Latest news with #mentalhealthawareness
BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey's Royal British Legion President retires
The president of Guernsey's Royal British Legion has retired from his role after more than 40 years' involvement with the than 100 people, including the island's lieutenant governor, attended an event at the Roquettes Hotel to thank Maj Bob Place MBE, who took up the presidency in 2015. Maj Place said: "I invited everyone because it's more a thank you to them. Over the last 20-odd years, all of them in some way or other have actually supported me, and supported the legion and the island."Army veteran, Ben Rowe, has taken over as president and said he was proud and nervous to be taking on the new position. "To help veterans in their time of need is amazing," he said. "It's what we all do, that's why we all join the legion - to either receive help or give help so I'm in a position where we can help," Mr Rowe added. Chris Welsby, president of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Merchant Navy Association in Guernsey, paid tribute to Maj Place: "He's supported everybody through this and it's only right we celebrate his achievements." He added: "It's a recognition of not only his serving career, but his absolute steadfast approach to promoting the Royal British Legion. Promoting support."He said Maj Place was also known for "supporting the mental health awareness of veterans; and just getting the awareness out in our communities".
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Love Island USA series seven winners revealed
This article contains spoilers for the Love Island USA final. The winners of Love Island USA's seventh series have been Espinal and Bryan Arenales bagged the $100,000 cash prize ahead of other couples Chris Seeley and Huda Mustafa, Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen, and Jose "Pepe" Garcia-Gonzalez and Iris Kendall. In one final twist, one member of the couple has to decide whether to share the prize fund or keep it to themselves, with Bryan choosing to split it. The US spin-off of the ITV dating show has been hugely popular this year, with network Peacock saying it had ranked as their most-streamed reality series. The 25-year-old content creator from New York coupled up with Bryan, a 28-year-old accountant from Boston, fairly late in the series but the pair made their relationship exclusive on their final date in the villa on Sunday."We started kind of late, everything worked out for us," Bryan said."One thing we always said was we're just going to be us and see where it takes us."Asked what they planned to do with the money, both said they wanted to donate a portion of their winnings to charity."Mental health awareness is extremely important to me," Bryan said."I went through it when I was younger and I definitely want to help little kids face their emotions and everything." Mental health has been a key theme of the series, with islanders being relentlessly bullied on social media. The online hate reached a level so bad that the show had to air a statement during one episode saying: "The keyword in Love Island is… Love. We love our fans. We love our Islanders. We don't love cyberbullying, harassment or hate."One islander, Cierra Ortega, shared some of the abuse she'd received online as the final aired on Sunday, which included death and rape threats as well as messages threatening to call ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] on her and her who spent most of the series coupled up with finalist Nic, left the villa a week before the final after a post resurfaced where she'd used a derogatory term for Chinese content creator from LA, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, later apologised, and said the fallout had been "very hard to deal with".Love Island says it offers islanders support before, during and after the show and continues to adapt its offering as needed. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I go to my local pub naked - the experience is liberating'
A naturist has revealed how he attends his local pub naked - and says the experience is "liberating". Colin Unsworth, 55, says he has gone completely nude to his closest watering hole alongside his partner Sadie Tann, 35, for some of his favourite musicians since 2022. The wild foraging teacher, who is from Adlington, has been a naturist for over a decade, first getting involved aged 42 with the sponsored World Naked Bike Ride in Manchester in 2012. Colin said that he strips down to spread the message of body positivity and also raise awareness for mental health. Though he says he received some backlash from strangers he has revealed "most of the time" he is met with "positivity" and "admiration" for being "comfortable" in his own skin. He said: "We strip down in the car and go inside without clothes on. "There are four pubs we go to and we had to build up relationships with the owners and staff to let us do it. Colin and Sadie regularly visit their local pub in the nude. (Image: Colin Unsworth/SWNS) "At the shows people always ask questions saying I must be 'super confident' but mainly I accept and am comfortable in my own skin. "Body shame has done a lot of damage to people - modern society holds a moral shame over a naked body but that should never be the case. "I don't do it for attention, I do it to spread the word of body positivity." Naturism is the act of going outside without clothes on in a non-sexual manner, which is legal in the UK even if it causes offense. Though it can be seen as illegal if the person is acting in a way which causes harassment, alarm, or distress to others. Colin says that throughout his childhood he was "hypersensitive" to touch and didn't like the feeling of clothes on his body. He says this continued into his adult life but it wasn't until he parted from his wife of 20 years he decided to step into the world of naturism which started with him going wild shrubbing in just an apron. Colin and Sadie regularly visit their local pub in the nude. (Image: Colin Unsworth/SWNS)Read more: Mystery naked cyclist identity revealed as retired professor Read more: Shock for onlookers as naked man cycles through village Read more: Nude cyclists spotted on tandem bike reveal reasons for 'cheeky' ride Colin has revealed he goes to the pub naked once a month alongside Sadie mainly to catch some live music. They arrive at the venue nude saying it saves the "awkwardness" of being clothed and then getting undressed. He has told he had to spend time getting to know the owners and staff before he was allowed inside nude. Colin said: "It took time before we were able to. Colin and Sadie regularly visit their local pub in the nude. (Image: