Wild swimming seems to be everywhere at the moment. From Three Shires Head in the Peak District to the Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall, Brits are turning out in droves to unwind and enjoy the fresh water during the many heatwaves this summer.

Wars, political instability and polarisation, climate change, rising living costs and growing distrust of leaders and institutions can create a sense that the world is unstable and nobody is really in control. This presents a particular psychological challenge. Someone frightened of spiders, dogs or flying may be able to avoid the trigger, at least temporarily.

Throughout the summer months, as we spend more time outdoors, it’s a good moment to pause and think about protecting our skin. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and rates have been rising in recent years.

Columnist Claire Kenny has been supporting Focus4Hope as its team delivers emergency support across West Yorkshire. I had a thought the other week: We talk at length about dogs in heatwaves – but why aren’t we talking about its impact on humans too?

Birth Trauma Awareness Week rightly encourages important conversations about difficult births and traumatic deliveries, but as both a midwife and a neurodivergent woman, I believe we also need to pay greater attention to what happens long before labour begins.

This Alcohol Awareness Week (6th-12th July), Mental Health Expert Noel McDermott looks at how alcohol is costing us more than just money. Alcohol is a drug, and one that creates physical dependency, and drinking too much creates health problems. Everyone knows this, and many people tell themselves they will stop drinking if they experience negative health consequences.

This Epilepsy Awareness Week, The Brain Charity is calling for greater understanding of Epilepsy and its everyday impact. Over 50 million people globally are affected by Epilepsy, with nearly 80% of cases found in low/middle-income countries. Despite its prevalence, Epilepsy remains widely misunderstood and extends far beyond seizures.

Lancashire’s maternity services have increasingly found themselves drawn into national debates over NHS safety, accountability and clinical culture, with trusts in the region facing inspections, complaints and external scrutiny.

A leadership expert has warned companies looking to embark on a timetable of wellbeing initiatives for mental health awareness week that they can’t “spa trip their way out of a bad culture.” Drew Povey, author and founder of the Drew Povey Consultancy, says organisations need to instead focus on embedding wellbeing into their culture, rather than relying on a programme of activities for one wee…

Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May), with this year’s theme focusing on taking action to support good mental health. For me, one of the most powerful and accessible actions we can take is simple: movement.

It’s April again, which means unpredictable downpours, the hopeful return of sunshine, and—most importantly—Autism Acceptance Month. If you’re thinking, 'Wait… what exactly is that?' You're not alone. Lots of people know autism exists, but understanding it is a whole different story. Autism is a spectrum, and there’s always more to learn.

Kirsty Dixon, a menopause educator from York, joined a unique holistic programme focused on rewiring the brain. She’s now pain free for the first time in three decades. I sat on my sofa, head in my hands, crying in frustration as another ripple of pain went up my back. I was 27 but I felt 87. I was desperate to get my life back. This was in 1994. I’d woken with a niggle in my lower back.

A little bit of stress is good for you, but too much can have severe consequences on both your physical and mental health. Negative stress is implicated in all major mental illnesses and all lifestyle-related illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes; it is even implicated in autoimmune illness, cancer, etc. How can you tell if you are feeling stressed?