Skip to main content

The Latest Bulletin

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Find ‘flow’

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Find ‘flow’

Athletes will often talk about being ‘in the zone’, by which they mean achieving optimal performance, with body and mind operating to the full. That is when they get the best results. Similarly, psychologists have talked more broadly about finding ‘flow’, by which they mean getting to a state of mind where you are, to use the modern idiom, ‘cooking on gas’. It refers to feeling that things are ‘just right’ and you are achieving your best. This can apply to any aspect of life – not just athletics – where the conditions are right. Flow happens when we are fully immersed in an activity, when we are free from distractions, interruptions or anything else that can stand in the…
Dr Neil Thompson
November 2, 2017
Free Role Models programmes for people of colour who identify as LGBTQ.

Free Role Models programmes for people of colour who identify as LGBTQ.

Stonewall is delighted to be delivering free Role Models programmes for people of colour who identify as LGBTQ. This programme will be running three times: once in October 2017 to celebrate Black History Month, once in December 2017 and finally in February 2018 to coincide with LGBT History Month. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on what being a person of colour and LGBTQ means to them, and how they can play an active role in furthering inclusion and acceptation without exception. Our mission is to ensure that LGBTQ people of colour have visible role models in their communities and see celebrations of difference and intersectionality wherever they live, shop, work, socialise and pray. At Stonewall, we believe anyone can be a role model. They don't have to be perfect, on a…
Dr Neil Thompson
November 2, 2017
10 tips for a mental health-friendly workplace

10 tips for a mental health-friendly workplace

Above and beyond any practical advice, the most effective way to make your workplace mental health-friendly is to talk about it. Encourage everyday conversations about everyone's mental health. Make it OK to talk about and everything else will follow. Having plans in place to support mental health and offering them to everyone as a matter of course can be helpful. Here at Rethink Mental Illness we use a tool called a wellness & recovery action plan, or Wrap. This is a document drawn up by the person in question, based on what they know about their own experiences. Sometimes this type of document is referred to as an advance statement. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
November 2, 2017
Seventh Annual ‘Women on the Move’ Awards

Seventh Annual ‘Women on the Move’ Awards

Migrants and refugees cross borders to live among us for many reasons. Some come fleeing human rights abuses. Some come to join other members of their families. Some come to take up work or study. But when they arrive here they often find that they face new challenges and problems. Some not only rise to these challenges for themselves, they also help others to succeed. The Women on the Move Awards celebrates and promote the contribution that migrant and refugee women, the media and their champions can make towards facing down prejudice and inspiring others. This year there are four categories of awards. The Woman of the Year and Young Woman of the Year awards celebrate women who, having migrated or fled persecution, provide essential support…
Dr Neil Thompson
November 2, 2017
Two new books by Neil Thompson

Two new books by Neil Thompson

Applied Sociology Presents a clear and helpful picture of how we need to include sociological insights to get an adequate picture of people’s lives and their challenges. Click here to order from Amazon UK Social Work Theory and Methods: The Essentials (with Paul Stepney) A fresh look at social work theory and methods, with contributions from a wide range of international experts. Click here to order from Amazon UK
Dr Neil Thompson
October 19, 2017
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – You are never too old to learn and grow – intellectually or emotionally

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – You are never too old to learn and grow – intellectually or emotionally

For many years there was an assumption that learning is what children do – libraries had plenty of material about child development and education, but relatively little on adult education. Then along came the ‘lifelong learning movement’ which argued that we need to stop associating learning with children and recognise that everyone has the potential to keep learning and to keep benefiting from that learning throughout our lives. However, it is unfortunately the case that the ageist assumptions that are so firmly embedded in our society often mean that it can so easily be forgotten that this applies to older people just the same as it does to anyone else. The idea that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new…
Dr Neil Thompson
October 19, 2017
How is caste discrimination different from racism?

How is caste discrimination different from racism?

An elderly woman reported receiving poor quality of care from a medical professional who, on learning of her caste, considered her to be unclean and refused to touch her. This is just one of the experiences of caste discrimination taking place today in the UK, which has been reported to us at Castewatch. Caste is associated primarily with cultures of the Indian sub-continent. According to those who practise and promote it, Caste is determined by birth and cannot be changed. Each Caste continues in a state of social paralysis, antagonistic and hostile towards the others’ interests, with inter-marriage discouraged if not prohibited. Whereas, in a class-based system there is the possibility of vertical mobility, this is denied in a Caste-based…
Dr Neil Thompson
October 19, 2017
Workplace wellbeing needs holistic approach

Workplace wellbeing needs holistic approach

Experts from the University of Warwick have contributed to new guidance on promoting positive mental health at work. Erika Kispeter and Sally Wright from the University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER) examined how Suffolk County Council has responded to the challenge of managing mental health at work. The case study is published ... alongside new Acas guidance to mark World Mental Health Day. The new Acas guidance aims to help employers promote positive mental health in their workplaces. Employers are encouraged to read the materials and develop practices and policies for their own workplaces. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
October 19, 2017