🔬 This month's journal club comes from @jamesldowns.bsky.social , a member of our Lived Experience Steering Committee! James has published a brilliant paper on the diverse ways of knowing in mental health research. Read the thread to learn more! 🧵👇

"Benefits didn’t incentivise me to sit back and relax, nor have they kept me disabled. They help me to mitigate some of the consequences of the multiple disabilities I live with, and have given me a chance to build a life where I have dignity." My article today: nation.cymru/opinion/you-...

Please read my article in @nation.cymru today about disability benefits, based on some of my personal experiences and highlighting the false economy of proposed cuts: nation.cymru/opinion/you-...

Please read my article in @nation.cymru today about disability benefits, based on some of my personal experiences and highlighting the false economy of proposed cuts

‘The government’s arguments for cutting disability benefits ignore the truth about what creates disability in the first place. It doesn’t arise in a vacuum. It’s shaped by the social conditions around us’ ✍️ James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner

“The new Mental Health Strategy for Wales offers a moment of hope – a chance to rethink and rebuild. But hope alone is not enough.” An poignant reminder from @jamesldowns.bsky.social via @nation.cymru on why this new strategy is so needed – and why the ambition must be met with action.

Please read my latest which highlights the vital work of @mindcymru.bsky.social

In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn't just an administrative inconvenience; it's a crisis with real- life consequences ✍️ James Downs

Thanks to @jamesldowns.bsky.social for using our work listening to people with lived experience to inform this piece on his hopes for the new mental health strategy. Powerfully and articulately argued as ever and I hope the new strategy can deliver on these outcomes for all of us

Co-authored by @thecyberpsyche.bsky.social Richard Brown, Claire Murphy-Morgan and @jamesldowns.bsky.social, the paper is part of the RHED-C project, funded by @medresfdn.bsky.social. Find out more: rhedc.uk

Aren’t we cute?How Westminster trivialises Cymru nation.cymru/opinion/aren... @jamesldowns.bsky.social on 10 DowningStreet video "Here’s what happened when we asked some famous faces 2 say the longest word in Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿" Outraged?No.Bored? Yes! Always patronised! Perhaps we shld all say "C**t y Môr"

Really happy to see this paper published today! We identified best practices to promote researchers' mental health in emotionally demanding research. Thank you to all involved in this project, especially the participants for their invaluable expertise! 🔗 Read the paper here: doi.org/10.1080/1748...

“In some ways, Unshrunk is a memoir of Delano’s unstable and intense interpersonal relationship with psychiatry, alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation, and ending with a partial course correction.”

One year of 20mph in Wales: 🚦 100 fewer killed or seriously injured 🚶‍♂️ 26% drop in casualties 🏁 35% drop in summer road injuries – the lowest since records began Slower speeds. Safer streets. Fewer tragedies. It’s not perfect, but it’s progress. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Really wise words from James in this article. We can't afford to lose the arts and culture in Wales!

Excellent, compelling, spot on. The commodification of HE in combination with Tory cuts (halved funding for all subjects they deemed non priority /non STEM) and extortionate student costs have killed off the idea of value in the pursuit of knowledge and culture. It’s conveniently dumbed us down.

Great piece by @jamesldowns.bsky.social 👇🏻

Please read my latest article about the awful news from Cardiff University 👇🏽 “If we continue down this road, Wales may end up as a country that cannot afford to teach its own language, its own arts, or its own thinkers. We will have severely limited our own future.” nation.cymru/opinion/card...

I had great time in Switzerland last week with GALENOS. I wrote about it here: “This is about enriching our understanding of mental health by weaving together varied ways of knowing, from laboratory findings to lived experience.” www.galenos.org.uk/blog-news/co...

Communities should be able to sustain themselves. They should not have to rely on imported or temporary wealth to fund basic services or remain viable ✍️James Downs wp.me/p8Mk4U-TJ2

Ultimately, the question isn’t whether tourism or second homes are “good” or “bad” – it’s whether the economic activity they generate benefits the communities they rely on, rather than undermining them ✍️James Downs

If I am lucky enough to be able to buy a property, it’s absolutely right that I pay my fair share. Just as I should pay this tax to fund vital public services, it is only reasonable to ask more of those with second homes 👇🏽 nation.cymru/opinion/seco...

