Reading this recent article got me thinking about how important humour can be as a coping response. We do live in extraordinary political, cultural and social times. You'd be excused for thinking at times, that, the apocalypse is nigh. You may not be as catastrophic a thinker as this, but many of us at the least will be experiencing a degree of anxiety about President Trump and other world events. I think the Brits do black humour better than most. I love satire, and in recen

I'm very proud to be involved professionally in this brand new initiative, launched at Hampden Park, Glasgow at the end of August. A colleague within the initiative, Dr John MacLean (pictured above), spearheaded the launch. John is the Scotland team doctor, and a vastly experienced sports medic. The 'Support in Sport' programme for professional football in Scotland has been in development for over a year. It has been an amazing opportunity for me to work alongside a dedicated

How commonly do we turn to drink to help us with our problems? I'm sure many readers will be able to relate to this on some level. From the cheeky glass of wine to take the edge off a rough day at work, or the binge that gets you through difficult emotional upheaval, to full blown alcoholism seeking continually to obliterate thoughts and feelings, booze is a ubiquitous drug in our society. Universally accepted and encouraged, the dividing line between being a pleasurable soci

I have been struggling this past week to get my head around the recent Germanwings aviation tragedy. The fact that a plane crashed with the loss of 150 lives is bad enough, but with detail now emerging about the likelihood of what happened that morning, I'm finding the awful truth of this incident really hard to engage with. It raises so many important issues, both professionally and personally. I have wanted to write about it before now, but I have felt a bit overwhelmed and

A powerful clip. The theme of the black dog captures the essence of depression. People who have suffered with depression often talk about an inability to connect, or for others to understand. I am sure this short video will resonate, but also give hope. #depression #health #wellbeing #emotion

It's Halloween tonight - love it or hate it, this creepy festival is here to stay. It’s funny how it has changed and gathered momentum since I was younger (“when I were a lad…”). I really don’t remember it being such a big deal as it clearly has now become. In part I suspect this has something to do with our friends over the other side of the Atlantic – Halloween is HUGE in the States, and it is fair to say that their infectious energy for this festival has caught on here.

Today, October 10th 2014, is World Mental Health Day. This is an annual event to raise awareness, promote effective treatments, and reduce the stigma of talking about the conditions associated with mental health. I have worked within the field my whole career, so this is a cause particularly close to me. Every year, 1 in 4 of us In the UK will experience a mental health problem of some description. When you stop to think about it, that is a dizzying statistic. The conseque

This morning, I was deeply saddened to read about the death of the US comedian and actor, Robin Williams, in an apparent suicide. I was aware that Williams has had his personal issues, but not to the extent that he would take his own life. It is probably true to say that the personality traits that made him famous in the first place have played a role in his decline, behaviour and frame of mind. This is a tragedy for his family, and he will be sorely missed by legions of f

From time to time we all get wrapped up in the daily grind, and overly focused on problems, worries or insecurities. Me too – guilty as charged. But occasionally something happens that makes you stop and think. Perhaps an event outwith the norm that gives you a jolt, and helps you (or forces you) to step back from things a bit, lift your eyes, and look around. This is all about getting some kind of perspective on your life, on where you are and on what you are doing, or ar

Oliver James is a renowned British psychologist. Here, his recent article in the Guardian explores the role that ‘ecotherapy’ can take in leading to a healthier mind. “At the age of 11 I was an angry boy who earned unpopularity through assiduous selfishness and hostility. At that time I was at a boarding school in Kent, surrounded by rich, fecund forest. It proved my saviour in several different ways. The first was literal. The forest was my protection from occasional hordes