News

The latest draft guidance published by NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) accepts that counselling is effective as a treatment for depression in adults, and that it should be included as part of a wider range of possible treatment options. CBT, however, continues to be the first-line treatment to be offered. BACP (British… read more

A recent article in The New York Times has shone a spotlight on the NHS England Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. Since its beginning in 2008, the national IAPT programme has transformed the treatment available for adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, and now offers counselling, CBT and courses to over… read more

Last week was a significant milestone for Oasis-Talk as we celebrated 5 years since our founding as an organisation in 2012. To commemorate this achievement  we brought together over 75 staff, colleagues and experts from across the local mental health arena on a very (very!) warm midsummer night at The Watershed, Bristol. Alongside a celebration… read more

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy has voiced its concerns about the possible removal of counselling from the NICE approved range of interventions for depression. Quoted in the online journal Mental Health Today, BACP states that such an action could be “disastrous” and would restrict patient’s choice about their treatment. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)… read more

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (8th to 14th May) is “Thriving, not surviving”. Following the results of a recent survey, the Mental Health Foundation has expressed concerns about a decline in the UK’s mental heath and wellbeing and has developed a 5-point plan to address the main issues at a national… read more

In Maternal Mental Health week, the Maternal Mental Health Alliance has reported that 75% of mothers with mental health problems don’t get diagnosed or receive adequate treatment. 1 in 5 new mums experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, but often don’t recognise the signs or know where to go for support. New dads are also… read more

“Falling apart; Pulling together: Collaboration in times of division” is the topic of the 3rd Community Psychology Festival on 15-16th September, organised by UWE and BPS Community Psychology Section. Community Psychology is a branch of applied psychology that believes that healthy individuals are the product of healthy societies: It aims to create ways of living… read more

Prince William has joined forces with Lady Gaga in the first of a series of videos, #oktosay,  aimed at changing public perceptions of stress and mental health problems. The Prince approached the singer after she revealed that she has suffered from PTSD for five years: In her interview with William she talks about her decision… read more

A new project in Bristol is seeking to understand the barriers and stigma that some black & minority ethnic older people encounter when talking about mental health. Through the pilot, people aged 50+ are also able to access free mental health groups and counselling in their own language. One in five older people are affected… read more

BME community leaders are increasingly aware of the need to work closely with statutory services on dementia care, says a recent report from UWE. An 8 month study, funded by Bristol City Council, found that older people in BME communities were “disproportionately affected by risk factors for dementia, including diabetes, cardio-vascular disease as well as… read more