Whether we realise it or not, every day we exchange our skills and energy for the opportunity to live in a structured society where, generally, we are safe, able to earn a living and pursue our dreams and aspirations. We do this by being good citizens, living within the boundaries of our laws and customs, […]
LGBTI people have the highest rates of suicide when compared to any population. Studies indicated that 15.7% of lesbian, gay or bisexual and 20% of transsexual individuals report current suicidal thoughts (Rosenstreich, 2011). LGBTI people are more likely to experience discrimination, abuse, violence, social isolation and mental health issues. These issues can also increase their […]
We have been bombarded with a social climate of ‘positive thinking’ to reach ‘happiness’ and ‘success’. There are a variety of self-help books that are aimed at teaching you how to think positively, find happiness and achieve success. While many of these books are tremendously helpful and certainly do have their merits, one has to […]
Social anxiety is far more common than you think and, while it is a term that we often use quite loosely, it is also a diagnosable mental illness. In fact the Diagnostic Manual (DSM 5) describes social anxiety as being characterised by a strong and persistent fear in social and / or performance situations. Generally, […]
Phobias are irrational fears of an object, situation or activity that are so pronounced that people with a phobia will go to any lengths to avoid it. Current estimates of the percentage of the population that have phobias are around 10%. This is quite a significant number of people whose quality of life in some […]