News reports on Anorexia can do more harm than good…

Imagine you’re a freelance journalist who’s been asked to write up a report on a disease you have no experience of, or know only a limited amount about. Whether it’s a rare form of cancer or type 1 diabetes, what …

To People Who Love People with Eating Disorders…

“We Know You’re Treading On Eggshells – and believe me, we hate that almost as much as you.”

A list of people who can be victims of rape:

Women Men Children Drunk people People under the influence of drugs People who enjoy sex People who are confident in bed People who have had one night stands People who have done things they may regret Prostitutes Escorts Married people …

The Five Best and Worst Things about #WorldMentalHealthDay

I, and many people I have communicated with through social media, have very mixed feelings towards this day and other similar ‘Awareness Days’. So I thought I’d list a few things, because… well, balance.

PJs, Cheat Days & Me

This isn’t a debate about obesity or exercise, it’s about people being free to enjoy themselves and eat what they want without being plagued by society’s warped idea of what is right or wrong.

The ‘anorexic voice’ has an answer to everything.

“As with any illness, every person’s experience of it is different, as are the coping mechanisms we adopt to deal with the feelings that surround it, but one thing remains the same – that however it manifests itself, the ‘anorexic voice’ has an answer to everything. ”

We need to talk about functioning eating disorders

Most people with eating disorders sit between the extremes and have to live and survive in a society which itself has an unhealthy obsession with weight and image…

Anorexia is a lot of things. Narcissistic isn’t one of those things.

Anorexia has the highest mortality rate amongst mental illnesses. It is a slow suicide, and ending up in a coffin really isn’t a good look.

David Bowie – Why I’m Sad

I’m not his biggest fan I never even saw him live He wouldn’t be my specialist subject on Mastermind But I’m allowed to be sad, and so are you. It’s ok to be sad and nobody should ever feel that …

No-one in this country “committed suicide since 1961”

“No-one in this country “committed suicide” since 1961 – that’s when suicide stopped being a crime.”

A few thoughts on Paris…

We are all human – geography doesn’t change that.

Can we stop genderising mental health please?

Boys don’t cry… but loads of women are sad, scared and suicidal too.

Here’s why Jamie Oliver and his Sugar Tax can do one…

I don’t think we need a food revolution and I don’t think that the definition of bravery is for the Tories to ask for more money from a country that already uses foodbanks.

Dear Stranger…

A little project I helped on a while back Out 02 July 2015 ‘Dear Stranger is an inspiration’ Stylist Dear Stranger is a collection of inspirational, honest and heartfelt letters from authors, bloggers and Mind ambassadors to an imagined stranger. …

From Marathons to Mountains…

It’s May! That means it’s my birthday, but I’m not that bothered about that this year because I really hate odd numbers (a completely irrational hatred, NOT “a bit OCD”, because y’know, that’s not how it works, at all). What’s …

‘Diet Pill Deaths’ won’t end any time soon…

The truth is that in some, if not many cases, there is a calculated risk involved when it comes to taking diet pills or supplements purchased over the internet. We shouldn’t be worrying so much about the name of the chemical, but addressing what it is that drives people to become desperate enough to take pills without even knowing what’s in them.

Why I’m (still) fundraising for Mind…

Everybody deserves to have a voice and everybody deserves to be listened to.