Mental Health

Ecological medicine doctor Dr Jenny Goodman shares tips for coping with hayfever, and explores why you might be suffering from hayfever now – even if you never have before Hayfever is one of many modern epidemics, or what I call ‘21st-century plagues’ – it was rare or unknown before the Industrial Revolution. Its spread is

Award-winning mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin MBE, and writer, literary consultant, and editor Britt Pflüger have teamed up once again to produce an inspiring and uplifting book about something we all need right now: hope Now, more than ever, we could all do with a little hope. And to answer that call, the duo behind

End Youth Homelessness launches the new Health Fund, supported by The Body Shop, to address the growing demand for mental health support amongst homeless young people Over past year and a half, the arrival of the pandemic has thrown up a number of huge societal issues including an increase in young people who find themselves

After a year in and out of lockdown (spent mostly sterilising and keeping our hands clean), now’s the time to get your hands dirty Over the last year, many of us have come to rely on our gardens and local green spaces more than ever. After periods of social restrictions, we’ve rediscovered the importance of

Award-winning journalist, competitive amateur powerlifter and author Poorna Bell joins Happiful’s podcast to talk about embracing gratitude and growing stronger through change Poorna Bell’s new book Stronger: Changing Everything I Thought I Knew About Women’s Strength has a vibrant energy about it, even upon first sight. With a vivid yellow lightning bolt emblazoned on the

The death of Sarah Everard has thrust the issue of violence against women into the headlines. Here, psychologist Marianne Trent reveals for the first time how her own terrifying experience — and her unexpected reaction to it — has haunted her for years Content warning: contains details of sexual harassment When Helen and I first

Moon mentor Kirsty Gallagher shares her passion for lunar living, and how setting our sights to the skies could actually reinforce the connection to ourselves Over the past year, have you found yourself tuning-in to nature more than you did before? Have you found yourself really hearing the birds, noticing each morning becoming a bit

Our homes are the places we should feel safest, and yet, for so many people, this is where the real danger lies. Here, we explore the less recognised signs of domestic abuse Content warning: contains details of abuse Domestic abuse is a crime predominantly happening behind closed doors, with abusers being any age and from

Sunny days are on the way, and the natural world isn’t the only thing that will start to flourish… With what often felt like one of the longest winters in living memory finally behind us, many people are already feeling the mental health benefits of the lighter mornings and longer days. But why is that?

Can a simple, more self-sufficient lifestyle help us to feel grounded? The afternoon sun is in the sky, through an open window you can hear the sound of chickens gently clucking and cooing and, beyond that, bees buzz hypnotically in and out of a handbuilt hive. On the kitchen counter, clipped sweet peas blossom in

From meeting strangers to online gaming, a recent study has found parents’ most common technology fears The rise of technology over the past few decades has thrown up many questions for parents when it comes to keeping their children safe. Platforms take off at unprecedented rates, and we’re all spending more time than ever before

From sampling the local cuisine to connecting with the community, it’s time to venture out into your local area and unearth some hidden gems For many of us, our sense of connection with our community has grown over the past year, and looking at what we have locally can help us appreciate where we live,

We round up some simple tips to help you tackle the climate and environmental crisis. Every action counts There is no planet B. It’s a simple fact of life and one that’s been at the forefront of conversations about climate change for some time now. We’ve got to repair the damage we’ve already done to

The thought of cold open-water swimming might be enough to set your goosebumps off, but after a deep dive into the why, the benefits certainly outweigh the initial chill Floating, weightlessness, resilience, and total freedom – that’s what swimming means to me. So imagine those feelings combined with the sun on your back, the scent

We’ve found the word to describe how we feel. So how do we stop languishing and start flourishing? “The actual meaning of meh”, this is what a friend wrote as she dropped a link to an Instagram post from The New York Times into our WhatsApp chat. The Instagram post in question was about the

Reap the rewards of spending time outside this May. Prioritise self-care, and explore new-found joys in nature 1. Page-turners Watermarks: Life, Death and Swimming by Lenka Janiurek Reading about the experiences of others, particularly those that we would not otherwise be exposed to, can help to open our eyes and broaden our perspectives. Lenka’s heartwarming

Dr Joshua Wolrich, NHS surgical doctor and author of Food isn’t Medicine: Challenge Nutrib&llocks and Escape the Diet Trap, joins Happiful’s podcast to talk about diet culture and using influence for good Since graduating medical school in 2014, Dr Joshua Wolrich has continued to learn professionally and personally about the impact of diet culture and

Across England, millions of schoolchildren are being asked to contribute towards The Big Ask, a survey hoping to uncover what life is really like for children, and pave the way for real, generational change The month-long survey, led by Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza will ask children about their hopes for the

When a loved one is struggling, we can sometimes feel helpless as we try to work out how best to support them. But with these simple steps, you can really be there for them in their time of need Living with mental health problems comes with many challenges. It’s often overwhelming and emotionally draining –

Stephen worked hard and played hard — ignoring the warning signs that his mind and body were sending. Then one day, it all became too much… For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled to switch-off. Since leaving university, two-day weekends of relaxation, rest, and energising play have been few and far between. In

Anecdotally, many people can attest to the way anxiety and depression often come together. But, now, a new study has discovered more than 500 genes that link the conditions together, in research that gives hope for future treatment According to the World Health Organisation, 4.4% of the global population lives with depression, and 3.6% with

Working alongside mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin, Britt Pflüger has curated a beautiful and inspiring collection of 101 stories of hope, but it’s the life experience of her rescue dog, a 16-year-old staffy called Matilda, that’s made the most impact upon her… If 2021 had a guiding word or theme, I believe it would be

So many of us are struggling with the thought of getting out and about as lockdown restrictions lift. Maybe the answer is SLOSO – a purposefully slow return to socialising? There was FOMO (fear of missing out), then there was JOMO (joy of missing out) and now as we work our way through the latest

Our mind is an incredible thing. While we may not understand all its secrets, by utilising the power of storytelling and suggestion, we can change the narrative around our food habits… While I’ve always been a lover of new foods, finding joy in exploring new flavours, textures and cuisines, I can clearly remember my two

What’s the last thing you do before you go to sleep? Do you take a moment to reflect on your day? Meditate? Read a book? Or do you scroll through social media just one last time? If you scroll, you’re not alone. According to research carried out by healthcare provider Vita Health Group, 50% of

Award-winning mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin MBE joins Happiful’s podcast to talk about his phenomenal new book The Book of Hope: 101 Voices on Overcoming Adversity Friend of Happiful Jonny Benjamin shares that he – like so many of us – is very ready to be able to get out a little more and see

Stacey Dooley’s latest BBC film set to air tonight will highlight the profound impact COVID-19 has had on the inpatients of Springfield Hospital, who are in a mental health crisis Stacey Dooley: Back On The Psych Ward follow’s Stacey’s journey at the hospital, meeting with many inpatients struggling with severe mental health conditions including anxiety

Digital expert Harvey Morton shares his experience of burnout and tips for helping yourself out of it 2020 has had a significant impact on people’s mental health. Likely, we won’t see the full effects for a while. The positive from this difficult situation is that people are happier than ever to openly discuss challenges with