Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 09/01/2026c.org/5GDkg8KMWxc.orgSign the PetitionStop restricting Freedom Pass travel in London 000
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 14/11/2025Thanks to those who came and played such an engaged and constructive part in our workshop on designing relational care approaches to reduce self-harm and suicide in various settings. Lots of lovely ideas #RRNConf25 050
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 14/11/2025Really enjoyed our first session at #RRNConf25 Smashing to see so many people and some great questions. Thanks for inviting us. Next up: the workshop. 040
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 14/11/2025#RRNConf25 Great to see such a great turnout at this conference on reducing restraint. First talk today by Gambinga Gambinga on naming the named or unrecognised restraints on people’s lives living in the community was genuinely mind-opening. Brilliant. 141
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 13/11/2025Looking forward to #RRNConf25, hearing others & presenting a keynote and workshop with Jess Griffiths on Relational Care in reducing self-harm & suicide in inpatient mental health wards & emergency departments. This draws on our work @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comQuantitative Evidence for Relational Care Approaches to Assessing and Managing Self-Harm and Suicide Risk in Inpatient Mental Health and Emergency Department Settings: A Scoping ReviewThere is an over-reliance on structured risk assessments and restrictive practices for managing self-harm and suicidality in inpatient mental health and emergency department (ED) settings, despite ... 032
Reposted by Alan SimpsonEd Poole @edpoole1975.bsky.social · 08/11/2025As a Safety manager in the NHS, Labour is most likely making me redundant, and I could lose my house. Making NHS patients less safe in the process. How are Labour policies changing your life? 2821067
Reposted by Alan SimpsonRuth! @ruthholliday.bsky.social · 08/11/2025Around 10,000 university workers being made redundant this year. Labour policies are definitely cutting through in higher education … 04216
Reposted by Alan SimpsonNutmeg Hallett @drnutmeg.bsky.social · 13/11/2025A packed start to the #RRNConf2025 with @restraintreductionnetwork.org. Already meeting fantastic people. I'm looking forward to spending time with friends and colleagues old and new. So many amazing speakers including @drjohnabaker.bsky.social @cityalan.bsky.social Alexis Quinn and so many more! 051
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 06/08/2025www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/the-new-peer...centreformentalhealth.org.ukThe new peer workforce in mental health services: Optimising implementation and maximising value - Centre for Mental HealthFive people involved in planning, delivering or researching mental health peer support provide personal reflections on their experiences, key challenges and lessons learnt. 040
Reposted by Alan SimpsonGeorge Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 13/07/20251. Yesterday, 86 people were arrested in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000 for holding signs saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." They are the opposite of terrorists. They were protesting *against* terrorism. 🧵 21160201957
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 13/07/2025USA leading way on inhumane treatment of immigrants 010
Reposted by Alan SimpsonFarrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 27/05/2025BBC News provides a 'land of the free' latest Where political views expressed on social media by students will exclude you from getting an education in the US Add that students in the US have already had their visas revoked because of part-taking in pro Palestinian protests 47425
Reposted by Alan SimpsonScottish Greens @scottishgreens.org · 15/05/2025In just 3 months Labour licensed more military exports to Israel than the Tories did in all of 2020-2023. Yesterday Israeli strikes killed 80 people, including at least 22 children, while the UN warned that the entire population of Gaza is now at "critical risk" of famine.thenational.scot'Massive increase' in UK military equipment sent to Israel under Labour, data showsLABOUR licensed exports of more military equipment to Israel in the final three months of 2024 than the Tories did for all of 2020-2023, new figures… 66659
Reposted by Alan Simpsontrumpwatchdog.bsky.social @trumpwatchdog.bsky.social · 14/05/2025You cannot make this stuff up. 1327270
Reposted by Alan SimpsonRob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 13/05/2025Yvette Cooper repeatedly refused to give a straight answer just now on Today to straight Q “Will councils get more money to pay care workers more?” She repeatedly committed to higher carer pay but wouldn’t commit to money so councils can fund it. Think that speaks volumes about the mess we are in. 691602481
