HG Newsletter - February 2020

In this issue:

• What’s love got to do with it?
• Early birds catch our Conference Offer
• Suicide prevention App wins Global Award
• NEW supervisors’ course
• Calling all GPs
• Troubled Young Minds
• One last thought...

Love is in the air, as Valentine’s Day prompts celebrations of romance all around the world. But what is this thing called love? Is it just a second hand emotion, as Tina Turner sang? Or is it a vital need, essential to our survival? Read on, for a look at love through the HG lens, plus news of our 2020 conference Early Bird offer, an award winning App, and a vital survey.

---

What’s love got to do with it?

Among our essential emotional needs are two nods to our need for human interaction, in the forms of both an intimate relationship and community connection. Further details always reassure readers that the intimate relationship needn’t necessarily be a physical one.

A close friendship can provide immense support and connection without crossing the road from platonic to sexual. But I’ve always felt that the phrase “intimate relationship” is a somewhat cumbersome cloak unnecessarily hiding the elephant in the room: love.

What is this thing called love? And what’s it got to do with getting our needs met? [read article]

 

---

Early birds catch our Conference offer

The full programme for our HG 2020 Conference has been announced and booking is now open. 

This year’s conference is being held over the weekend of 16th/17th May in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, and it looks set to be an excellent two days of inspiring presentations and useful discussions, plus a rare chance to meet HG colleagues from far and wide. (Attendance counts as 12 hours of CPD.)

The full conference package includes attendance on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May, lunch on both days, a 3-course evening dinner on the Saturday, refreshments at each break and any conference materials.  

Places are limited – and selling fast – make sure you book yours by 12th March to catch the Early Bird Offer. View info

---

Suicide prevention App wins global award

'Better Stop Suicide' – an App created by HG trained therapist John Halker – has won a Platinum Award in the Health and Wellness category at the global DotCOMM Awards. The App is free to download and use, and aims to provide people with advice and information that can save their lives. 

Since its launch, the app has been used by tens of thousands of people across the world.  "Thank you for making this app," one user said. "I was very sad and tired. Did not want to die but wanted everything to stop. I used this app and had a good sleep and talked to my mum. It saved my life."

Our congratulations to John on the award and for co-founding the Better health tech company, which has further Apps in development.

---

New supervisors’ course

Do you have the knowledge and practical experience needed to become an accredited HG supervisor?  

Regular, insightful supervision plays an important role in ensuring the continued high quality of human givens therapy and is an invaluable support to both new and more experienced therapists.  To ensure that there are enough new HG supervisors for the ever-growing number of HG therapists, Human Givens College is planning to run its supervisors course this summer (over 2 separate weekends).

The course, which only runs every few years, is open to experienced Registered Members of the HGI.

Places are limited – so if you would like to find out more or register your interest, please contact Mark Thomas, College Registrar, via email or the office on 01323 811690.

---

Calling all GPs

Public Health England recently reported that one in six adults in the UK are prescribed antidepressants annually, and that withdrawal effects may be more common and long-lasting than suggested by various guidelines. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has amended its guidelines accordingly. Both bodies recommend that patients receive accurate information about withdrawal from antidepressants.

The British Medical Journal has announced a new survey for GPs, launched by John Read, professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London, in a bid to learn more about GPs’ needs, knowledge and beliefs regarding antidepressant withdrawal effects.

The new survey, a joint venture between the University of East London and the University of Liverpool, aims to measure GPs’ awareness of antidepressant medication withdrawal, their current practices and their training needs. 

Dr Read commented, “Until now the guidance used by GPs has not given adequate attention to the potential severity and duration of withdrawal effects from antidepressants. What is needed now is effective education and training and we hope our survey, which is independent from drug company influence, can facilitate that.”

For more information, read the full BMJ article, access the survey or contact Dr John Read ([email protected]  07944 853783).

---

Young Minds

As part of this February’s Children’s Mental Health Week 2020 our website now has a Children’s Mental Health page, including a link to our Troubled Young Minds article, both offering thought-provoking and useful information about our young people today.

Take a look here.

 

---

One last thought

​​​​​​​“In the flush of love’s light, we dare be brave.
And suddenly we see that love costs all we are,
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love which sets us free.”

Maya Angelou, American poet 1928-2014

 

---