Short film produced by IRISS and East Dunbartonshire Council.  A resource for use in teaching?

View here.

Throughout 2011/12, CQC commissioners visited 1,546 wards, of which 811 were unannounced and 95 took place on weekends.  Commissioners spoke to patients and staff, checked care plans and other documents, examined the state of wards and more.  This report, published today, contains their findings.

View the report and summary.

Adult safeguarding is about looking out for the people around us and protecting them from harm. Anyone can find themselves in a difficult situation where there is a possibility that they might be harmed, but when the situation involves someone who needs extra support – known as ‘an adult at risk’ – the situation becomes critical.

The resource explores the following questions:

• What is ‘adult safeguarding’ and how does it affect each and every one of…

May be useful for teaching.  Made by the brilliant Mosaic Films, who also made Animated Minds.

View three short films about poverty here.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is now seeking views from stakeholders as part of a new consultation on draft criteria for approving Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) education programmes in England.



Until its closure last year, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) had statutory responsibility for approving AMHP education programmes in England. The HCPC have now taken on this responsibility.



The criteria under…

The Higher Education Academy (HEA) is inviting students to participate as ‘jurors’ in a major social mobility conference to be held in Manchester on 26 - 27 March 2013.

The two-day conference, ‘What can higher education contribute to improving social mobility in the UK?’ will examine the contribution of higher education to improving social mobility in the UK. 

The HEA is looking for 12…

Haunted by visions of his father, Mark thought he’d won the jackpot when he discovered he was going to be housed. But now, safe and secure in his apartment, he’s overwhelmed by a new fear – will he lose his home when the study ends? 



This short film is a chapter from Here At Home, a web documentary about mental health and homelessness that takes us inside the Mental Health Commission of Canada's At Home pilot project.…

This is a film about memory loss in old age. The title of the film ‘Primum non forgetful’ explores part of the Hippocratic Oath when it comes to the medical approach to memory loss. Primum non nocere, as stated by Hippocrates, translates as: first, above all, do no harm. This film, Primum non forgetful, argues that we have lost sight of the range of reasons behind forgetfulness in age.

This film is presented in two parts: the first part explores the current drive and…

See here for an updated version of mhhe's annotated reading list.

This group is for all who are passionate about sustaining critical and creative approaches to mental health practice, in situations which can feel constraining. Open to mental health practitioners, students, educators, service users and carers and others with an interest in engaging in discussion and debate, reciprocal learning and support. We meet on the last Monday of the month from 6-8pm at the Friends Meeting House in Lancaster. 

Further details:…

The Mental Health Foundation has launched a major inquiry into the Future of Mental Health Services in the UK.  They want to explore what mental health services might look like in 20 – 30 years’ time. This will involve looking ahead to assess the challenges mental health services may face in the future, and thinking creatively about the ways services can meet these challenges. It is hoped that the findings will help ensure that all mental health services are fit for purpose in the 21st…

Useful materials for generating debate in teaching:

My daughter the schizophrenic - Guardian article

Response by Gordon Milson and Sarah Brennan (Young Minds)…

Historically young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis found it difficult to obtain effective treatment. The film invites to viewer to see the world through the eyes of Karl, a 20 year old student suffering with psychosis.  The film was made to raise awareness of psychosis, reduce the stigma and reduce the delay in getting treatment.  It was made in conjunction with North Staffordshire Early Intervention in Psychosis Team.…

At the age of 19 Aidan Shingler was diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia.  In this film he talks about his attitude towards this diagnosis and uses animation to parody and satirise psychiastrists and psychiatry.

View film here.

This guideline covers the assessment and management of adults and young people (aged 14 years and older) who have a clinical diagnosis of psychosis with coexisting substance misuse.

Summary from the Mental Elf and download link 

This group meets from 6-8 pm on the last Monday of each month at the Friends Meeting House in Lancaster and is for all who are passionate about sustaining creative and critical practice in mental health.

Open to mental health practitioners, students, educators, service users and carers and others with an interest in engaging in discussion and debate, reciprocal learning and support.

• Share critical and creative ideas and develop strategies for putting them into…

The Ragged University project, underpinned by the concept of free education and self learning, delivers free and informal public talks in social spaces, such as pubs, cafes and libraries, around the UK, as well as uses available technology for open access learning http://www.ragged-online.com/about/ . There is a Ragged University Event (public talks) in Manchester on 19th February 2013. See…