Tag: mental health support groups

Posted in Depression Mental Health World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day – Changing the Narrative

 Author: admin Published Date: September 2, 2025

Every year on 10 September, the world comes together to mark World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). First launched in 2003 by the International Association for…

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Water Feature
Posted in Art Class Gardening Meditation Mental Health Trowbridge Service Users Group TUG News

Upcycling Butler Sinks into a Calming Garden Water Feature

 Author: admin Published Date: September 2, 2025

At Trowbridge Service Users Group, we’re always looking for creative ways to make our garden space more welcoming, soothing, and connected to nature. Recently, we…

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Am I Mentally Ill or Just a Generation X? A Psychological and Sociocultural Analysis of Generational Trauma Introduction The question “Am I mentally ill or just a Generation X?” reflects a tension between individual pathology and collective experience. For many members of Generation X (born roughly between 1965 and 1980), symptoms of depression, anxiety, emotional detachment, or cynicism may not be solely the result of personal dysfunction but rather the legacy of a specific sociohistorical upbringing. This paper explores how psychological theories of trauma, development, and resilience intersect with the sociocultural context of Generation X. It argues that the challenges faced by this cohort are best understood not only through a clinical lens but also as manifestations of shared generational conditioning. Generation X in Historical and Cultural Context Generation X was shaped by profound social shifts: rising divorce rates, increased maternal participation in the workforce, and the decline of traditional community structures (Strauss & Howe, 1991). As a result, many children became “latchkey kids,” left unsupervised after school, fostering independence but also emotional neglect (Henderson, 2017). Unlike the Baby Boomers, whose upbringing was characterized by postwar optimism, or Millennials, raised under intensive “helicopter parenting,” Gen X developed under an ethos of self-reliance and skepticism of institutions. The broader cultural environment emphasized stoicism and emotional restraint. Mental health discourse was minimal, and psychiatric treatment carried significant stigma (Kessler et al., 2005). This climate discouraged vulnerability and normalized the suppression of emotional needs, conditions that contemporary psychology would recognize as risk factors for later difficulties in emotional regulation and attachment (Bowlby, 1988).
Posted in Anxiety Borderline Personality Disorder BPD Depression Eating Disorders Economic ethnic minorities

Am I Mentally Ill or Just a Generation X?

 Author: admin Published Date: August 23, 2025

A Reflection on Cultural Upbringing, Trauma, and Mental Health Narratives Introduction In recent years, conversations about mental health have become increasingly visible in mainstream culture….

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If you’re facing an eating disorder—or supporting someone who is—remember: you are not alone. Whether through NHS services like Wiltshire’s specialist team or charities like Beat and SWEDA, help is available, free, and just a phone call or email away. Recovery is a journey. Taking the first step—whether reaching out to a helpline, talking to your GP, or joining a support group—brings people closer to hope, healing, and a healthier future.
Posted in Anorexia Nervosa Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) Bulimia Nervosa Eating Disorders Mental Health Mental Health Research Trowbridge Guru

Understanding Eating Disorders: Types, Misconceptions, and Paths to Recovery

 Author: admin Published Date: August 21, 2025

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions. It’s critical to know that they’re not choices—they’re complex illnesses shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors. Recovery…

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Eating disorders remain among the gravest mental health conditions—but they are diverse, widespread, and treatable. Understanding the various forms, dispelling myths, and improving access to care are vital for saving lives and fostering recovery.
Posted in Across the Web / Research Anorexia Nervosa Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) Bulimia Nervosa Eating Disorders Mental Health Research Trowbridge Guru

Eating Disorders: Types, Prevalence, Misunderstandings, and Treatment

 Author: admin Published Date: August 21, 2025

1. Introduction & Common Misunderstandings Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses marked by persistent, unhealthy eating behaviors and distorted attitudes toward food, weight, or body…

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What Is Depression? Depression is a condition where low mood lasts for two weeks or longer, affecting work, relationships, and health. It’s not just about sadness — many people also experience: Loss of interest or pleasure. Sleep and appetite changes. Fatigue or low energy. Difficulty concentrating. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Thoughts of death or suicide.
Posted in Bipolar Depression Depression Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Mental Health Persistent Depressive Disorder Postnatal Depression Treatment-Resistant Depression Trowbridge Guru

Understanding Depression: Types, Diagnosis, Treatments, and Facts

 Author: admin Published Date: August 20, 2025

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK. It goes far beyond simply feeling sad — it can affect thoughts,…

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Anxiety is a normal, adaptive emotion that helps us prepare, focus, and stay safe. It becomes a disorder when intensity, duration, or avoidance cause significant distress or impairment.
Posted in Across the Web / Research Anxiety Mental Health Mental Health Research Trowbridge Guru

Understanding Anxiety: From Healthy Worry to Anxiety Disorders

 Author: admin Published Date: August 19, 2025

Normal Anxiety: Your Body’s Alarm System At healthy levels, anxiety is your brain’s way of keeping you safe. It sharpens focus, helps you prepare, and…

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Anxiety is a normal, adaptive emotion that helps us prepare, focus, and stay safe. It becomes a disorder when intensity, duration, or avoidance cause significant distress or impairment.
Posted in Across the Web / Research Anxiety Mental Health Mental Health Research Trowbridge Guru

Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What Helps (with UK & Wiltshire focus)

 Author: admin Published Date: August 19, 2025

Abstract Anxiety is a normal, adaptive emotion that helps us prepare, focus, and stay safe. It becomes a disorder when intensity, duration, or avoidance cause…

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Mental illnesses affect many people in Wiltshire, including Trowbridge, mirroring global and national patterns. Conditions range from common ones such as anxiety and depression to less common but typically more severe illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This paper adapts global and national data to highlight the local context: Wiltshire has a mixture of urban and rural populations, with pockets of deprivation and service access challenges. Importantly, severity does not always track with commonality—common conditions account for most cases, but rarer illnesses often carry the greatest per-person impact.
Posted in Mental Health Mental Health Research Trowbridge Guru Trowbridge Service Users Group

Mental Illness in Wiltshire and Trowbridge: Types, Prevalence, and Severity in Relation to Commonality

 Author: admin Published Date: August 18, 2025

Date: 18 August 2025 | Audience: Wiltshire and Trowbridge residents, community advocates, service users, and local planners Executive Summary Mental illnesses affect many people in…

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A growing body of interdisciplinary research indicates that creative engagement—whether through visual arts, music, writing, crafts, or other creative leisure—can produce measurable improvements in mental health and well-being. This paper reviews large-scale evidence syntheses, meta-analyses, longitudinal studies, and recent trials to summarize what is currently known about effects, plausible mechanisms, and practical recommendations for clinicians, policymakers, and individuals. Overall, evidence supports creative activities as beneficial for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms, improving subjective well-being, fostering resilience, and promoting cognitive health, though methodological heterogeneity and gaps remain.
Posted in Art Class Mental Health Mental Health Research Trowbridge Guru Trowbridge Service Users Group

The Importance of Creativity for Mental Health

 Author: admin Published Date: August 10, 2025

Abstract A growing body of interdisciplinary research indicates that creative engagement—whether through visual arts, music, writing, crafts, or other creative leisure—can produce measurable improvements in…

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