As Sober October approaches, Ruth Allonby, Chief Executive of Mount Carmel Rehab offers practical tips and advice on how to take a break from alcohol and how to spot if you have a problem with alcohol misuse. This month, many people consider taking a break from alcohol to reset habits, improve health, and gain clarity.

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.

Dry eye disease is one of the most common conditions seen in eye clinics, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood. There is a difference between the occasional dry eyes and chronic dry eye disease – the first will go away after a break from screens and a good night's sleep, the latter can severely impact your quality of life.

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.

In Cumbria, maternity care has faced some of the most sustained scrutiny seen anywhere in the NHS.

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…

We’ve all spent years being told to avoid stress - but one of the a leadership expert explains why it might often help to embrace it. Drew Povey, author and founder of the Drew Povey Consultancy, says it’s time that we shrug off the view that all stress is bad and instead use it to achieve our full potential.

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?