Category: Mental Health & Healthy Lifestyles

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace UK Health Security Agency; April 14 2022

(Public health principles for reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.)

Out of Area Placements in Mental Health Services, January 2022 NHS Digital; April 14 2022

(Publication of adult acute mental health patients being treated outside their provider of usual treatment in January 2022. Statistics are presented nationally and at regional, sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) footprint, clinical commissioning group (CCG) and provider level.)

Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics , Performance January, Provisional February 2022 NHS Digital; April 14 2022

(This publication provides the most timely statistics available relating to NHS funded secondary mental health, learning disabilities and autism services in England. This information will be of use to people needing access to information quickly for operational decision making and other purposes. These statistics are derived from submissions made using version 4.1 of the Mental Health Services Dataset (MHSDS))

Thunderstorm asthma and public health – looking back to move forward UK Health Security Agency; March 18 2022

(In June 2021, the UK Health Security Agency detected a potential episode of
thunderstorm asthma; an increase in people reporting asthma symptoms linked to thunderstorm activity. In this blog post they look at the interplay between the weather and our health and how they can use their scientific surveillance systems to inform future public health responses.)

Integrated health and care services for people experiencing homelessness NICE Talks

(In this episode of NICE Talks they discuss NICE’s recently published guideline on integrated health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness.

The guideline was developed in partnership with the Centre for Homelessness Impact and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The guideline outlines how people experiencing homelessness can access services tailored for their needs. It highlights that more effort and targeted approaches are often needed to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have access to the same standard of health and social care as the general population.)

Public Health

Current awareness updates

Restricting promotions of products high in fat, sugar or salt by location and by volume price.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2022.

[Outlines the provisions of the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021, and provides assistance in understanding and applying them.]

United against health inequalities: a commitment to lasting change NHS Providers, April 2022

(This survey of trust leaders shows high board-level commitment and strategic emphasis on tackling health inequalities and commitment to making action on health inequalities ‘core business’. However, they describe several barriers to progress with nearly two in three (65 per cent) saying that wider pressures on the system and operational challenges hinder their ability to progress work on reducing health inequalities. Nearly half of trust leaders expressed concerns about the lack of access to data about health inequalities within trusts (49 per cent) and across the health system (48 per cent).)

Coronavirus Act 2020 two years on.
House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee; 2022.
[This report sets out concerns about parliament’s lack of ability to scrutinise and amend emergency provisions in the Coronavirus Act over the past two years and draws out the lessons that can be learnt in legislating for future emergencies.]


Covid-19: The public inquiries.
House of Commons Library; 2022.
[The Covid-19 pandemic was a severe test of the state’s preparedness, resilience and co-ordination. The response from the UK Government and devolved administrations has raised broader questions about how effectively the challenges have been met. There have been longstanding calls for a public inquiry to be held into the UK’s pandemic response. Two public inquiries have been set up: one by the UK Government and one by the Scottish Government.]

Shifting the Dial: evaluating a community programme to promote young Black men’s mental health.
Centre for Mental Health (CMH); 2022.
https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/shifting-dial
[Young Black men are overrepresented in restrictive mental health settings, but are less likely to get early community-based mental health support. This report shares learning from a three-year project to promote the mental health and wellbeing of young Black men in Birmingham. The project built upon the findings from CMH’s evaluation of an earlier pilot, Up My Street. Shifting the Dial has worked with more than 500 young Black men.]

Can fermented foods boost mental health? Medscape: March 22, 2022

(Commentary by Dr Drew Ramsey)


Free Online Event

Begin your Tai Chi journey: An introduction to essential Tai Chi skills

Source: Eventbrite, Quality of Life Now

Learning even basic Tai Chi skills can promote balance, calmness, and mental focus. Every Sunday: 11am EST (Boston, MA)

Movement is the key to maintaining mental and physical health.

This series uses seasonal training to help you develop a wide range of skills which will enhance both your mental and physical health. Introducing basic Tai Chi skills, such as posting, walking, breathing, stretching, energy work, bone tapping and hand movements.

Even outwardly simple movement when practiced correctly promote organ health, lower body strength and mental focus.

Enjoy learning at home through these weekly online lessons.