Colin Unsworth/SWNS) "I became a regular at the places and got to know the staff and the owner really well. "We only did it when the owner agreed to it." He says after entering for the first couple of minutes he feels "exposed" but after buying a drink and having a few conversations it becomes "normal". Colin said: "All conversations happen with eye contact and after a few minutes you forget you are naked. "When the music starts playing we feel vibrant and free and also feel accepted. "People at the gig also tell us that it is better for their experience, they feel part of something that is liberating even if they themselves aren't naked. "In a normal sense we are just there to enjoy the evening and music just like everybody else, making sure we are having a good time. Naturist couple Colin and Sadie, in clothes. (Image: Colin Unsworth/SWNS) "It seems to add a positive vibe to pub - you find people often talk about it long after the occasion." The naturist also says that he rarely runs into issues with people once inside. Colin said: "People come up to us all the time and ask us questions. "We find ourselves talking about body acceptance and positivity and most of the time they find themselves coming to terms with their own bodies after our conversations. "People often say that they feel that we've made them feel that they can also be accepted as themselves." Though he says when they do get abuse they "shrug it off" and continue saying they "aren't doing anything wrong". But for Colin he says the angry words are a result of him challenging the narrative and spreading body positivity which is his main goal.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New mother had 'terrifying' thoughts of hurting her baby
A mum who was plagued by thoughts of hurting herself and her newborn has spoken out amid a rise in new mums seeking help for their mental health.A specialist service which provides perinatal mental health treatment in the west of England has seen an 80% rise in referrals in the past three from Bath, said she had had "absolutely terrifying" thoughts of hurting her son and was at risk of taking her own life or abandoning her family before she asked her health visitor for help."Instead of judging me, they met me with so much empathy and understanding," the 36-year-old said. "I learned intrusive thoughts like the ones I was facing are actually really common, especially in new mums." The two community perinatal mental health teams in the West, which operate in Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, received 4,816 referrals in 2024-25 - up from 2,668 in service is run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) and its clinical development lead Becky Eva said more awareness of its services and a better understanding of perinatal mental health had played a "significant role" in the rise. Ms Eva explained maternal suicide was the leading cause of death for a woman in the first year of their child's life."The hope for the service is that we reach the women who need our service and we are able to give them access to psychological therapies and evidence-based treatment," she added. Becky was supported by the service in 2023 after experiencing postnatal depression and severe anxiety. While still in pain and recovering from giving birth, Becky said she had struggled to shower, eat and sleep while also trying to establish breastfeeding and care for her son. "On top of that, I was getting these really frightening, intrusive thoughts about harming my son," she added. "These thoughts, they absolutely terrified me."After experiencing symptoms for about six months, Becky said she had ended up "fleeing" her home in her dressing gown one evening after her husband had arrived said: "I walked to the nearest park in the dark and I walked around thinking 'I can't look after my son'."Everyone was telling me that I should enjoy this time, that this time goes so fast, and aren't I lucky? And I'm really struggling." 'Repulsed' Becky said she had had "just enough grip on reality" that she returned home and asked for help from her health was sent for a rapid assessment and received support at home from the mental health team until her son was one year said she had been "repulsed" by the intrusive thoughts and "desperately" did not want to act on them, meaning she was not considered a threat to herself or her baby and was treated at home rather than in a mother and baby unit. Becky told the BBC she felt it was "no surprise" an increasing number of women were using the service."I think a lot of it comes down to a lack of support we have within our community," she said."We're increasingly segregated and expected to raise our children on our own, whereas previous generations raised them within the family, within the community."She added: "Without the support from peers and the mental health team, I think I was at serious risk of taking my life or potentially abandoning my family." The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has said mental health problems frequently go unrecognised and untreated, with some women not seeking help due to the fear of stigma or of intervention by social adds perinatal mental health problems can have significant and long-lasting effects on a woman and her family, as well as on children's emotional, social and cognitive development. Ms Eva said AWP had provided training to help clinicians and people supporting new mothers recognise the signs of mental ill health."Mental health can deteriorate for a number of reasons, with additional stresses around finances and interpersonal relationships," she said."Our maternity and health visiting colleagues do those routine checks. We have done a lot of work to create a single point of access, which means all referrals come through to the specialist team."By having this single point of access, it creates a much better safety net." If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, information and support is available at BBC Action Line.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Glastonbury headliner praised for how they take care of their crew
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo is funding free therapy for her Guts world tour band and crew. Her guitarist, Daisy Spencer, confirmed the provision of "accessible and free therapy" for all touring personnel. Spencer lauded the initiative, highlighting its significant value given the high cost of therapy and its availability even during tour breaks. Rodrigo's father is a therapist, and she has publicly shared her own positive experiences with therapy since the age of 16. She emphasises the importance of validating mental health struggles, regardless of a person's age or life circumstances.
