23rd May 2024
Written by Molly Myers, Assistant Psychologist Due to an increase in information regarding ADHD being circulated on social media, thanks to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, education and awareness around the condition is positively growing. However, as unfortunately common on social media platforms, misinformation spreads like wildfire and increases the likelihood of incorrect and More…
14th July 2023
Written by Olivia Fretwell, Assistant Psychologist. In honour of Samaritan’s annual ‘Talk to Us’ campaign throughout July, this blog will discuss the heart-breaking and complex issue of suicidality in our population, whilst remaining focused on those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). As defined by Headway, TBI is trauma to the brain, caused More…
27th June 2023
Written by Caitlin Thompson, Assistant Psychologist. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and acquired brain injury (ABI) are two distinct conditions that affect individuals cognitive, social and emotional functioning in unique ways. However, a closer look reveals surprising (or to some clinicians, unsurprising) similarities in cognitive functioning. Exploring the common deficit of facial affect recognition in both More…
6th February 2020
Are those with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) at higher risk? Dr Simon Fleminger, Consultant Neuropsychologist, endorses the plethora of research that identifies a link between TBI and an increased risk of suicide. One well-respected study, conducted in Denmark, looked at hospital record data over a 34-year period. The study identified a total of 568,000 individuals More…
18th July 2019
Autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) and eating disorders do not at first glance seem like they would overlap. ASCs are characterised by difficulties in social interaction and communication, while eating disorders are characterised by abnormal or disturbed eating habits; symptoms which on the surface sound vastly different. Equally, people with autism are often (incorrectly) assumed to More…
18th June 2019
The 17th to the 21st June marks Loneliness Awareness Week in the UK; a week aimed at reducing stigma around loneliness and helping people to connect. Loneliness has been suggested to be as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and can have an enormous impact on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Whilst More…
31st May 2019
With the summer holidays fast approaching, children, parents and schools alike are gearing up for the 6-week school break. Thinking back to this time of year when I was younger, I remember excitement and anticipation around all the fun things I could do without the strict and monotonous routine of school. For many children, the More…
21st May 2019
Autism Spectrum Conditions are gaining far more exposure in popular news media in recent times than ever before. There are many brilliant people speaking out about their experiences of being an adult on the autistic spectrum, and more employers and policy makers are beginning to understand the importance of recognising the unique abilities and difficulties More…
18th April 2019
Many people with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) are likely to suffer from sleep disturbances at some point in their lives. In fact, recent research suggests that up to 80% of young people with ASCs experience difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, compared to 9%-50% of children without ASCs. Insomnia, defined as difficulty falling or remaining More…
5th April 2019
It is estimated that males on the autistic spectrum outnumber females on the autistic spectrum 4 to 1. Historically, autism was viewed as a ‘male condition’, with some even describing autism as ‘extreme maleness’. Many of the traits traditionally associated with Autism Spectrum Conditions are thought of as classically ‘male’, such as being detail-orientated and More…