How to spot the signs of mental health disorders

Tragically, suicide has been established as the leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 24 years of age, as a result, mental health is now becoming a massive focus across higher education facilities.

Education professionals are having to adapt their working methods to not only provide the best care and education possible in the classroom, but the best standard of care for their students whilst they are outside of the classroom too.

Duty of care to students is becoming a larger demand on the time and resources of schools and universities and this is a good thing!

In the last year, the number of students reporting mental health problems has risen by an astonishing 390%.

What would the repercussions of the Mental Incapacity Amendment Bill be?

On Tuesday 3rd July, The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill was presented to the House of Lords as an alternative and possible replacement of the current system which is known as DoLS process.

The proposed amendment follows criticism of the current system by the Law commission review in 2017 where it was deemed as being too complex and bureaucratic. DoLS have been difficult for care staff, service users and their families to navigate due to the complexities of the process, which is needed at a time when people are at their most vulnerable to ensure that they stay at the heart of decision-making.

Following the review, the government has developed a new system, known as ‘Liberty Protection Safeguards’ which will become legally binding through acceptance of the bill.

Brighton disability pride role for Arden house volunteers

Members of Arden House, asupported living service in Brighton, have volunteered their help to make sure celebration-goers stay hydrated at this weekend’s Disability Pride event.

Staff members and four people who live at Arden House in Preston Park, which supports people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, will be greeting visitors and running a watering station at the event at Hove Lawns on July 14.

The celebrations will include live music, acts, performances, and speeches from disabled people; work from disabled artists; and stalls from local support organisations.

Chris Woolgar, manager of Arden House, said:

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AT DRAKE HOUSE

The new city-centre supported living service, Drake House, has been a ten-month labour of love by care-providers the Regard Group to ensure its refurbishment would meet the needs of the people who would live there.

They also liaised closely with the Plymouth City Council’s care managers throughout the project.

Kelly Floyd, team leader for Regard, said:

PLAYMOBIL announces sponsorship of World Autism Awareness Week

PLAYMOBIL toys are played with across the world and enjoyed by children of all ages. In fact in 2017 the toy giant marked the production of its 3 billionth figure.

This year the beloved toy maker is working with the National Autistic Society to explore how the hand-sized figures with the famous smile bring joy to children on the autistic spectrum, and help support their ongoing development.

The partnership will see PLAYMOBIL explore the relationship between children on the autistic spectrum and their much loved PLAYMOBIL toys through a research project. The toy manufacturer is also sponsoring this year’s World Autism Awareness Week (WAAW), taking place from March 26th. The week is the National Autistic Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Calming Currents Helped My Child’s Cerebral Palsy

Mum of two, Gina Wade spends all the time she can helping her daughter Sophie overcome the symptoms of spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Walking and moving is always difficult for Sophie because of her stiff, tight muscles, but the pony she loves so much eventually led her to trying a unique treatment that finally helped ease her symptoms...

5 Most Common Misconceptions About Life with a Disability

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that many people living with a disability have to deal with misconceptions and stigma on a daily basis. From ignorance and prejudice, to barriers to work and education, the effects of these misconceptions can have profound and wide-ranging effects on the lives of disabled people.

UKS Mobility recently talked to 18 bloggers about their experiences and the misconceptions that those living with a disability face. Here, we take a closer look at the most common misconceptions they mentioned. We hope this will help raise awareness and reduce the stigma and improve conversation around disability.

1. All people with disabilities use wheelchairs

Sci-Fi Fan Peter Has Been Seeing Stars

The last few weeks have been out of this world for science fiction fan Peter Makar, who has come face-to-face with some of his favourite stars.

Peter, who lives at the Homeleigh residential care home in Crumpsall, Manchester, not only saw the latest Star Wars movie on the big screen, but also got to see some of his favourite characters in person.

Peter, who has recently celebrated his 52nd birthday, attended the ‘For The Love Of Sci-Fi’ event at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park.

Government should not rule out tax changes from disability work plan, says LITRG

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) broadly welcomes the Government’s ambition to see more disabled people in work, but is hugely disappointed that it has not taken the opportunity to explore tax reliefs and other changes to tax rules and practice that could help support more disabled people into work and help those already in work to stay in work.

The Government’s plan to transform disability employment over the next ten years was launched recently. Measures include widening ‘fit note’ certification, providing dedicated training for work coaches to support people with mental health conditions and reforming Statutory Sick Pay.1

Mr Williams – The perfect horse for disabled riders

A mechanical horse called ‘Mr Williams’ is helping disabled riders at a Cumbria riding school to gain confidence in the saddle.

Mr Williams has been part of the equine team at Happy Hooves Riding Centre since 2014, when owner Alison Noble purchased him realising he was a valuable asset for their equine therapy courses, and he was the only mechanical horse in the area at the time.