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 13/05/2025NEW paper from @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social Check it out. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to delivering peer support effectively in England: a qualitative interview study bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-025-06850-zbmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.comUnderstanding the barriers and facilitators to delivering peer support effectively in England: a qualitative interview study - BMC PsychiatryBackground Peer support roles within mental health services are rapidly increasing in number and scope in the UK and internationally. This paper explores the facilitators and barriers to delivering pe... 082
Reposted by Alan SimpsonM a r c u s 🏳️🌈🇧🇧 @marcusjdl.bsky.social · 12/05/2025How nice to be told by Keir Starmer that my mother who delivered babies, as a midwife, worked nights and damaged her back lifting patients as a nurse, was a pillar of her community as a health visitor has caused “incalculable damage” to the UK ! 792632663
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 06/05/2025Great to see this out. Fab collaboration and paper @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social Quantitative Evidence for Relational Care Approaches to Assessing and Managing Self-Harm and Suicide Risk in Inpatient Mental Health and Emergency Department Settings: A Scoping Review www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comQuantitative Evidence for Relational Care Approaches to Assessing and Managing Self-Harm and Suicide Risk in Inpatient Mental Health and Emergency Department Settings: A Scoping ReviewThere is an over-reliance on structured risk assessments and restrictive practices for managing self-harm and suicidality in inpatient mental health and emergency department (ED) settings, despite ... 032
Reposted by Alan SimpsonNIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental health @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social · 23/04/2025🔴 Newly published paper - Alternative approaches to standard inpatient mental health care: development of a typology of service models 📄 Published in the International Journal of Mental Health Systems, this study, led by Jess Griffiths, maps a range of alternatives to standard #inpatientcare. 031
Reposted by Alan SimpsonNIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental health @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social · 11/04/2025An interesting paper critiquing ‘complex emotional needs’ as a label to individuals given a diagnosis of a personality disorder ⬇️ #MentalHealth #research www.cambridge.org/core/journal...cambridge.orgA brief critique of the pseudo-diagnosis ‘complex emotional needs’ | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge CoreA brief critique of the pseudo-diagnosis ‘complex emotional needs’ 002
Reposted by Alan SimpsonNIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental health @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social · 01/04/2025Interesting article by The Guardian referencing our systematic review findings on Digital Surveillance. It gives a great overview of Oxevison and the concerns over its effect on patients theguardian.com/society/2025... #inpatient #mentalhealththeguardian.comIs it safe? Is it spying? Disquiet over NHS ‘magic eye’ surveillance camera in mental health unitsCampaign calls for investigation into the use of Oxevison amid concerns over care and its effect on patients 001
Reposted by Alan SimpsonNIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental health @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social · 09/04/2025We were honoured to share our recent work on Peer Support at two MHPRU events this year! 🫲🏽🫱🏿 Over 250 people joined us across a webinar and live panel event — and now the video series is live! 🎥 Huge thanks to @thementalelf.bsky.social for bringing it all together 💙 #PeerSupport #MentalHealth 152
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 22/04/2025New paper on alternatives to inpatient mental health care, from the team at @mentalhealthpru.bsky.social Alternative approaches to standard inpatient mental health care: development of a typology of service models | International Journal of Mental Health Systems doi.org/10.1186/s130...doi.orgAlternative approaches to standard inpatient mental health care: development of a typology of service models - International Journal of Mental Health SystemsBackground Inpatient mental health care is an integral part of the continuum of mental health care in many countries, though it can be associated with challenges, such as reliance on coercive practice... 041
Reposted by Alan SimpsonBladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 19/04/2025Blatant war crimes committed in Gaza today as Israel drops bombs on tents in 'safe zones'. For no reason except they can because the USA/UK continue to send them weapons despite them blatantly committing Genocide. 21307238
Reposted by Alan SimpsonMatthew Hay Brown @matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · 19/04/2025Putin unilaterally declares a truce for Easter, the first in Russia's three-year war on Ukraine, immediately breaks it, Zelensky says // @siobhanogrady.bsky.social reports from Kyiv with @leadergrev.bsky.social and Catherine Belton www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...washingtonpost.comPutin declares Easter truce, quickly breaks it, Ukraine saysPutin declared a unilateral truce to begin at 6 p.m. Moscow time. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said “Russian artillery fire has not subsided.” 208433
