iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Mark Brown @markoneinfour.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Good piece on falling life expectancy and falling quality adjusted life years. As a working class person I have occasionally had to point out to others that in the past 'we did not live long' when talking about family and relatives. If you want a hero, get a T shirt of Michael Marmot.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

I semi-regularly appreciate the fact I can easily listen to audiobooks in bed nowadays. So much of my time as a child and adolescent was spent lying in the dark unable to either sleep or do anything interesting. One time I even fell out of bed very slowly because it gave me something to do.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Logged into BlueSky for the first time in months because I'm interested what the people who used to be on Twitter think about current events.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

This "face scan" option for verifying that you are over 18 is strange. Humans underestimate my age by 5 to 15 years. Hopefully at 36 that means the scan will still put me in the "adult" category. But it would have caused trouble when I was a bit younger.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

"While the most popular narratives of suicide in the media seem to frame it as coming “out of the blue”, many people who are bereaved by suicide have lived with fear for a long time before their loss."

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Last few days to take part! Relatively unusually this research idea started with people's lived experience, so I am hoping to do it justice by gathering as much data as possible. Please take part (whether or not you have OCD) and/or share widely! edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Like thousands of others I'm continuing to keep a close eye on the #Madleen @freedomflotilla.bsky.social as it travels towards Gaza. The bravery of the crew is inspiring. #AllEyesOnDeck

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Dr Steve Taylor @drstevetaylor.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

More people are in work than peer nations but this is changing as more people wait for healthcare The UK has some of the longest waits for healthcare This has happened in the past 15 years

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

I feel despairing that world leaders have still not acted to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The fact that 12 people (including Greta Thunberg) are currently risking their lives to get aid into Gaza gives me some hope for humanity. #AllEyesOnDeck

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

I went to a local Lebanese takeaway to help fuel me through exam moderation. Very keen on these little baklawa baskets.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

We're having some difficulty finding people to take part in this study. Please consider taking part or sharing (you don't need to have OCD to take part!) This work is built on lived experience and we're optimistic that it could (eventually) make a difference for people with #OCD.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Just took the personality-based job profiler from @renemottus.bsky.social - the top two job matches for my personality were "Research professionals not otherwise classified" and "University and Higher Education teachers". I've actually done 3 of the top 4 jobs it suggests for me (other was writer).

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Spoke to my mum about taking a mortgage from one house to another. She said that wasn't a concern when she was about my age because the house went up in value so much that the sale price paid off the whole mortgage (for the original house).

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Prof Alexandra Pitman @alexandrapitman.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

We're looking for UK men aged 40-65 to give us some paid feedback on a video featuring 2 men talking about experiences of #suicidal thoughts. We want to know if it will be helpful for other men, even if they have never felt suicidal. Up to 1 hour of your time to help in our #suicideprevention work.

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

By investing in what works, the Government can turn the tide on poor mental health. With @nhsconfed.org's Mental Health Network, we've set out six key areas for investment, backed by economic evidence, which would boost the nation’s mental health 👇 tinyurl.com/ypjusv3z #InvestInMentalHealth

Six investment priorities to support better mental health: 1. Enable health visitors to support new mothers’ mental health. 2. Roll out evidence-based parenting programmes. 3. Expand the network of early support hubs for young people. 4. Expand offers within the NHS Talking Therapies Programme. 5. Expand Individual Placement and Support employment services. 6. Provide alternatives to hospital admission in a mental health crisis.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Good point from @markoneinfour.bsky.social. In the last couple of years I've got into aerial gymnastics. I'm not very good at it but I enjoy it and it means I'm doing regular exercise. Like with many hobbies though it's a privilege to be able to afford it and attend a nearby location.

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Writing on the back of this photo from my collection says “General Nuisance. Summer 1954”.

Photo of a longhaired tortie cat lying on a sunny sidewalk with grass lawn on either side. It has a round little dark object in front of it, a toy maybe.

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Dr Rebecca Linnett (she/her) @rebeccalinnett.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

We're looking for disabled people (incl. people with mental health conditions & neurodivergent people) to be part of our advisory group for a project @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social aiming to improve clinical trial accessibility. Email me at r.linnett@uea.ac.uk if you'd like more info. Please share!

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I used to get multiple emails per day from predatory journals in my "Focused" academic inbox. This week I haven't had any. I assume there's been an update somewhere in the system, and I'm very pleased about that.

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Secondly, the category 'anxiety & depression', where there's been a particular growth in claims for PIP, represents a very broad range of experiences, many of which will be much more severe & debilitating than people might intuitively imagine when they think of these diagnoses /3

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

We're looking for people to take part in our research into thinking patterns in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD are especially welcome to participate, but you can take part even if you don't have OCD. Find out more and register: edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

An advert for a research study which contains a graphical picture of trees and a QR code. The text reads:

Are you 18+ and fluent in English? Take part in our research!
Purpose: We are conducting two surveys to learn more about thinking patterns in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
01 You do not need to have OCD to take part - we are looking for participants with and without OCD.
02 Scan the QR code to express your interest in this research.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

I found this to be a very supportive programme which helped me feel less isolated through the temporary contracts and struggles to get funding. It's a great way to connect with other ECRs working in mental health research - I would recommend applying!

