The most recent Make Every Contact count public heath bulletin looking at latest evidence around smoking cessation, alcohol, healthy weight, healthy eating and physical exercise is now available. The bulletin is produced by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT Library staff. If you cannot access any of the articles included in the bulletin please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.
Category: Mental Health & Healthy Lifestyles
Physical Activity
Step Into National Walking Month
May is National Walking Month, a great reminder to make time for daily walks and enjoy the many benefits of moving more. Walking is one of the simplest ways to improve physical and mental well-being — it helps clear the mind, boosts mood, and supports a healthier body.
Whether you take a stroll through your local park, walk part of your commute, or explore new places on foot, every step counts. Walking also connects us with our surroundings, giving us a chance to slow down and appreciate the world around us.
This month, why not combine your walks with a good book or podcast, or challenge yourself to add a few extra steps each day? Let’s celebrate the small, steady power of walking.
Strengthening Suicide Prevention: From Policy to Practice
The Suicide Prevention Consortium’s 2025 report, Suicide Prevention Principles: From Policy to Practice, outlines two fundamental principles for effective suicide prevention: ensuring ‘no wrong door’ to accessing support and providing person-centred care. The report emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts, inclusive practices, increased staff awareness, and robust workforce support to translate these principles into actionable strategies.
Read the full report: NSPA – Suicide Prevention Principles: From Policy to Practice
A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country: New Report Calls for Bold Action
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health has released its 2025 report, A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country, outlining urgent steps to end smoking in the UK within a generation. Central to the plan is a proposed ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco companies, aiming to raise £700 million annually to fund cessation programs and reduce health inequalities. The report also recommends stricter regulations on youth vaping and a cap on tobacco industry profits. With smoking remaining a leading cause of preventable illness and death, the report urges all political parties to commit to a fully funded, long-term strategy to make smoking obsolete.
Read the full report: A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country – APPG on Smoking and Health
Eating Disorder Bulletin April 2025
The latest Eating Disorder Bulletin is now available to view or 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.
Eating Disorder Bulletin March 2025
The latest Eating Disorder Bulletin is now available to view or 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.
NHE: Report Highlights Deepening Mental Health Crisis
A recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals a significant decline in mental health across England and Wales since the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, over half of the 900,000 increase in disability benefit claims among working-age adults is due to mental health issues. Additionally, ‘deaths of despair’—including those from alcohol, drugs, and suicide—have risen by 24%, resulting in approximately 3,700 additional deaths in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. The report also highlights a 36% increase in individuals accessing NHS mental health services since 2019, with antidepressant prescriptions up by 12%.
Read the full article: National Health Executive
New Books for Our Teenage Collection!
Looking for something fresh to read? We’ve just added some fantastic new books to our Teenage Collection! Whether you need advice on mental health, body image, social media, or identity, these books have got you covered. From Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys to Social Anxiety Relief for Teens, there’s something for everyone.
Come check them out at the library!
The King’s Fund: Social Care Review
The King’s Fund’s latest Social Care 360 report examines the state of adult social care in England, highlighting funding shortfalls, workforce shortages, and access challenges. While spending has risen, it hasn’t kept up with demand, leaving many without vital support. The report provides a crucial overview of where the system stands and what needs urgent attention.
Read more: Social Care 360 – The King’s Fund