As an Accessibility Mark accredited centre, Happy Hooves also saw the benefit that Mr Williams, could bring to their disabled clients.

100 days until the Paralympic Heritage Flame events

In true Vale tradition Aylesbury’s Stoke Mandeville Stadium is set to play host to the Paralympic Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony, in the run up to the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games to be held in PyeongChang, South Korea.

On Friday 2 March 2018 the Stadium will be lit up to bring Paralympic sport to the fore in a day of sporting demonstrations, talks and events.

Theraposture to demonstrate why it is the considered choice for care cots at Kidz-to-Adultz-up-North

Theraposture, the leading specialist for tailor-made adjustable care cots and beds for disabled children and young adults, will be showcasing its caring and ethical approach at Kidz to Adultz North.

16th November: Kidz to Adultz North, Stand B13, 9.30am – 4.30pm EventCity, Barton Dock, Road Manchester M17 8AS.

Be a volunteer helper!

The joy of Woodlarks is that everyone involved is a volunteer. The disabled people who come here have all sorts of disabilities. They rely on volunteer helpers to enable them to join in all that Woodlarks has to offer.

As one camper said, ‘A new experience every day.’

The summer half term week, and every week through July and August, urgently needs active helpers to engage for a week.

As soon as bookings open in January, camp leaders are flooded with applications from disabled people who want to attend their week. Sadly, they have to put many on a waiting list until they can be sure that they have enough helpers.

Falcon Mews, Robin’s View and L’uccello Café launches in Birmingham!

Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, the largest representative body for independent social care services in the UK, joined Health and Social Care professionals, local schools, colleges and support groups, people supported, carers, friends and relatives and the Precious Homes team on 18th October 2017 for guided tours around the state-of-the-art new services and social enterprise.

Our three-tiered pathway model from residential through to supported living provides individuals with a ‘Transition Care Pathway’ on site, enabling a step-down to more independent living and reduced support over time.

St Margaret's Hospice extends bereavement support service

St Margaret’s Hospice has extended its bereavement counselling services, more than doubling the number of individuals being supported following the death of a close family member.

Over the last three years the Hospice has grown its team from a single practitioner to three dedicated roles to be able to deliver this critical service.

St Margaret’s Clinical Director, Joy Milliken said: “Care of a family doesn’t stop when a loved one dies. We can offer ongoing professional support and counselling which can play a vital part in the bereavement process, helping someone come to terms with such a life changing event.”

Ayrshire Powerchair Football Team Show Their Skills

Players from a powerchair football team have praised one of Scotland’s leading charities for helping to showcase the sport to new audiences.

The South Ayrshire Tigers thrilled a large audience by demonstrating their talents at Blackwood’s sporting-themed AGM, which aimed to encourage its customers to get more involved in sport and try new activities.

The team, which comprises members, Annmarie Robertson, Scott Robb, Scott Wood and captain James Doull, hope that their appearance will encourage others to take it up and to generally promote the sport to more people.

‘Life-saving surfing’ helps military heroes overcome trauma and injury

Military heroes who competed in a world-first adaptive surf championship in North Wales say that surfing has helped them to overcome trauma, mental ill-health and serious physical injuries.

Sixteen surfers, all either serving military or veterans who have battled physical or mental injury, competed for the top spots in the Help for Heroes Adaptive Surf Championship last Saturday (23rd September 2017). The free-to-attend one-day tournament took place at inland surf lagoon Surf Snowdonia, seven miles from the sea at Conwy.

Winner of the open category, Yianni Karakousis, served as a Captain in the Royal Engineers. He suffered horrific injuries in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in April 2013.

Bridge College Receives National Lottery Funding From Sport England To Help Get Students Active

Together Trust’s Bridge College has been given £50,000 of National Lottery funding by Sport England to encourage students to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each week.

Sport England’s new strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’ puts tackling inactivity at the heart of what they do. As part of this initiative, Sport England is investing £5 million into projects in colleges that will support their inactive students into regular activity

Run by the leading North West charity, Together Trust, the college based in Openshaw, Manchester is non-residential specialist education college for students aged 16 to 25 years with disabilities, complex needs and autism.

TGA announces Invictus Games athlete Lamin Manneh as inaugural WHILL Ambassador

Lamin Manneh, 40, from Manchester, disabled war hero, para-athlete and Invictus Games competitor, is “honoured” to have been appointed as the first Ambassador for the new WHILL powerchair from TGA.

Breakfast meeting to celebrate supported housing at Scunthorpe

Creative Support North Lincolnshire joins national campaign day to celebrate supported housing.

Creative Support is highlighting the contribution supported housing makes to North Lincolnshire as part of today's Starts at Home day.

Starts at Home, now in its second year and run by the National Housing Federation, celebrates how this housing helps hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people regain their independence and confidence.