To register click here

Lunch and Learn – Reminder

A session about Health and Wellbeing

This is just a reminder that the next Lunch and Learn session will be held via Teams on Wednesday 19th January between 12pm and 1pm.

This session will feature Jo Smith, Health and Wellbeing Lead, talking about physical and mental wellbeing and support that is available to help us keep well.

Teams invites have been sent to all our Library registered users. If you would like an invite to be extended to you or your team please email: carmel.smith@lscft.nhs.uk

Emotional Support

Online resources – Wot Wud U Do?

Wot Wud U Do is an interactive and thought provoking resource, designed to help professionals to educate the younger generation on topics that impact them daily, such as mental health, relationships and sex. 

Their vision is simple; to change how young people think when confronted with day to day challenges on mental health, relationships and/or sex. They support their vision with three main aims, which are:

  • To educate young people to think critically when it comes to making decisions
  • To raise their awareness of how their level of self-esteem affects their ability to make decisions
  • To stimulate a lively debate within the classroom by simply asking ‘Wot Wud U Do’.

For more information visit the website or watch the video below.

Emotional Support

Online resources – Mental Health Family Hour

Today’s resource is the hugely popular Mental Health Family Hour with Sam Tyrer (Change Talks) and Dave Cottrell (Mindset by Dave) and this episode is about social media and self image.

Emotional Support

Online resources – Healthier LSC

Sign-posting to mental health resources resources in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

This webpage contains resources, information, support organisations and websites to help support your own mental health or if you are worried about someone else. 

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National Self Care Week

National Self Care Week is 15 – 21 November 2021

  • Self Care Week is an annual UK-wide national awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self care across communities, families and generations.
  • Practise Self Care for Life is the theme for 2021
  • The Self Care Forum has been organising Self Care Week since 2011

For more information visit the website

Public Health

Current awareness updates

Influenza season 2021–22: what healthcare managers need to know.
Clough I. British Journal of Healthcare Management 2021;27(10):1-4.
[With the influenza season approaching and COVID-19 case numbers remaining high, this article highlights key points for healthcare managers and leaders going into this potentially challenging period.]

The vicious cycle of tobacco use and mental illness – a double burden on health.
World Health Organization (WHO); 2021.
[This new factsheet examines the intricate connections between tobacco use and mental illness. 2 in 3 people with severe mental health conditions are current smokers, which has an enormous impact on health. Reducing smoking among people with mental illness is identified as the single most effective action for reducing the gap in life expectancy.]

British HIV Association guidelines for the management of HIV-2 2021.
British HIV Association (BHIVA); 2021.
[The overall purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance on best clinical practice in the treatment and management of adults with HIV-2.]

Promoting the sexual health and wellbeing of people from a Black Caribbean background: an evidence-based resource.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
[Provides information on developing interventions for improved sexual health and wellbeing in people from a Black Caribbean background.]

Sexually transmitted infections: promoting the sexual health and wellbeing of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
[Provides information on developing interventions for improved sexual health and wellbeing among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.]

Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, England (Contraception) 2020/21.
NHS Digital; 2021.
[This publication primarily covers contraceptive activity taking place at dedicated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in England, as recorded in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Activity Dataset (SRHAD), a mandated collection for all providers of NHS SRH services. The main focus of this report is contraception.]

Overlooked: why we should be doing more to support families and friends affected by someone else’s drinking, drug use or gambling.
Adfam; 2021.
[This report examines Adfam’s latest research with YouGov on the prevalence of people currently negatively affected by the drinking, drug use or gambling of a family member or friend in 2021, and the different challenges and impacts these families currently face. The report’s findings highlight the need for more recognition of the impacts on families and friends, and it includes recommendations on how to better support this overlooked group.]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
[Information on STI diagnoses and sexual health services provided in England by demographic characteristics and geographical region.]

Emotional Support

Online resources – Master the Mind Master Anything podcast – Kids’ Mental Health Special

Source: Mindset by Dave podcast

Today’s resource is the Master the Mind Master Anything podcast presented by Dave Cottrell (Mindset by Dave). In this episode Dave talks, from one parent to another, about some of the things he has learned as a parent and how these can be applied in your relationships with your own kids.

Listen to the podcast here.