Piece of Mind: Mental Health & Psychiatry

22q11.2 deletion syndrome, or 22q for short, is a genetic syndrome affecting between 1 in 2000 and 1 in 4000 people. There are a wide range of health issues associated with the syndrome, such as heart conditions and immune problems, palatal defects and speech delays. It can also cause developmental problems and learning disabilities, and increased risk of a range of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, ADHD and depression. To tell us more about 22q, we're joined by Professor Marianne van den Bree, a Principal Investigator at Cardiff University's MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics. We also get a parent perspective from Katie and Jon, whose daughter Ivy was diagnosed with 22q last year. For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.ncmh.info/videos-and-podcasts/podcast/episode-6-22q11-2-deletion-syndrome/ We hope you enjoy, and if you have any feedback please get in touch at info@ncmh.info

Getting enough sleep is important for your health and happiness. Generally, if you sleep better you feel better. On the other hand, poor sleep can make you feel low and have a negative impact on your mood. But does poor sleep increase your chances of experiencing a mental health problem or is it a symptom? In this episode we’re joined by Dr Ajay Thapar, a GP who recently travelled to the USA on a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship to learn more about insomnia and different treatments, and Dr Katie Lewis, whose work investigates the relationship between sleep disruption and mood disorders like bipolar and depression. For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.ncmh.info/videos-and-podcasts/podcast/sleep-insomnia/ We hope you enjoy, and if you have any feedback please get in touch at info@ncmh.info

The UK has the highest self-harm rate of any country in Europe, and it remains an issue people struggle to handle, talk about, and understand. In this episode we discuss personal experiences of self-harm and coping techniques, the latest research in the field and misunderstanding and stigma can stop people who self-harm from seeking help. We're joined by Swansea University's Professor Ann John, whose main research interest is self-harm, suicide and public health. Ann also chairs the National Advisory Group to Welsh Government on Suicide an Self harm prevention. Our second guest is Si, co-founder of Heads Above the Waves, a not-for-profit organisation that works with young people to promote positive, creative ways of dealing with bad days. For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit www.ncmh.info/videos-and-podcasts/podcast/self-harm We hope you enjoy, and if you have any feedback please get in touch at info@ncmh.info

It's International Women's Day, and to mark the event we are celebrating women in science. In this minisode, our guest host Catrin Hopkins, is joined by three scientists - Dr Adele Pryce-Roberts, Jasmine Donaldson and Rachel Pass. Adele is an Alzheimer's UK Clinical Research Fellow at the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, where Jasmine is doing her PhD in the area of Huntington's disease. Rachel is also a PhD student, based at Cardiff University's Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, where she is investigating copy number variants and schizophrenia.

ADHD remains one of the most stigmatised mental health problems. In this episode, we're speaking to Zoe Piper, founder of ADHD Connections, about her experiences. We're also joined by Professor Anita Thapar, Director of the neurodevelopmental disorders research at Cardiff University's MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, to discuss the latest research in this area. For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.ncmh.info/videos-and-podcasts/podcast/adhd/

In this episode, Bozo is joined by RAF veteran Darren and Dr Neil Kitchiner, Director and Clinical Consultant Lead of Veterans NHS Wales to talk PTSD. Darren shares his personal experience of PTSD following his time in the Royal Air Force, and Neil talks about different treatments available. We also discuss some of the pioneering research taking place at NCMH and Cardiff University, including 3MDR. We'd like to apologise for the occasional sound of static interference on this recording. For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.ncmh.info/videos-and-podcasts/podcast/ptsd/

Our host Bozo Lugonja is joined by the founder of My Discombobulated Brain, Laura Dernie, and NCMH Director Professor Ian Jones to talk about postnatal depression. Laura shares her personal experience of postnatal depression and Ian speaks about current research into better understanding and treating postnatal depression. We finish on a look to the future - how can we reduce stigma around postnatal depression and encourage more women to ask for help? Special thanks to Dr Tony O'Shaughnessy at Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies for helping us to produce this podcast. For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.ncmh.info/videos-and-podcasts/podcast/postnatal-depression/