This year, for the first time, people with learning disabilities were identified as a clinical risk group in the guidance for flu vaccinations, but a telephone survey carried out by Mencap suggested that many GP surgeries were not offering this free jab.
[read the full story...]Lifestyle changes for cognition and dementia: better than a new drug?
Should all molecular research institutes looking at neurodegenerative diseases be replaced by parks, playgrounds and cycle paths? Mark Horowitz highlights a recent systematic review of modifiable risk factors associated with cognition and dementia, which suggests that from a public health perspective, there may be some sense in this idea.
[read the full story...]Mental health anti-stigma programs are (broadly) successful
Dave Steele reports on a recent meta-analysis of mental health anti-stigma programs, which on the whole are found to be effective at reducing the stigma associated with mental disorders.
[read the full story...]Eating disorders: mapping the (lack of) evidence
Helen Bould summarises a recent review that maps the evidence for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders in young people. Her conclusion? A call to arms for more better quality research to help people affected by these serious illnesses.
[read the full story...]NHS Confederation encourages realistic expectations in moving towards outcomes based commissioning
This briefing from the NHS Confederation gives a concise outline of the practicalities of outcomes-based commissioning. This is an area which has received a fair bit of attention and whilst there have been a few reports advocating this approach, there has been surprisingly little in the way of detail. The briefing is based on the learning [read the full story…]
Choking in people with learning disabilities: what can be done to reduce the risk?
Today we have a debut blog from Nick Burton, Regional Operations Manager at Mencap. He reviews a new multi-agency report that provides guidance for services working to reduce the risk of choking in people with learning disabilities.
[read the full story...]Involve service users in design and delivery of services for better outcomes, advises new report
This new report, from National Voices and Think Local Act Personal, considers what matters most to mental health service users in terms of their experience and outcomes. The report accompanies an earlier publication which considers evidence from research and consultations on what patients and service users want and expect from support which is person-centred and coordinated. “No [read the full story…]
Promoting safer sex in people with severe mental illness
Caroline Tomes summarises a recent systematic review which finds that behavioural interventions can result in short-term increases in safer sex in people with severe mental illness.
[read the full story...]Can schools prevent eating disorders?
In 2012 there was a call from Parliament to research school interventions to reduce body dissatisfaction. Helen Bould reports on an RCT of school-based prevention programme for eating disorders, which highlights the need for more work in this area.
[read the full story...]Can mobile apps help recovering alcoholics?
Paul Christiansen reports on a recent RCT that investigates how a mobile app can provide support for recovering alcoholics who are leaving residential treatment.
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