Reposted by Alan SimpsonLewys Beames @lewysbeames.bsky.social · 17/04/2025www.rcn.org.uk/magazines/Pe...rcn.org.ukSeni's Law: preventing deaths from restraint in mental health settings | RCN Magazine | Royal College of NursingAfter disproportionate force during restraint led to Seni’s death, his mum Aji made it her mission to protect mental health service users 036
Reposted by Alan SimpsonInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social · 26/03/2025The final AdStAC paper published on implementing #AdvanceChoiceDocuments for Black people in #MentalHealthcare➡️http://tinyurl.com/AdStAC2025 🖊️We heard from a clinician, facilitator & service-user involved in the project in our blog series: kcl.ac.uk/empowering-b... @maudsleycharity.bsky.socialkcl.ac.uk Empowering Black voices in mental health care: the advance choice journey | King’s College London KBS_Icon_questionmarklink-ico 163
Reposted by Alan SimpsonHelen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · 26/03/2025So @hmtreasury is forcing @DWPgovuk to find more savings, in part by cutting the Universal Credit Standard Allowance (after raising it a bit). Here's what the Green Paper said about the current position & why UC needs to rise: it's been cut so low it's driving destitution. 0168
Reposted by Alan SimpsonThe Canary @thecanaryuk.bsky.social · 26/03/2025Tax the super-rich: protest breaks out over Spring Statement right at Rachel Reeves' front door Author and economist Gary Stevenson, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, and Labour peer Prem Sikka addressed the crowd - calling for Reeves to back down www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...thecanary.coTax the super-rich: protest breaks out over Spring Statement right at Rachel Reeves' front doorTax the super-rich: protest breaks out over Spring Statement right at Rachel Reeves' front door from Canary on 26 March 2025 37045
Reposted by Alan SimpsonThe Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 25/03/2025WATCH: Jeffrey Goldberg explaining what he was sent by Hegseth accidentally… followed by Hegseth furiously denying it. If you can’t tell who is lying here, please come play poker with us — and bring a lot of cash! 🙃 22664651709
Reposted by Alan SimpsonRuss Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 26/03/2025Britain's 177 billionaires sit on £965 bn - more EACH than the average Brit will earn in 1000 lifetimes. So obviously, Labour decided NOT to have a 2% wealth tax on this obscene, unspendable hoarding. More poverty for 6.9m disabled Britons is their solution. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...theguardian.comFurther benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bnChancellor risks wrath of Labour backbenchers with spring statement set to confirm deeper cuts 43560227
Reposted by Alan Simpsonwomensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 22/03/2025Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), abolitionist, women's rights advocate, who chose to be photographed with her knitting. As an enslaved person, she had knitted/spun endlessly and when free later in life, she taught knitting to former enslaved women aiding self-sufficiency #womensart 0100821906
Reposted by Alan SimpsonMark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 14/03/2025Canada giving Marco Rubio the tiniest red carpet they could find in a thrift shop somewhere. 1366172392786
Reposted by Alan SimpsonAnn (she/her) @agvbergin.net · 12/03/2025Recovery in the Bin have published research on what goods and services people buy in order to managed their disabilities. Must-read apropos the conversation over PIP, NB the research includes people who don't receive benefits too. recoveryinthebin.org/2025/02/27/i... 11312
Reposted by Alan SimpsonHat (they/them) @hatporter.bsky.social · 12/03/2025We urgently need more research to improve support for people with problematic menstruation. Please share what research questions you think are most important to understand about problematic menstrual bleeding exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...exe.qualtrics.comQualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience ManagementThe most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today. 162
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 05/03/2025Are the Nursing and Midwifery Council undermining mental health nursing and the quality of mental health nursing care? onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....onlinelibrary.wiley.comGeneric Nursing in Through the Back Door? Concerns Around Nursing and Midwifery Council Processes for International Nurse Recruitment and Potential Impact on Mental Health Nursing in the UKClick on the article title to read more. 031
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Good to see publication of NHSEngland's principles on using digital technologies in mental healthcare, strongly informed by the review of evidence conducted by our fab team at the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental Health england.nhs.uk/long-read/pr...england.nhs.ukNHS England » Principles for using digital technologies in mental health inpatient treatment and careExecutive Summary The principles for digital technologies help clinicians consider whether use of a digital technology is the most appropriate, effective and least restrictive method of caring for or ... 142
