagnosis” won’t make the problem go away; it will entrench it.”

"Let’s drop the minimising headlines and build services, and a public conversation, that match the evidence and the lived reality." Our latest blog from @lisamcnally.bsky.social discusses the dangers of framing mental distress as mere “stress” 👇
www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/life-being-s...

Quote: If you want to see what practical community power looks like in mental health, look to Ireland’s Public Participation Networks (PPNs).

Local councils have an important role to play in championing mental health. Our latest blog by @lisamcnally.bsky.social on what we can learn from Ireland's Public Participation Networks to ensure that community engagement isn’t tokenistic. www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/irelands-com...

Does loneliness really cause us to die earlier? - Centre for Mental Health Lisa explores the links between loneliness and poor health and asks: does loneliness cause poor health (and an earlier death) – or does poor health cause loneliness?

"Is it really loneliness that causes poor health – or does poor health cause loneliness?"

@lisamcnally.bsky.social explores the latest evidence, considering the impact of loneliness on our physiology and behaviour - and sets out what can be done to address the link: tinyurl.com/bdcf9xvy #Loneliness

Picture of a semicolon. Particularly within the context of the Project Semicolon movement, this is a symbol of hope and continuation, not an end, representing the choice to live and overcome mental health struggles, especially those related to suicide. It's a visual reminder that a person's story is not finished, even when faced with difficult circumstances.

There are a lot of people struggling this weekend. Some I know personally.

For what it's worth - please know you're not alone. You're loved and valued. The world is a brighter and more beautiful place with you in it.

Please stay.
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Training tips directly from a former World Champion and multiple world record holder. And me - banging on about all sorts of rubbish.

Listen on Apple: apple.co/3RhoDbB
Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi/42oDRAI
Listen on web: bit.ly/43XmpG1

Prevention: The Law of Inverse Relevance

In the BMJ today... my latest mutterings on the prevention of ill health.

It sets out three issues that hinder engagement and investment in preventative programmes and services...

www.bmj.com/content/389/...

Thanks Tonia. And well done for setting up such an important initiative. Combining social connection, physical activity and exposure to nature is a powerful way to improve wellbeing.

Loneliness: Don’t ask, don’t tell? - Centre for Mental Health Loneliness impacts our health but often remains undiscussed. Lisa urges local systems to tackle loneliness as part of a neighbourhood health approach.

LONELINESS: DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL?

www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/loneliness-d...

Briiliant win for #Everton. One our best performances of 2024/25 deserved more than a draw.
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Loneliness: Don’t ask, don’t tell? - Centre for Mental Health Loneliness has a significant impact on our health, but too often remains undiscussed. Lisa McNally calls on local systems to tackle loneliness as part of a neighbourhood health approach.

Loneliness significantly impacts our mental and physical health, but too often it remains undiscussed.
@lisamcnally.bsky.social calls on local systems to tackle #loneliness as part of a neighbourhood health approach: tinyurl.com/ycke7h33

What my Mum taught me about promoting physical activity...

www.linkedin.com/pulse/physic...

Another idea made a reality by our Public Health grants programme. The ‘Music and Move’ sessions at a Redditch nursery are having a positive impact...

Full story here... insights.worcestershire.gov.uk/music-and-mo...
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Balance bikes boost children's confidence! YouTube video by Worcestershire County Council

Our Public Health Grants allow schools to make their own ideas for health improvement a reality. Here's Laura at Bayton Primary...

youtu.be/tU6QmsvZdOU

"We're Not Just Geeks" - Worcestershire Public Health Team YouTube video by Lisa McNally

Our Public Health Team have a theme song...

It's surely destined to be a massive hit. Or possibly not.

youtu.be/gmKoqEndU7I
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Can't say I blame her! 😃

Just set yourself one aim Tony - to enjoy every minute of it!

Pls update on how it goes 🙂

Photo of people walking through underpass with graffiti art on wall

Our work with the Westlands housing estate has been shortlisted for the LGC Public Health Award.

We devolved resources down to a committee of residents and local agencies.

We've seen inspiring stories about how lives have changed for the better.

"We Are Westlands!" Film... youtu.be/hV_SbpYY72o

The BMJ: browse by volume/issue, medical specialty or clinical topic Full archive, searchable by print issue, specialty, clinical & non-clinical topic. See also for podcasts, videos, infographics, blogs, reader comments, print cover images

In The BMJ... me banging on (again) about how to increase physical activity in local communities.

Link here... www.bmj.com/content/386/...

Transforming the world one run at a time On 2 October 2004, a man went down to his local park in London with some friends.  What they did there would change the world.  Although they didn't realise it at...

The benefits to Local Authorities of supporting their local parkrun. My latest ramblings in The MJ...

www.themj.co.uk/transforming...

Hey @blueskystarterpack.com please add: go.bsky.app/VBHLcsQ

One year anniversary - vegan restaurant's successes and cost of living challenges Vegan restaurant No Frickin' Chicken is celebrating its first full year open in Worcester

I love this place!!!

www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2494532...

black cockapoo looking happy holding a cocktail

Happy Friday Bluesky People! You're all awesome!
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Transforming the world one run at a time On 2 October 2004, a man went down to his local park in London with some friends.  What they did there would change the world.  Although they didn't realise it at...

How local authorities and NHS can benefit from supporting parkrun...

www.themj.co.uk/transforming...
@pauls-h.bsky.social #parkrun

Scrumpy the dog holding his harness in his mouth.

Scrumpy's subtle hint that he wants to go for a walk...
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The relationship between online communication and mental health and cardiorespiratory fitness from ages 15 to 17: a longitudinal cohort study - PubMed This study underscores the potential negative effects of online communication on mental and physical health among adolescents, regardless of sex or SES. The findings highlight the importance of balanc...

New longitudinal research suggests that increased time spent on online communication is associated with poorer mental health outcomes among young people.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39939991/

Exciting,aggressive and chaotic. As usual! #UTFT

Social factors in encouraging physical activity

Short piece in the BMJ. I've highlighted parkrun as a key way to motivate physical activity.

Link here... www.bmj.com/content/386/...

PSH signing his book

Delighted that my book, One Small Step is fast approaching publication day - 10th April.
2,000 signed copies will be available in the @parkrun shop.
tinyurl.com/3n8fk67m
They’re gone when they’re gone.

The signing process has begun

This is an important public health matter! Exercise and movement should be accessible for all yet so many barriers exist like cost and proximity. And if you’ve never had ability or inclination to be active much yourself, it can have a huge generational impact.

Social factors are crucial to encouraging physical activity Zhu and colleagues’ study is a good example of research into psychological approaches to encouraging exercise. They found that motivational interviewing had no effect on physical activity in studies w...

The British Medical Journal - Feb 2025:
Social factors are crucial to encouraging physical activity.

www.bmj.com/content/388/...