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If you feel like dating is a Sisyphean task, you’re not alone. As a neurodivergent woman, I’m probably (definitely) considered an...

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

In the modern day, everyone has heard about the push to “destigmatise mental illness” – a perfectly noble goal. Nonetheless, I find that when many people are pressed to explain what this truly means, little explanation is offered beyond being understanding.

“What are your hobbies?” This is quite a common icebreaker when having a conversation. For quite a few years, when someone asked me that, I actually had to think about it, and didn’t quite have an answer. After all, scrolling endlessly on social media in the evenings isn’t really a hobby, is it?   As a part-time PhD student and a full-time researcher, finding new hobbies over the past 2 years has been a great way for me to unwind and find a suitable work-life balance.

We live in a time of huge worry about our teenagers and their mental health – from fears of a phone-obsessed adolescence to concerns...

I’ve bid lovers tearful goodbyes. I’ve sobbed them to my mother as I lit her pyre. But having to say goodbye to a therapist was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Twice, that too.

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

Being a woman in 2025 feels frightening. During a time when society should be moving forward towards greater equality and empowerment for...

When telling people that I was training for the London Marathon, most people would reply by telling me that they "could never do it". Even established runners, even people who had run half-marathons, would tell me that they could not do it, ever. And that, of course, is not true.

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.

Henry's dad used to love football. That's how it always used to be. Growing up, Henry spent more time in stadiums, breathing the cool air around him as he watched with anticipation the ball fly around the pitch, his dad's rough hand in his, than he did in his own room. In his own house. Or, that's how it felt, anyway. And he never once complained—why would he?

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...

I was watching Barbie in my room when I heard soft thuds. I waited, and after I heard it again, I rushed out to the parlour, my heart...

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

My name is Bryn, and this year I turn 36 years old. I have never told my story like this before, and never in this much detail. I’m hoping it gives others some comfort and strength to know that life can get better and is worth living. Keep in mind that despite how this all happened, I’m here to write this today. That being said…

We are not O or X. We are not built to stay still. Beliefs bend. Allegiances shift. When systems demand certainty, it’s our capacity for...

Looking forward to a sweet treat or getting excited for lunch is something I’m sure many can relate to. But with the new #SkinnyTok trend sweeping across TikTok, this normal hunger and interest in food is now being shamed. Creators, and the algorithm, are now pushing toxic mantras like “If your stomach is growling, pretend it's applauding you” and “You don’t need a treat, you’re not a dog”.

The needle whirrs and purrs, and an image of a naked woman reading a book, her head exploding into fireworks slowly appears on my skin. The ceiling’s pattern looks beautiful from where I am, despite the intense brightness of the tattoo artist’s lights. This is my fourth tattoo—but unlike the first three, this one carries a deeper, sadder meaning.

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.

There’s no easy way to say this: we lost our baby. At 12 weeks, after hearing the heartbeat and seeing that small, flickering light on the ultrasound, we felt like we were past the hardest part. But sadly, our first pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage, and everything changed.

In the snow-covered villages of Indian-controlled Kashmir, women have silently shouldered the burden of mental illness for years, their pain hidden beneath the rigid customs and traditions that have shaped their lives.    Mental illness in Kashmir has often been misdiagnosed, with symptoms frequently attributed to other health issues, mainly gastrointestinal or cardiovascular problems. Many people in the Himalayan valley, “known as paradise on earth,” also believe that anxi