Cardiff University Mental Health Research
Cardiff University’s Mental Health Research Institute leads world-class research into mental ill health and neurodegenerative disorders, translating innovation into better therapies across the lifespan.
7 Secrets to Balancing Mind, Body, and Nutrition
True wellness isn’t about perfecting one area of your health while neglecting others. It’s about recognizing that mental clarity, physical vitality, and nutritional choices are deeply intertwined, each one influencing the others in ways that can either elevate or undermine your overall well-being.
Understanding OCD: Breaking Down Misconceptions
People with OCD don’t “choose” their thoughts or compulsions. Telling someone to “just get over it” is dismissive, harmful, and perpetuates ableist attitudes. If someone has lived with OCD for decades and tried all known interventions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), medication, counseling, and even alternative therapies such as hypnosis, it is unjust to boil their suffering down to a fad.
Understanding Invisible Disabilities & Ableist Attitudes
Invisible disabilities deserve recognition, understanding, and respect. Ableist attitudes rooted in ignorance and dismissiveness create barriers that can be just as disabling as the condition itself. Instead of questioning someone’s reality or minimising their struggles, we should listen, believe, and support. The lived experiences of those with invisible disabilities, like the editor who has battled OCD for decades, remind us that what cannot be seen can still have profound impact. True inclusivity means dismantling ableism and embracing empathy.
Facing Inner Demons: Why Trauma Survivors Turn to Drugs and Alcohol
Trauma leaves lasting wounds, but numbing pain with drugs and alcohol only deepens the suffering. Although self-medication may seem like an escape, it damages the body and creates new chains of dependency. The path to healing is not easy, but it is possible. With therapy, support, and healthier coping mechanisms, people can face their fears, overcome their inner demons, and take back control of their lives.
Can Forgetting Compulsions Help Heal OCD and Trauma?
Stress can play a major role in memory lapses, especially for people living with OCD and trauma. When the mind is overwhelmed by anxiety, daily pressures, or too many competing tasks, it can become harder to focus on intrusive thoughts or compulsions. Preoccupation with other responsibilities may naturally push the urge into the background, allowing it to fade over time. In this way, stress and distraction, although challenging, can sometimes disrupt the cycle of OCD by creating moments where the compulsion is forgotten.
Staying Safe Support
Learn what “staying safe” really means and how to protect yourself from harassment, hate crime, racism, stalking, bullying, domestic violence, sexual assault, honour killings, and emotional distress. Know your rights and take steps to protect your wellbeing.
Link Between Trauma, MS, Financial Stability & OCD
If only we could erase bad memories and achieve financial stability for the rest of our lives, our mental health would no doubt improve. A reflection on trauma, OCD, MS, and the importance of stability for wellbeing
What Should Be Taught in Schools But Isn’t
Education is supposed to prepare students for the real world, but too often, schools fail to teach the very skills that young people need to thrive after graduation. Instead, the curriculum is filled with outdated or impractical subjects that do little to equip students for adulthood.
Why Social Media Is Endangering Our Children, Urgent Action Is Needed
Social media is not an innocent pastime for children; it is a powerful, addictive force that can shape their self-worth, behaviour, and future in dangerous ways. Without immediate action, more young lives will be damaged or lost, and the cycle of harm will continue unchecked. The responsibility lies with all of us, parents, schools, lawmakers, and tech companies, to act now. Banning phones in schools, enforcing strict age verification, and introducing robust child-safety laws are not optional measures; they are urgent necessities. We cannot afford to wait for another tragedy to spur change. The time to protect our children is today.