Psychology

I distinctly remember the moment when the news notification came through about Caroline’s death last year. I felt a deep sense of sadness for Caroline, her family and everyone that knew and loved her and an equal sense of anger, for her, that this was how her life had ended. I know that so many people felt the same, despite having never met Caroline. In the months before her death, Caroline had been regularly featured on the front pages of newspapers, as the court case around an altercation with her partner loomed. She looked like a shell of her former […]

Aligning with endometriosis awareness month, Bodyform’s latest campaign asks women to share their pain stories “Women are born with pain built in, it’s our physical destiny — period pain, sore boobs, childbirth, you know. We carry it with ourselves throughout our lives.” I remember nodding along furiously when this soliloquy came up in TV show Fleabag. Experiencing regular pain has certainly been my experience of womanhood. Whether it’s painful sex or period pain, a great deal of my energy goes towards finding ways of reducing pain – my latest investment being a tens machine to use when cramps knock me […]

Roman Kemp’s BBC documentary Our Silent Emergency explores the personal impact of suicide, the rising rates in suicide among young men and why deeper conversations about men’s emotions is so crucial TW: This article focuses in some depth on the subject of suicide, so please be advised if you think this might be triggering for you. In August 2020, Joe Lyons, Roman Kemp’s much-loved best friend and work colleague died by suicide. Roman and his tight knit group of mates were totally blindsided by Joe’s sudden and unexpected death, and understandably their devastation at the loss of such a special […]

40 entrepreneurs announced as the winners of Women in Innovation Awards 2020/21 Female entrepreneurs pioneering social change through business have been recognised across the UK for their work in innovation to challenge the status quo, champion gender diversity and make the new world of 2021, better for all of us. The 40 women recognised in these prestige awards champion breakthrough ideas that tackle a range of societal, environmental and economic challenges including underrepresentation of minority communities, mental health, sexual health, sustainability and climate challenges. The backing of the awards support these exceptional women in moving forward with their life-changing business […]

Samaritan’s Lucia Capobianco joins Happiful’s podcast to talk about the work Samaritans do, how to get help if you’re having suicidal thoughts, and ways to open up a conversation if you think someone is struggling There’s been an increase in conversations about suicide in the media over the past few weeks, and as Happiful continually sets out to challenge stigma around mental health and to provide a supportive community – we wanted to offer information about the support available if you, or for someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts. We’re delighted that Lucia Capobianco from Samaritans offered to speak […]

From pooches to parakeets, koi to cats, our animals can have a profound effect on our mental wellbeing. But why is that, and are there things we can do to deepen the connection even further? They’re in our homes, our hearts, and our passwords – and it really goes without saying that pets play a huge role in enriching our lives. In the UK, 12 million (44% of) households own pets, with an estimated 51 million pets owned in total. Cats and dogs top the charts as the most popular companions – no surprises there – but beloved pets come […]

Spring into action by learning something new this April. Focus on your wellbeing, and find happiness in unexpected places… 1. Page-turners Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learningby Tom Vanderbilt When was the last time you learned a new skill? Perhaps you taught yourself to plait hair, or finally mastered the art of wall panelling. An exploration of our brain plasticity and how we learn, Beginners challenges the idea that learning new skills is something only children can do, and will have you juggling all of your new skills in no time. (Atlantic Books, £16.99) 2. Put on […]

Most of us could be more in-tune with our mind and body, but for those who menstruate, having a clear understanding of your monthly cycle is particularly important. Whether it’s knowing when PMS is around the corner, or pinpointing the days when you’re likely to be most productive, tracking your cycle and mood can be truly beneficial… We all know that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is common the week before your period, with 5–8% of people struggling with severe PMS that impacts their lives. But have you ever thought about how it changes throughout your cycle? There are several stages that […]

Good things are happening all around us, you just have to look for them. Here, we round-up 10 feel-good stories you might have missed this March 1. Thousands return to nature in search of pandemic relief When things get tough, a go-to piece of advice is: “Get some fresh air and take a breather.” And a new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that, throughout the pandemic, people are doing just that. The research, which involved residents of the US state of Vermont, examined how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted people’s relationships with nature.One of the first published studies of […]

The power of language can often be underestimated. But here, life coach Jane Milne explores how we can truly harness the communication possibilities that words and phrases offer in our everyday lives, to benefit our wellbeing We all understand the power of words. We’re much more likely to feel better and behave in ways that improve our general wellbeing when our spoken language and our thoughts are armed with a positive vocabulary. It’s more important now than ever that we talk to ourselves, and others, with compassion and kindness. The more we can learn to do that, the more likely […]