Category: Mental Health

A healthier future for reducing alcohol harm in the UK

The Institute of Alcohol Studies has published a new vision for tackling alcohol harm across the country. Created by a wide group of experts in policy, research and treatment, the document sets out a clear and hopeful path for long term progress.

The vision looks at how the UK can create safer communities, strengthen prevention, improve treatment pathways, and reduce the serious health impacts linked to alcohol use. It brings together evidence, lived experience and practical recommendations that can help guide national and local action in the years ahead.

For anyone working in public health, mental health, community safety or addiction services, the report offers valuable insight into the changes that could support a healthier and more resilient future.

Read more: IAS-Long-term-vision-for-alcohol-harm.pdf

Healthcare partnership trials quit smoking app to support mental health

A new pilot programme in the North East and Yorkshire is offering patients at acute and mental health trusts access to a digital app designed to help people quit smoking.

Participants receive free access to the Smoke Free app, which provides tools, guidance and personalised encouragement to support people on their stop smoking journey. The pilot is being delivered through a collaboration involving Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, and NHS England for the region.

Smoking rates remain higher among people living with mental health conditions, and digital support tools like this may offer an accessible way to improve long term health and wellbeing.

Read more: Healthcare partnership trials use of quit smoking app | UKAuthority

Depression & Anxiety Bulletin

The current bulletin for Depression & Anxiety, produced by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust, is now available to view and download. 

In this edition:

  • Is intolerance of uncertainty in preschool children a risk factor for later anxiety?
  • Unsafe, unsupported, unseen: The hidden mental health costs of poor housing for people seeking asylum
  • Weighing the risks: new review ranks antidepressants by their physical health side effects
  • Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy proves cost-effective for hard-to-treat depression

For support accessing any of the articles within the bulletin please contact: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

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Mental Health Bulletin 2024 25 Annual Report

The latest Mental Health Bulletin from NHS Digital is now available. It offers the most detailed picture of people who used NHS funded secondary mental health, learning disability and autism services in England during 2024 to 2025.

This annual report helps shine a light on who is accessing services, how care is being delivered and where demand continues to grow. Insights like these support better planning, service improvement and understanding of the needs of the people we care for.

You can read the full publication here: Mental Health Bulletin, 2024-25 Annual report – NHS England Digital

Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Bulletin

The latest Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Bulletin produced by the Mersey Care Evidently Better team is now available.

In this issue:

  • Important update on Suicide Safety Assessment Training
  • Exploring Van Gogh Syndrome: A Case Report on Schizoaffective Disorder and Self‐Harm
  • More than a million people every week show suicidal intent when chatting with ChatGPT, OpenAI estimates
  • Suicide rates among young people in England rose 50% in 10 years, figures show

If you are unable to access any of the included articles please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

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Perinatal Mental Health Bulletin

With thanks to our colleagues at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation trust the latest Perinatal Mental Health bulletin is now available to view and download. Some articles are freely accessible, others require an Open Athens account.

Please get in touch for support with this: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

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Improving Support for People with Complex Mental Health Difficulties

A new report from the Centre for Mental Health explores how to improve care for people living with complex mental health difficulties.

The report shows that long hospital stays far from home can leave people feeling isolated and disconnected from their communities. It offers a more compassionate and effective alternative through local community-based support that includes intensive psychotherapy, therapeutic day programmes and high-support accommodation when needed.

This approach helps people stay close to family, friends and familiar surroundings while receiving specialist care. It reminds us that recovery is not only about treatment but also about connection, belonging and stability.

Read the full report here: CentreforMH_ImprovingSupportForPeopleWithComplexMHDifficulties.pdf

Depression & Anxiety Bulletin

The current bulletin for Depression & Anxiety, produced by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust, is now available to view and download. 

In this edition:

  • Ketamine, depression and childhood trauma: new evidence from a community study
  • The genetic link behind sleep problems, cognitive dysfunction, and neuroticism in ‘treatment-resistant depression’
  • Mind responds to annual mental health act statistics
  • More research needed into psychedelics as potential treatments for mental disorders, calls RCPsych

For support accessing any of the articles within the bulletin please contact: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

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Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Bulletin


The latest Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Bulletin produced by the Mersey Care Evidently Better team is now available.

In this issue:

  • Machine learning algorithms and their predictive accuracy for suicide and self-harm: Systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Incidence of suicide within two years of a first diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or mixed anxiety and depression: an exploratory cohort study in primary care using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink
  • Developing theory-informed implementation strategies to embed a suicide safety planning intervention app into a psychiatric emergency department: co-design study using the Behaviour Change Wheel
  • Umbrella review of psychosocial and ward-based interventions to reduce self-harm and suicide risks in in-patient mental health settings

If you are unable to access any of the included articles please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

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