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When the toy company Mattel launched the first-ever doll with scoliosis and a removable back brace a couple of years ago, I must admit I was genuinely and positively surprised. I was even more impressed when the global fashion retailer ASOS featured models with scoliosis in their e-commerce photos, boldly showcasing their visibly curved spines and post-surgery back scars. Although my own journey with scoliosis — including years in a back brace and a spinal surgery — is now

Not all connections are built to last, and when they break, the effects can be profound. Whether it’s a personal relationship or a biological one, disruptions can leave lasting marks. During pregnancy, the mother and baby are connected through the placenta, a temporary yet vital organ that acts as the bridge, facilitating the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste, ensuring the baby’s development. The placenta contains two distinct areas (i.e., vascular compartments) wher

I am Dr Daniel Martins, a clinician-scientist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London...

When I started training in psychiatry in 1981, apart from the six months in academic psychiatry, all my training was in asylums in Leicestershire. Working in clinical settings and reviewing research, I came across the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the name David Goldberg as its creator.

In January 2024, we held the first dissemination event for the CELEBRATE Project, a UKRI-funded research programme dedicated to...

Author's own image “Trauma” is a word we hear all the time now — in podcasts, therapy TikTok, or casual conversations. People say things...

As a woman and a mental health researcher, I’ve had my fair share of frustrating doctor visits. Nothing tops the time when my...

The Stepping Stones Study Women who use drugs during pregnancy have complex health and social needs. Stigma can be a barrier to their...

I am Dr Naghmeh Nikkheslat, a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London.

Infertility can affect each and all of us. You could be a very healthy stranger jogging in the park, your young nephew who recently graduated, or your neighbour hosting yet another baby shower for a friend. We can all be affected. If you’re one of them, you know only too well what infertility means. The term "infertility" applies to a situation when an individual or a couple is attempting to conceive but cannot establish a pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the majority of people who access mental health services have experienced trauma. Yet, trauma remains misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. How then can we best support survivors who need holistic, relatable, consistent, and trauma-sensitive healthcare?

I am at Week 10 of my training plan for the 2025 London Marathon. My first marathon. I know running is good for my mental health , but...

As a plant biologist at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University, I am passionate about sustainable food security and resilience. I...

For a moment, I stop taking notes. My office melts away in my periphery and the participant’s voice echoes in my head.

Imagine watching your favourite film and feeling emotionally disconnected, as if your brain was struggling to engage with what’s on the...

Lessons Learned for Successful School Collaborations It’s 8:30 am. The morning bell rings, signalling the start of another busy school day. Students shuffle in, some bleary-eyed from oversleeping, and others won’t make school today due to illness. My key school contact—essential to the day’s research activities—has been pulled away to manage a student crisis. The room we were scheduled to use has been taken over by a teacher in need of extra space. To top it off, exam season

This article has been co-written by Jemima Dooley, Florence Sargent, and Jay Bate Sometimes when I walk across my university campus, I stop and think: what on earth is this place? I’m in a place of learning and teaching, but it’s also a place where tens of thousands of people live, shop, eat, work out, and socialise. It’s a huge employer, there’s an on-site nursery, an award-winning grounds team, an open-air swimming pool, bars, laundry and transportation services. It’s a cit

There are worrying signs that public attitudes to mental health in England may be going backwords. Indeed, a recent study from our...

How Working with Experts by Experience Transforms Academics' Perspectives Photo by Syed Ali on Unsplash Researchers working with “experts by experience” often talk about the benefits of this for research outputs, such as results that are more relevant for the people the research intended to help. I am a research assistant on a programme pioneering a new model for participatory research on autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Participatory research ensur

Key takeaways from organising a science communication workshop series When we think about research, we often imagine a clean laboratory with people in white coats who work with fancy equipment. While some research might actually look like this, research in the field of mental health is sometimes harder to picture and more complicated to explain. There are many ways we can collect information and engage with the topic we are studying, and we are continuously trying to improve

What is music? Is it a form of art, an expressive masterpiece, or a therapeutic treatment? For a long time, I saw music as purely performative — a way to entertain and express. But over time, I realised that my dedication to music went deeper than just for show; it was a form of escape, an unrecognised tool for maintaining my mental health. My interest in this field truly ignited when I met a woman with schizophrenia, a condition that impacts thoughts, emotions, and behavi

Note from the Editor: It is my pleasure to present the final Psych Star blog of the Psych Star Series, a collection of articles written by the 2023-2024 cohort of Psych Stars on their visions for the future of mental health research and care, each of whom chose an area in which they are especially passionate. After you read today's article, be sure to check out the previous blogs written this year by the 2023-2024 Psych Stars! Dr Declan Hyland, Lead Clinician for the scheme,

Whilst most children grew up watching CBBC or Disney Channel on the TV, my dinners were often spent immersed in shows like Criminal Minds...

The SHAPER dissemination event held on 19th November 2024.