Cause of death in people with bipolar disorder: how can we prevent premature mortality and reduce the mortality gap?

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A group of UCL MSc students summarise a cohort study in BMJ Mental Health, which suggests that we have previously underestimated the contribution of external causes of death such as accidents or suicides.

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Are chatbots the answer to minimising inequalities in treatment access?

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Robert Meadows considers the findings of a recent paper on the use of artificial intelligence chatbots in increasing self-referrals to mental health services.

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“Let me see a therapist”: mental health support for asylum seekers and refugees

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KCL Masters student Daniella Mousicos summarises a qualitative study exploring whether asylum seekers and refugees are provided with appropriate mental health support in Brighton and Hove.

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A triple empathy problem? Exploring barriers to accessing healthcare for autistic adults

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Hannah Wallace summarises a qualitative study exploring the ‘triple empathy problem’ among autistic adults attempting to access healthcare, and how this can contribute to adverse outcomes.

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Unjust: how inequality and mental health intertwine

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Andy Bell reflects on a recent peer research study and shares the steps that any mental health service can take to help people reclaim their rights, their personhood, and their equal citizenship.

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Adverse childhood experiences: how common are they and who is most at risk?

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In this joint blog, Becca Lacey and Sarah Stock explore a recent meta-analysis on the global prevalence of adverse childhood experiences, which looks at the groups of people most at risk of experiencing them.

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There is a clear association between socioeconomic deprivation and self-harm

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A group of UCL masters student review a multi-centre study on socio-economic disparities in patients who present to hospital for self-harm in England, which found large variations in patients characteristics and pre-self-harm experiences.

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Everyday discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic: the toll on mental health

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A group of UCL MSc students summarise a US study on the association of everyday discrimination with depression and suicidal ideation during the pandemic.

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Barriers to PTSD care for US veterans: new evidence highlights importance of an intersectional approach

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Dr Ana Veic explores the barriers to mental health care reported by over 17,000 US veterans with PTSD, and how these barriers differ between demographic groups (e.g., by race and by sex).

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