Health & Wellbeing

Warwickshire’s Disability Access team have been crowned Super 9s champions after they rounded off a flawless campaign with victory in the regional final. They topped the Midlands Division with an unbeaten record before beating Derbyshire Disability CC in the decider at Melborne Town Cricket Club, Derbyshire, on Sunday (20 August).

It’s the first time since 2005 that a Warwickshire disability team – featuring players with both physical and learning disabilities – have lifted a trophy. The Bears set Derbyshire a total of 186/4 from 30 overs with Dean Wattison – who lost a leg in a motorbike collision six years ago – top scoring with 51.

People from Birmingham are being asked to saddle up for a cycling challenge that will raise vital funds for Diabetes UK this autumn.

The UK Wide Cycle Ride runs throughout the 31 days of October. It is a perfect opportunity to take your fitness up a gear, while raising money for Diabetes UK’s work in funding life-saving research and making sure everyone living with the condition gets the care and support they need.

TikTok has revolutionised the hair and beauty industry. With a constant flow of new trends, undiscovered hacks, and tips for achieving the hottest looks, TikTok is the go-to place for uncovering what’s happening in beauty and wellness. 

Experts at beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha have collated some of the hottest ‘#hairtok’ trends from 2023, giving all the insider knowledge on achieving these looks. 

A new West Midlands Military Veterans Football League is being set up with the ethos being that any military veteran or member of the armed forces can apply and play football regardless of gender, age, ability, or which service they served in. All are welcome to join!

The aim is to offer a place where fellow Veterans who love football and love/or want to play can just be themselves. In turn it will promote physical and mental wellbeing and reduce social isolation by recreating the camaraderie and friendship many enjoy whilst serving in the forces.

Brand new research conducted by Qunomedical reveals some of the most misunderstood medical terms patients continue to question. 

A team of doctors associated with Qunomedical have compiled a list of frequently misunderstood or unknown medical terms as reported by their patients. From veneers and rhinoplasty to breast and hair transplants, the experts have debunked misunderstood medical terms, helping to separate ongoing myths from the real facts. 

A pioneering NHS recruitment programme in Birmingham and Solihull, which has created over 400 job opportunities, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award. NHS Birmingham and Solihull’s ‘I Can’ programme has been shortlisted for a ‘Workforce Initiative of the Year’ HSJ award for the second year in a row, which this year received a record-breaking number of entries.

Nearly 1 billion people worldwide suffer from some form of mental health disorder, according to the World Health Organisation. Rates of depression and anxiety shot up 25% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. government works at home and abroad to advance the response to mental health challenges around the world. Mental health is a building block for healthy organisations and communities, says the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, America’s public health spokesperson.

Menopause is something that half of the population are likely to experience, and something that The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) are regularly asked about.

Menopause impacts people from different backgrounds, those with different lifestyles, health challenges or gender experiences differently, and this perspective isn’t always at the forefront, or easily available. Because of this they are working to find a progressive, different, and accessible, way to provide that information and support.

The United States’ $100 billion investment in the fight against HIV/AIDS has empowered partner nations to better respond to disease threats and improve people’s lives.

Launched in 2003, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved over 25 million lives and helped 5.5 million babies be born HIV-free. HIV-related deaths have dropped 68% since their peak in 2004, thanks in large part to PEPFAR.

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, a leading mental health and wellbeing charity, is proud to announce the return of its "Chat4Change" campaign for the second year. Designed to promote open and honest conversations about mental health, the initiative aims to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage positive change in individuals, families, and communities.

As thousands of vacationing families are stranded in Rhodes, Greece on account of wildfires, a family travel expert has revealed what to do and what not to do if your vacation is ever cut short by a natural disaster. When traveling, it’s crucial to be well-prepared and know what to do in case a natural disaster occurs during your vacation.

Birmingham Mind and the PURE Project hosted an event at Soho House Museum on mental wellbeing in the workplace. Mental wellbeing in the workplace is increasingly a vital issue with 70% of employees expressing having experienced poor mental health because of work*. Research from Mind has also found that tor every £1 invested in workplace mental health, we see a £5.30 return in investment proving the value of providing support*.

Policymakers that want to boost the country’s stalling life expectancy and reduce yawning health inequalities are doomed to fail unless they get over their aversion to bans, taxes and regulation, a think tank warns.  

New research from the Social Market Foundation suggests that policies like higher taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and junk food, stricter licensing regulations to limit places to buy such products and regulations on marketing like banning ads before a 9pm TV watershed could all help save lives. By contrast, ‘softer’ approaches like educational and information campaigns are likely to have less of an impact.

A care home celebrated Bastille Day by bringing the South of France to Edgbaston with a French-themed garden party. Residents at Care UK’s Metchley Manor, on Church Road, enjoyed cheese, wine and French music to celebrate Bastille Day, a day which sparked the French Revolution in 1789 and today represents the unity of the French people.

The City of Wolverhampton Council is helping men to look after their mental health, as the cost of living crisis continues to put pressure on people’s finances and wellbeing. The Mandem Meetup is a non-profit group set up in Manchester three years ago aimed at supporting men’s mental wellbeing through creating safe spaces for men to talk, whether it’s meetings or outdoor activities like hiking.

Jamie Lewis and friend Christian Denton, both grew up and live on the Dovecotes estate in the city and set up the first Mandem Meetup group outside of Manchester in January this year to help Wolverhampton men. They are passionate about breaking the stigma that stops men talking openly about their mental health.

One benefit of scientific research is how expanding knowledge in one area leads to breakthroughs in another. In the United States, research designed to protect astronauts from radiation exposure in space is helping to fight cancer on Earth.

An astronaut working on the International Space Station for six months faces as much radiation as 1,000 chest X-rays, according to NASA, America’s space agency. So NASA funds scientific research to measure radiation’s effects on astronauts.