In Hexham, not too far from our base here at CPUK, there lives a lady. Her name is Vicki Dillon. She has Parkinson’s disease. She was diagnosed at a young age – just 35 – back in 2007. Twelve years on, Vicki has just taken part in a pioneering drug trial and appeared on a...Read More

MMR isn’t associated with autism; this is very strong scientific evidence – new study. ‘It is understandable that some parents are uncertain and concerned given the anti-vaccine stories on the internet. However, the science is clear, there is no link.’ Statens Serum Institut study, Copenhagen.   (Dr Anders Peter Hviid et al).  It’s a subject...Read More

‘Screen addiction is causing toddlers to lose delicate co-ordination skills such as those needed to tie their shoelaces, new research suggests. A study of 2,400 children found that more screen time was linked to lower scores in “milestone tests” of co-ordination, as well as communication, problem-solving and social skills.’ (Source: Daily Telegraph, 28/01/2019). There have...Read More

‘Publicising methods of how to take your own life is just as irresponsible as publishing hate videos and terrorism videos. It’s the same thing; it leads to death and it leads to death that is preventable’. Jackie Doyle-Price, Minister for Suicide Prevention (source: Daily Telegraph, 23/12/2018). Jackie Doyle-Price, Britain’s first Minister for Suicide Prevention, has...Read More

Christmas is coming. It seems to get earlier and earlier but there can be no question that it’s right around the corner. This means pressure and expectation for, and upon, all involved. For those responsible for organising the gifts, this can often be a difficult time. How much to spend, what to buy, what is...Read More

Would cancer be so disregarded? Mental illness is life-threatening also. This is a question asked – and an assertion made – in a powerful and troubling article that we read in the Daily Telegraph this week. The author behind it was the novelist Anne Atkins. It is a question that is asked – and an...Read More

Since social media became so prevalent, young people’s mental health problems have risen sharply. How sharply? Six-fold, according to a major new study that has just been published. This latest research, which is outlined in the journal Psychological Medicine, tracked trends from 1995 to 2014 and discovered that the number of children and young people...Read More

The days have been difficult and the times testing. Young people and children under pressure . . . Exam stress and then some. The impact must not be underestimated. Be it A-Levels and all entailed, with future plans and long-held dreams on the line, GCSEs or SATS, it has, as always, been quite an onslaught....Read More

“I can get different reactions in the street . . . (swears) . . . from strangers, whether the reaction is somebody staring at me or giving me a sly look, or whether they’re laughing at me or pointing.” – 13-year-old Spencer Davies-Monk, My F-ing Tourette’s Family, BBC Documentary. “These kids look like they’re just...Read More

Diagnosing autism – or an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – is a difficult thing to do. There is no single test. It takes time. For those seeking our help, it starts with an initial assessment. This is just the beginning. Factor in a school-based observation; an IQ test (learning difficulties can have a huge impact...Read More