Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 421

As hosts of the 2nd only disease specific G8 summit, the first being on HIV, the UK has called upon the world to meet the challenge of dementia; a disease that should no longer just be considered a natural part of getting older. The summit was addressed by both the Prime Minister and the the Health Secretary. All this and more in Bulletin 421

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 420

With the G8 Summit on Dementia taking place here in the UK on the 11th December, the Department of Health has issued a press statement informing the public that they will be able to watch the summit live through the Dementia Challenge site. Much more mental health and social care news and research can be accessed in Bulletin No. 420.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 419

The Department of Health has updated its strategy on dementia with a new report which has investigated dementia care, its support and research in England. Included is an interactive map detailing dementia services throughout England. To read about this report and much more access Bulletin 419.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 410

Early due to leave, Bulletin No. 410 is packed; with large research sections on learning disabilities, depression and dementia and schizophrenia. Next post October 7th

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 406

The Department of Health has announced that it is extending its street triage scheme of sending out mental health nurses with police officers on the beat to five new areas. The department has also announced that it will use its presidency of the G8 summit to highlight dementia by holding a dementia summit. Meanwhile NICE has launched a guideline consultation on psychosis and schizophrenia. All this and more in Bulletin 406. 

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 401

A new charity: MindFull, which provides online counselling to 11- 17 year olds, is urging schools to put mental health on the timetable. Their first report emphasises that not enough is being done to support teenage children. Meanwhile NHS Western Isles, at the other end of the age spectrum, is delivering dementia care via robots to sufferers in remote areas. Also on dementia in Bulletin 401 is the news that hospitals fail to make adequate tests on patients with dementia.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 394

The previous week was National Dementia Awareness and the Government launched its NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia,  inviting entries and the Care Minister wants all hospitals to become more dementia aware. NICE have published two new guidances: one on social anxiety disorder and another on the termination of loxapine inhalation for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  All this and more in Bulletin No. 394

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 393

The intertwined issue of dementia and social care are in the news. In Bulletin No. 393 you can read how the care minister has rolled out his plans for integrating health and social care by 2018 in the new Care Bill. This comes at a time when it has been announced that NHS England is being tasked with improving the diagnosis rates for dementia just as the government publishes its annual report on the progress in dementia care

Mental Health & Social Care Current Awareness Bulletin No. 392

This week is national mental health awareness week, and so it is apt that Bulletin No. 392 is a bumper issue. All different sections are packed with news and research. There are many articles from journals on depression, and dementia.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 390

Bulletin no. 390 you can find out the latest from the Department of Health. The Government has launched a care comparison website so everyone can look at both residential and home care that is available. On the Department of Health website there is also a link to the latest development in their dementia strategy.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 384

Dementia takes centre stage again in Bulletin No. 384. The Department of Health has published its nursing vision and strategy: Making a Difference to Dementia and has issued a letter: The Right Care: creating dementia-friendly hospitals. Meanwhile the Care Quality Commission has published a report: Care Update2: Dementia which criticises the care given to dementia sufferers across the nation, saying the country is struggling to deliver effective care.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 378

Once again Dementia is at the forefront of the news. In Bulletin No. 378 you can access the Alzheimer's Society's news statement that everyone is discussing; from national to local level. The gap between the number of people being officially diagnosed and the actual number of sufferers is wide throughout the country. Furthermore the Alzheimer's Society's Prevalence and Diagnosis map indicates vast variations throughout the country. The government has indicated that this is an unacceptable situation.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 376

Dementia is in at the forefront again in Bulletin No. 376. Warwickshire Council has a new portal to help dementia sufferers and their carers. A company in Bognor Regis is providing dementia sufferers with practical skills and there is a new study on music therapy for dementia

Mental Health & Social Care Current Awareness Bulletin No. 372

Bulletin No. 372 has a larger than usual section on dementia which is topical given that this week the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, stated in his blog, according to the Evening Standard, that dementia was one of his four key priorities for the NHS. This follows on from his promise last month of £50 million for specialised care homes and wards for dementia sufferers.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 367

The Publication section in Bulletin No. 367  has seven reports this week, ranging from information on self harm, dementia, care homes to drug use

Mental Health Bulletin No. 346

Mental Health Bulletin No. 346 is ready to download. Alzheimer's and Dementia research dominating this week.

Defeating Dementia?

A report Defeating Dementia is about to be presented to the House of Commons. One of the presenters and an advisor to Alzheimer's Research UK, Professor Julie Williams from Cardiff University, is backing the main thrust of the report. She reiterates that if dementia is to be tackled properly there must be adequate funding to provide the necessary scientific expertise.

Read the full article

Early warning on dementia

It is estimated that six out of ten cases of dementia in England go undiagnosed, DH notes, as it launches a campaign to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of the condition. Based on a pilot run in the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside NHS areas, this campaign comprises TV, radio and print advertisements.

Barriers to ethnic carers uptake of dementia services

A study in International Psychogeriatrics journal investigated why carers of ethnic minority dementia sufferers were significantly later in obtaining medical help compared to non ethnic carers. The authors concluded that traditional beliefs surrounding the duty of the family to look after its members prevented carers from seeking specialist help. The researchers also concluded that interventions were required that would break down the barriers to ethnic carers accessing specialist help.

Read the original abstract

Hope for new Alzheimer's treatments

The Alzheimer's Society have announced that their research programme could lead to new treatments for dementia in the next ten years. It is hoped the program Drug Discovery will find ways of delaying dementia and also alleviating the severity more effectively

Read the full article