Challenging the Stigma Surrounding Psychedelics

Between 2016-17, US comedian Shane Mauss was performing on a tour called A Good Trip, a two-hour comedy show about psychedelics. One of the aims of this tour, he said, was to remove the stigma that surrounds the use of psychedelics. Public Perceptions About Psychedelics Many people have misguided and negative preconceptions about what these substances…

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The Mental Health Burden of Student Debt

If we sincerely believe that higher education is a public good then we can argue it, therefore, deserves public funding. There are many government programmes, on the other hand, that are funded by the public that I do not personally believe are in the public interest. Two examples would include our nuclear weapons programme and…

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Well-Meaning Phrases That Can Deepen Depression

One of the main reasons it’s often so difficult to talk about mental health is that we fear what others will think and say about us. This is mental health stigma. It is the negative attitudes and prejudices that society and the individual have about mental illness, as well as the guilt, shame, and embarrassment…

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The Rise in Student Suicides Shows How Mental Health Support is Lacking

A study published in September by think tank IPPR has found that suicide among UK university students is at record levels. In addition, findings show that the number of students reporting a mental health issue has increased fivefold in the last 10 years. It’s not precisely clear why mental health issues and suicide is on…

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Why Mental Illness is Rare in Traditional Societies

The global incidence of mental illness is staggeringly high. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people around the world will be affected by a mental disorder at some point in their lives. It is interesting to note, however, which countries have the highest incidences of mental illness. Rates of depression and…

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