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Grief, Guilt, and the Aftermath of Suicide Trigger Warning: The following article discusses suicide, which readers may find distressing. For over a decade I lived and worked across Europe in the travel industry, from summer campsites to snowy ski resorts. I took on many different roles from tour guide to resort manager, met people from all over the world and absorbed the richness of different cultures. Those years shaped who I am and gave me a love of people’s stories, which

Why is the use of antidepressants so controversial, and how could we prescribe them more effectively? This question is a priority in my research at King’s College London, where I work as professor of statistical genetics. My academic background is in statistics, and I am passionate about using genetics to improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. Together with people with lived experience of depression, my research team integrates clinical and biologic

Writer’s note: This article has been co-written by Courtney Worrell and Tony Woods It has long been said that art is good for our health, but we didn’t know much about how or why. So, this summer, we set up shop in front of the likes of Van Gogh and Manet at the Courtauld Gallery in London to look at the science behind this relationship and explore how the body really responds to viewing art. Spoiler alert – what we found was very, very interesting. Vincent Van Gogh’s Sel

A year ago, my world stopped. At my 12-week scan, I was told there was no heartbeat. What should’ve been the first time seeing my baby move was instead the day I learned I’d lost them weeks earlier. I remember the quiet in the ultrasound room, the cold gel on my stomach, the way the sonographer’s expression shifted before the words came. Even now, I can still feel the shock in my chest — that hollow, slow-motion moment when time folds in on itself.

My name is Pierrette, and I am a Master's student studying Neuroscience at King's College London. A few months ago, I was introduced to the concept of the brain's "dark energy" during a lecture on neuroimaging. Deeply interested in this topic, I began to wonder about the origin and nature of consciousness and questioned whether the awareness of oneself resides in the body, or if our mind and body are two separate entities that converge to make us human. Photo by Shawn Day on

First Episode Psychosis (FEP) refers to the first experience of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions. I am a final-year psychiatry trainee with a long-standing interest in both FEP and gender-specific medicine, now working in a specialized early intervention service in Northern Italy.

Why are some young people still missing from mental health research and what can we do to change that? Hi, I’m Rachel Perowne, a PhD researcher and I’m passionate about making youth mental health research more inclusive. I believe that the best way to achieve this is to involve young people in a meaningful way in the research process. Together with my supervisors and colleagues, including three young co-researchers, I recently published a systematic review exploring the barr

Every human being begins life as a single cell. That cell divides, multiplies, and transforms into many different types of cells — muscle, nerve, skin, blood, bone, and so on — until, somehow, a complete body emerges. But this transformation raises one of biology’s oldest and most fascinating questions: how do cells know what to become?

When I was fifteen, my room’s walls were swirls of green and yellow, which my mother had done because she knew I loved green and yellow. I had these Skull Candy headphones around my head, connected to a pretty pink phone, all gifts from my mother, and it was one of those summer afternoons when I was fast asleep. I was tired from school, fed a very generous and delicious lunch by my mother, and I was too sluggish to care. My mother walked into the room, and she found me asl

I am Dr Rebecca Bind, a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in the Perinatal section of the Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Lab at The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. Most recently I managed a clinical trial for mothers with postnatal depression called SHAPER-PND, the results from which have just been published and I will discuss below.

My research in mental health and neuroscience is fuelled by a deep curiosity about how the world around us, everything from our...

A researcher’s perspective In recent years, cannabis has become a hot topic, from recreational legalisation debates to discussions about medical applications. But beyond its social and legislative implications, there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that cannabis use might be linked to severe mental health disorders, including psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Understanding these associations is crucial as cannabis consumption rises worldwi

From an early age I was obsessed with making people laugh. Inspired by Lucille Ball, I took every performance opportunity I could find. My elementary and middle school yearbooks are peppered with commentary by teachers and friends encouraging me to follow my dreams of acting and not to forget them when I am a famous comedian. Then, when I was in 10th grade, in the midst of rehearsals for our school musical Pippin , I was hit by a car crossing a street in Westport, Connecticut

I’m a 39-year-old neuroscience and psychology graduate, freshly finished with my MSc at King’s College London. My story begins in 2020,...

Author’s Note: My name is Dave Brennan, and I am a writer and mental health professional based in the United States. I live with my own...

When Prince Harry gave an impromptu speech last week at the Diana Award in central London, he talked of the loneliness that many young people experience, describing how they could feel isolated if “lost and separated from a group.” Research also confirms that young people are experiencing high rates of loneliness, often at higher levels than older age groups. A large review identified loneliness as peaking between ages 18 and 29, with one in three young adults reporting f

Sleep is incredibly important – for everyone. We all know the impact of a good night’s sleep: it can set us up for a great day or make everything feel more difficult. But, most of us recover quickly from a bad night; we go to bed earlier, learn from last night's late-night scrolling, or we (wishfully) ask our partner to learn the art of not snoring. However, this is not the case for people with bipolar disorder. Or at least – it doesn’t appear so.

The wooden pier stretched ahead in the morning sunlight, its tip a distant dot poking out against the sea. We followed the stream of backpacks single-file like a line of ants, the wind lashing choppy indigo waves against the planks as we tried to keep our balance in its energetic embrace, the snail-like homes on our backs adding extra complexity to the matter.

Sexual violence invades countless lives each year, all around the world. For me, it crashed into my life numerous times in the form of childhood sexual abuse and repeated sexual assaults in my teen and adult years.

The 19th Century French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau is often credited as one of the first scientists to systematically study the effects of psychoactive substances on the mind.

Imagine you have TikTok open on your phone, your index finger swiping up each video to get those short bursts of dopamine. You land on a...

Disclaimer: This blog does not promote or endorse the use of illegal substances. It is intended solely to explore the growing body of research investigating the potential role of psychedelics in innovative mental health treatments. Please be aware that the recreational use of psychedelics is illegal in many countries. These substances should only be used within the legal framework of your country and under the guidance of a qualified clinical professional. What if healing

My mind is calm; my breathing is slow and persistent; and my hands aren’t shaking. I couldn’t have said that years ago, and I most certainly would not have gotten where I am without him. My partner, Roger, was the saving grace I never saw coming, but when I needed it the most. Roger and I met by chance, through a Meetup group (a site that allows people to join groups based on personal interests and hobbies). We only spoke a few words, and it was months later before we began l

A new health literacy programme in East London aims to improve pregnancy experiences for women who don’t speak English. In the United...