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 05/02/2025Good to see this paper from the ENRICH trial of peer support which suggests including peer support in an aftercare package reduces average costs of care. Peer support for discharge from hospital to community mental healthcare: a cost analysis gpsych.bmj.com/content/38/1...gpsych.bmj.comPeer support for discharge from hospital to community mental healthcare: a cost analysisTo the editor: 031
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Good blog from @jillstavert.bsky.social for the wonderful team @thementalelf.bsky.social This one is about patient and carer experiences of compulsory treatment. Spoiler: not good 061
Reposted by Alan SimpsonNutmeg Hallett @drnutmeg.bsky.social · 29/01/2025📢 New Open-Access Book! Coercion & Violence in Mental Health Settings explores international perspectives on coercion & rights-based care, centring lived experience. 📖 Read my article: lnkd.in/evJpah3k 📚 Free book: link.springer.com/book/10.1007... How do we centre lived experience in reform?link.springer.comCoercion and Violence in Mental Health SettingsThis new edition integrates theoretical explanations, empirical findings and practical solutions from many countries and settings. 3108
Reposted by Alan SimpsonGlen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 28/01/2025There's a critical nursing shortage. The Welsh NHS is, frankly, a byword for poor results. And now Cardiff University is to close its nursing courses. Well done everyone, genius-level stuff! 👏👏👏👏👏 www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-eve...rcn.org.ukCritical nursing shortages leave patients unsafe|Royal College of Nursing | Royal College of NursingDue to severe workforce shortages in hospitals and community services, patients are experiencing pain and, in many cases, being cared for in corridors. Today, the Royal College of Nursing in Wales (RC... 45437
Alan Simpson @cityalan.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Painful to think of the sadness and exasperation my brilliant nurse academic colleagues are feeling as Cardiff University cut nursing education. At a time of GLOBAL nursing shortages. 053
Reposted by Alan SimpsonTympanic & Frisketty @luckyerica3.bsky.social · 27/01/2025If you are interested in campaigning on mental health, psychiatric and human rights in a service user/survivor context, I recommend joining Courtney Buckler, NSUN campaign manager for this Feb's meeting. www.nsun.org.uk/news/current...nsun.org.ukCurrent issues in mental health policy (Network Meeting February 2025)This space is an opportunity to learn more about policy and campaigns at NSUN, to ask questions and input on our work, and to help guide the way we support members going forward! 284
Reposted by Alan SimpsonHarry Eccles @harryeccles.bsky.social · 24/01/2025This confusing headline basically should say: "BBC verifies that Israel was lying and is guilty of war crimes" They just can't quite manage to say the words considering how they've enabled the lies for the past year. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukMostly civilians died in IDF attack on Lebanon village, BBC findsAn IDF attack on a Lebanese apartment block targeting Hezbollah killed mostly civilians, BBC finds. 11534217
Reposted by Alan SimpsonUNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 23/01/2025🔴 BREAKING: Russian forces have reportedly executed six Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko. According to the activist, the crime was recorded on a phone by one of the perpetrators.united24media.comRussian Forces Allegedly Execute Six Ukrainian POWs on CameraRussian forces allegedly executed six Ukrainian POWs, according to activist Serhii Sternenko, highlighting ongoing violations of international law. 410136
Reposted by Alan SimpsonDr Simon Bradstreet @sbradstreet.bsky.social · 22/01/2025Crisis Cafés are increasingly common form of crisis alternative. A new study provides the first evidence on their UK implementation. Blogged for @thementalelf.bsky.social by @nicolaclibbens.bsky.social and Daisy Mbwanda we explore what needs to happen next www.nationalelfservice.net/populations-...nationalelfservice.netCrisis cafés: so much more than a cuppa - National Elf ServiceCrisis Cafés are a novel form of community-based crisis alternative and this interview study provides the first evidence on their UK implementation. 023
Reposted by Alan SimpsonThe Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 22/01/2025Tell me what you want, what you really really want: lived experience involvement in co-developing outcome measures www.nationalelfservice.net?p=212822 "Have you ever asked people with lived experience what they think the main outcomes of your study should be?"nationalelfservice.netLived experience involvement in co-developing outcome measures.Laura Hemming blogs a systematic review which explores the involvement people with lived experience in the co-development of mental health outcome measures. 1248
Reposted by Alan SimpsonSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 22/01/2025A stark legacy of austerity. Whether you think it was necessary or not it was done in an incredibly damaging way. 1722268