Lively Minds, the UK Mental Health Podcast

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Elspeth Davies, a medical anthropologist from the University of Oxford, and Dr. Helen Salisbury, a GP and BMJ columnist, about their BMJ article: [https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r669] How do we talk about overdiagnosis of mental health conditions without dismissing people’s suffering? Our discussion explores the fine line between validating patients' experiences and the potential harms of unnecessary diagnostic labels. We examine the influence of medicalisation, the role of diagnoses in accessing care and benefits, and the broad societal implications. The conversation also highlights the need for improved communication between doctors and patients and the importance of considering alternative approaches to understanding mental health issues. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com [http://livelymindspod.com] Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds [https://www.bio.link/livelyminds]  00:00 Introduction to Lively Minds Podcast 00:20 Introducing the Topic of Over-Diagnosis 00:27 Meet the Experts: Dr. Elspeth Davies and Dr. Helen Salisbury 01:28 Defining Over-Diagnosis in Mental Health 02:24 The Complexity of Diagnosing Mental Health Conditions 04:39 The Role of Diagnoses in Accessing Support 07:36 The Impact of Diagnoses on Patients 09:48 The Debate on Over-Diagnosis and Medicalization 25:52 The Influence of Pharmaceutical Companies 26:26 Improving Conversations Between Doctors and Patients 29:11 The Political Context of Over-Diagnosis 31:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode we are joined by author: Caro Giles to talk about school and mental health. Caro has worked as a teacher across the education sector. She is winner of the inaugural BBC Countryfile New Writer Award, author of Twelve Moons, published by Harper North and writes a regular monthly column for Psychologies Magazine.  Her latest book - Unschooled - published by Little Toller Books, is a memoir about her life as a single mother who was forced to educate her four daughters at home due to our underfunded school system being unable to cater for young people with special educational needs. In this episode we are going to discuss how conducive our current school system is for children’s positive mental health, the challenges that it can present for children with additional needs and what needs to change in order for school to become a place that supports everyone’s wellbeing. UNSCHOOLED is available in all good bookstores. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com [http://livelymindspod.com] Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds [https://www.bio.link/livelyminds]

Depression isn’t just about a presence of sadness, it’s also about an absence of happiness. And whilst ceasing to function is a long-understood symptom of Depression, those that cope by never stopping aren’t necessarily in any less need of help.  In this episode of Lively Minds we discuss High Functioning Depression with Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher. Dr. Joseph, who is also the founder and chief investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, discusses her groundbreaking research and the resulting book 'High Functioning: Overcoming Your Hidden Depression and Reclaiming Your Joy.'   The conversation explores the distinction between high functioning depression and classic depression, the importance of early identification, and Dr. Joseph's innovative five V framework (validation, venting, values, vitals and vision) for cultivating joy and mental wellbeing.  The episode emphasises the necessity of a proactive approach to mental health to prevent breakdowns and highlights the vital role of understanding trauma and anhedonia in managing depression. You can buy Dr Joseph’s book: High Functioning at all good bookstores or find out more by clicking here [https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462085/high-functioning-by-joseph-dr-judith/9781529936803] Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com [http://livelymindspod.com] Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds [https://www.bio.link/livelyminds]  00:00 Introduction to Lively Minds Podcast 00:16 Meet Dr. Judith Joseph 01:15 Understanding High Functioning Depression 03:23 Proactive Mental Health Approaches 04:37 Defining High Functioning Depression 05:38 The Role of Trauma in High Functioning Depression 07:54 Identifying Anhedonia 17:15 Listener Engagement Break 17:59 Exploring Masochistic Behaviours 19:46 Understanding People Pleasing and Trauma 21:41 Masochistic Personality Disorder Explained 22:27 Big T vs. Small T Trauma 27:01 Coping Mechanisms in High Functioning Depression 30:13 The Five V Framework 37:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Professor Melissa Bateson, an expert in ethology, explains the biological functions of anxiety, its evolutionary importance, and how it prepares humans and animals to detect and respond to threats. The conversation covers the smoke detector principle, the optimal threshold for anxiety responses, and the potential impact of modern environments on anxiety levels. The episode also delves into how understanding animal behaviour can offer insights into human mental health. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds [https://www.bio.link/livelyminds]  00:00 Introduction to Lively Minds Podcast 00:21 Meet Professor Melissa Bateson 01:04 Understanding Ethology and Human Behavior 01:58 Evolutionary Basis for Anxiety 05:43 The Smoke Detector Principle 06:56 When Anxiety Becomes a Problem 18:00 Biological Perspective on Anxiety Thresholds 23:46 Modern Threats and Anxiety 27:54 Learning from Animals 29:26 Conclusion and Farewell

We take a deep dive into SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which is the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant in the UK. We discuss with Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr Alex Curmi what we know about the effectiveness of SSRIs, what we don't, and why there is so much debate about their use. Check out the Thinking Mind Podcast by searching for it wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can find it on Spotify by clicking here [https://open.spotify.com/show/6h2FCOoWZnUr88SQG0ytHn] In particular, you might be interested in Alex's conversations with * Prof Joanna Moncrieff [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1O2FUR0ZG6RxHF6i8zSqBz] about her skeptisim of SSRIs * Prof David Taylor about SSRI research [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vP694i75bj8kPSoRmlLFm], their effectiveness and side effects Mark Horowitz's website can be found here [https://markhorowitz.org/] Weblinks are provided in good faith and Lively Minds is not responsible for the content of external sites. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, click here or links https://www.bio.link/livelyminds [https://www.bio.link/livelyminds]  00:00 Introduction to Lively Minds Podcast 00:19 Today's Topic: Antidepressants and SSRIs 00:47 Guest Introduction: Dr. Alex Kmy 01:52 Understanding SSRIs: Mechanism and Function  03:21 Hosts' Personal Experiences with SSRIs 09:39 Debate on SSRIs: Effectiveness and Over-Prescription 22:19 Effectiveness of SSRIs: Research Insights 25:34 Understanding Antidepressant Effect Sizes 25:49 Comprehensive Depression Assessment 26:20 Exploring Treatment Options Beyond Antidepressants 27:23 SSRIs for Various Mental Health Conditions 28:47 The Role of Psychological Interventions 29:46 Personal Development and Mental Health 31:20 Debating the Usefulness of Diagnoses 32:28 Personal Journey with SSRIs 34:36 Stigma and Medication 37:11 Modern Life and Mental Health 39:57 The Mystery of How SSRIs Work 41:22 Supporting Patients in Tapering Off SSRIs 44:47 Alternative Biological Treatments for Depression 46:05 The Future of AI in Psychiatry 46:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts