The media coverage over the savage killing of Sally Hodkin by psychiatric patient Nicola Edgington has, yet again, failed to uncover the real collapse in NHS mental health services. The terrible irony at the heart of the Nicola Edgington case is that she was in fact a voluntary patient.

hose who cringe at the S-word I suspect would eventually discover its successor (probably from reading the Daily Mail), and react similarly to the new name. I doubt changing in the terminology would improve their attitudes. Bigots are bigots.

I haven't met many people with mental health problems who aren't in some way or other creative, we naturally question everything, perhaps to obsessiveness sometimes, and spiral off in different directions looking for alternative conclusions, very much like the artist's mind.

In contrast to this picture for 'extra-familial' killers, previous research confirms the majority of assailants in child murder, particularly those below 5, are in fact the victim's parents. Most are mothers, often suffering mental illnesses such as forms of post-natal psychosis, whilst all the natural fathers who killed their children, then committed suicide.

Megan Stammers, the school girl who ran away with her married maths teacher, appears unusual, hence all the headlines, but in fact running away from home could be a lot more common than realised.

Peck's praise of AA isn't some feelgood therapy technique to make addicts feel better about themselves. It is backed up by some really interesting points and can be read in his book Further Along the Road Less Travelled.

Startling new psychological research challenges previous thinking that hair colour is merely about personal preference.

Some women who deny pregnancy might be much more likely than the general population to kill their newborns, sometimes through neglect, and these can be found in the lavatory, garbage disposal, or a hasty grave.

Andy Murray will be remembered for crying after his Wimbledon Final just as much for his gutsy tennis. He said, through his tears, he was getting closer to eventual victory - but is his emotional reaction revealing the real truth of the matter?

I very much doubt Tom Cruise will be reading this. If you are, Tom, I just like to say that I accept that trying to pacify the war of the worlds between Scientology and psychiatry is mission impossible. I know psychiatry has its shortcomings.

A French Psychoanalyst, Dr Thierry Lamote, claims in a book that L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the religious group, The Church of Scientology, suffered a psychotic episode, which appears to be the foundation for the multi-million pound worldwide movement.

It recently came to my attention that the best person to assess a client with mental health needs is in fact, the postman. Firstly, yes I have been taking my lithium. Now, think about it, the postman, if a regular to the same address, ticks the box that good psychiatry practices, but very often fails.

How often have we intuitively felt that, if someone just tried to look happier, it might have a positive impact on their mood?

I am aware that I'm a liability when manic. Ironically the hideous lows that follow are accompanied by self-loathing which makes the reflection period a bit like watching an EastEnders' Christmas special with your eyelids staples back whilst sitting on a block of ice.

Men who suffer from mental health problems are more likely to succumb to cancer post-diagnosis, a new study has revealed. According to researchers ...

I recently watched a film - a terrible film - which had an archaic, grotesque depiction of life in a psychiatric ward. After I recovered from the boredom, I woke up, wiped dribble from my shirt, and then started to ponder over it. It was frustrating to think that people who have no experience of this kind of environment may be influenced by such a portrayal.

Yesterday you were shy, bereaved, apathetic, eccentric. Today you are mentally ill. But don't worry. Nothing has changed except some new labelling ...