Please read my latest for @nation.cymru on tourism taxes and second home premiums in Wales, and how we need a fair debate as well as fair policy in this area: nation.cymru/opinion/seco...

Managed to catch a peep of Notre Dame en route to Switzerland today (via train!) for some exciting mental health research work with @wellcometrust.bsky.social 🙌🏼

Take a read of our latest coproduced commentary on unmet need in eating disorders treatment. Great to collaborate with @agnesayton.bsky.social of course onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

"Investment in Welsh is not about excluding or diminishing anyone – English speakers or otherwise. It is about reclaiming a cultural space that has been systematically diminished over time" @jamesldowns.bsky.social nation.cymru/opinion/engl...

The world famous Welsh singer today celebrates her 88th birthday. This is the little seen film of her first ever TV appearance in 1956 performing a song that caused some controversy when it was released

Erthygl diddorol ar Nation. Mae'n anodd i ni sydd wedi bod yn ddwyieithog erioed i ddeall gymaint o gam seicolegol yw dechrau defnyddio'r Gymraeg fel siaradwr newydd, a gymaint gall y Gymraeg deimlo fel bygythiad i'r di-Gymraeg.

Recommend for anyone wanting to engage with Welsh issues in style /good humour!👇🏽

Yesterday to my surprise a colleague practised some Cymraeg on me. He has been using Duolingo. We had a short chat & I look forward to the next time. It was lovely he felt able to do so with me. Your article is excellent, not least, your comments about shame & insecurity. We must all be welcoming!

A well-written article. The reactions to Cymraeg, by a segment of monoglot English speakers, corresponds to the vitriol towards use of the Scots leid, and to Gàidhlig.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: call for evidence: www.parliament.uk/business/new... - deadline "as soon as possible"

#English fragility, shame, and the #Welsh #language debate. | @NationCymru @jamesldowns.bsky.social #bilingual #culture #linguistics #polyglot

Plaid Cymru’s Energy spokesperson, Llinos Medi MP, will call for the Crown Estate to be devolved to Wales in the House of Commons today

Brilliant to see such encouragement!

Darllen hanfodol i ni oll - hyd yn oed i’r monoglots Saesneg bregus ac ansicr.

🥳

"I would love to be able to say I am a Welsh speaker, but I cannot. This .. is a source of .. shame" is a sad comment. I have been a Welsh speaker for sixty odd years, but I don't speak "perfect" Welsh. Use what you have, use it without "shame", your Welsh is good enough, and will improve with use!

Thanks for sharing! (Diolch am rannu??) :)

Diolch yn fawr @jamesldowns.bsky.social - very interesting perspective on the wider language debate #Cymraeg #bilingualism

My latest piece for @nation.cymru dives into trying to understand the visceral responses we see to Welsh language content on social media. What do you think? 🤔 👇🏽 nation.cymru/opinion/engl...

Please take a read of my new piece for @nation.cymru about resisting the new year rush to self improvement...! Something I hope is helpful for all, but especially resonates with my experience of disability and chronic illness at this time of year.

“The feeling of being Welsh (as opposed to British) is rapidly increasing. Wales is, slowly but surely, asserting itself.” An erudite assessment by everyone’s favourite adopted Cymro, @willhaycardiff.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A thank you to 2024! And to all I’ve connected with here and elsewhere who’ve made it worthwhile ❤️

I am excited to be presenting at @edcrn.bsky.social's Launch Event webinar on Jan 13th! Join me live/recorded to explore the future of data-driven eating disorder services, featuring insights from lived experiences and caregivers. Register free via the link below! forms.office.com/e/ZuHS2fbFGm

“The mental healthcare system often inflicts harm resulting in trauma because it is itself a traumatised system, with environments that often harm staff as well as patients” 👇🏽

Interested in being trauma informed? Take a read of my latest paper 👇🏽 “If not rooted in a more expansive and inclusive conceptualisation of trauma, trauma informed care may perpetuate and even generate fresh harms” 👇🏽 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Voters believe the UK should prioritise its relationship with Europe over the US, a poll has revealed

Collaboration is essential to improving eating disorder services

Great to work with @agnesayton.bsky.social again to contribute to the field of eating disorders and wider mental health in what I hope are positive and insightful ways