NHS England loses 6,000 mental health nurses in 10 years

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/19/mental-health-nursing-numbers-6000-fall-nhs-england

Thank you again to Shona who alerted me to this article today. It centres around NHS England, but the information is of importance to all mental health nurses.

The number of mental health nurses in England has slumped by more than a tenth over the past decade, new figures have revealed. This is despite commitments from both Theresa May and her predecessor, David Cameron, to boost resources for mental health services, which many medical professionals say are now in crisis.

The total mental health nursing workforce has decreased by 10.6% since 2009, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

What do you think about this article?

Mark

Meet the school with no classes, no classrooms and no curriculum

https://medium.com/pi-top/meet-the-school-with-no-classes-no-classrooms-and-no-curriculum-7cc7be517cef?fbclid=IwAR29YerK_YBLg3znPPgMwEhOQHGfovbvFgTTGrAzoctJPQDO2ToHwPMuBVk 

This is a wonderful article, highlighting the innovation, creativity and forward thinking of a Dutch school.

For me this is an inspiring, visionary and urgently needed reset.

I have oft felt that we are tied to a 19th Century model of delivery, no matter how much ICT is used.

It certainly made me think about current curriculum demands, and perhaps it will make you reflect too?

Let me know what you think!

Mark

Body image concerns 'making people suicidal'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48228021

Concerns about body image are making large numbers of people depressed and even suicidal, a survey suggests.

The poll of 4,500 UK adults found a third had felt anxious about their bodies, with one in eight experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The Mental Health Foundation, which commissioned the survey, said the issue could affect anyone at any age.

The charity wants advertising and social media firms to take more care with the way bodies are portrayed.

This is an issue which is ever present in today's society, and one we have discussed before in classes.

What do you think about this article? Are you surprised?

Mark

NHS news: NHS Doctor reveals STEALTH privatisation – don't be fooled

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1125426/NHS-news-NHS-privatisation-NHS-logo-pay-choices-professionals-improvement-England/amp

Thank you to Shona for sending me this link, certainly worthy of some comment.

THE symbolic NHS logo is being used up and down England by private companies supplying NHS services and a public healthcare campaigner has warned it is simply “privatisation by deceit” and demonstrates an “increasing fragmentation of care”.

Let me know what you think.

Mark

Reading success, part one!

Hello all,

Well done to everybody on passing the first summative reading assessment yesterday.

The work was of a good standard and you navigated the three questions well.

For those members in the class who had extenuating circumstances yesterday, please do not worry as there will be time to complete the assessment towards the end of the session, so this is not an issue in that respect.

I am unaware as yet as to what is happening with the potential strike on Thursday 16th May, but I will e mail the group when I know. Hopefully I will see you all for assessment two next week.

In the meantime, well done again and I hope you all have a restful weekend.

It would be remiss of me not to wish our four friends off to Malta all the best at this point. So I wish that Becca, Kelly, Lauren and Aaron have a great time. Keep in touch and safe travels. Work hard and try and have some nice downtime too!

All the best,

Mark

Beat your exam stress by running for success

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48148945?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health&link_location=live-reporting-story

The headline doesn't mean you should run away from any study issues you might have, but sometimes we all feel like doing so I guess!

Students are being urged to swap their revision notes for trainers this exam season to help with stress.

As exams are approaching, England Athletics is launching its first #RunAndRevise scheme, which aims to encourage pupils to take a break from revision and support their mental health through running.

This is worth a look. Anybody think they would / will adopt this strategy?

Mark

Social media effect 'tiny' in teenagers, large study finds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48147378

The effects of social media use on teenage life satisfaction are limited and probably "tiny", a study of 12,000 UK adolescents suggests.

Family, friends and school life all had a greater impact on wellbeing, says the University of Oxford research team.

It claims its study is more in-depth and robust than previous ones.

And it urged companies to release data on how people use social media in order to understand more about the impact of technology on young people's lives.

What do you think though?

Mark