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

This isn't an attack on others, but a psychological observation - it is stressful to wear a mask when those around you don't (even when those around you are lovely people). I imagine this is a basic human reaction - to want to fit in with the group.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Important work from the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks @nadsn.bsky.social.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

#Statistics advice needed! I am testing a new questionnaire measure. I collected data from participants at Time 1, and again from the same participants one week later (Time 2). Can I use an exploratory factor analysis on the Time 1 data, and confirmatory factor analysis on the Time 2 data?

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Today let's remember that austerity kills. 🧵 Researchers at the University of Glasgow, found that an additional 335,000 deaths occurred in Scotland, England, and Wales between 2012 and 2019 compared to what was expected based on previous trends. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

Over 330,000 excess deaths in Great Britain linked to austerity, finds study

Research comes as government signals fresh round of public spending cuts

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

UEA OCD in Psychosis Survey @ueapsychosisocd.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Are you a clinician who works with people with psychosis and co-occurring obsessive-compulsive symptoms or disorder? If you are interested please read the poster and scan the QR code or follow the link to the survey: t.co/9WKZRMB6DS

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Good people to follow in the midst of Labour's behaviour* on welfare benefits are @francesryan.bsky.social and @shrinkatlarge.bsky.social. *I wasn't sure what word to use that covered everything, including the inaccurate rhetoric and poor decision making.

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Lots and lots of people are struggling badly with their mental health, who desperately need help and aren’t getting it. Research has highlighted that these people are often dismissed and not believed. It’s crucial that this is emphasised in any conversation about possible overdiagnosis

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Has anyone told Keir Starmer you can buy short-sleeved shirts now? Might save him some time given how often he's rolling up his sleeves.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

This sounds like a really interesting project!

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Ruth Naughton-Doe @ruthndwrites.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

🙌Very excited to share our new support network for mental health and/or addiction research academics with lived experience. We have called it LENS (Lived Experience Network for Scholars). Read more and sign up on Eventbrite for our 1st online meeting in May: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lived-expe...

eventbrite.co.uk

Lived Experience Network for Scholars (LENS) Online Meet-up

An support and information network for academic mental health and addiction researchers with lived experience

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Dr Karri Gillespie-Smith @karri-g-smith.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

We @EDACautism_ED launched our exhibition on Friday and Saturday. We were over the moon that so many participants and collaborators were able to make it along. @EDAC is more than a research grant or network – we are a #community of #Autistic people, (1/2)

A wide open space with 3 frames which have canvases that are lit up. The canvases have a selection of images and text outlining the experiences of Autistic people with Eating Disorders. There is a projector above the canvases.

A wide open space with 2 frames which have canvases that are lit up. The canvases have a selection of images and text outlining the experiences of Autistic people with Eating Disorders. There is a projector above the canvases. A stand displaying menu sheets that detail how eating environments can be improved for Autistic people. In front of a stand is a white table with a blank eating environment sheet and instructions for visitors to have a go at designing autism affirming eating environments. Behind one of the canvases is a big grey column and behind that is a stand with images displayed representing the experiences of an Autistic person with Intellectual Disability who also had an eating disorder. There is a row of projectors above the stands and canvases.

Woman standing with microphone in front of some seated guests with a slide in the background that says ‘The Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC) is a UK wide collaborative network that aims to bridge the gap between autism and eating disorders research. EDACResearch.co.uk’ with the symbol for EDAC (which is a purple and green circle interlinking around a white neurodiversity symbol). Behind the woman is two seats and a table.

Woman standing with microphone in front of a slide in the background that says ‘The Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC) is a UK wide collaborative network that aims to bridge the gap between autism and eating disorders research. EDACResearch.co.uk’ with the symbol for EDAC (which is a purple and green circle interlinking around a white neurodiversity symbol). Behind the woman is two seats and a table.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

When we rented we had a toilet room that looked like the film "The Grudge" until I paid for and painted the parts I could reach with expensive anti-mould paint (the landlord's comment: "make sure it's magnolia"). Other walls would get easily mould-covered too, and the ceiling leaked regularly.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

One way I can tell Bluesky is less algorithm-driven than other social media platforms is that it shows me pictures of cats rather than dogs (or guinea pigs).

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Normally I'm too cynical to appreciate a poem like this, but the line "you cannot save the world but you can open the window for the trapped wren in the cellar" is helpful today.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Very grateful for the career coaching sessions I have had with Anna via the @mhrincubator.bsky.social. Yesterday she reminded me that I am quite hard on myself (and particularly so at the moment). I often don't realise this because I'm so much kinder to myself than I used to be.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Our university guidance informs students they can use AI to identify ideas and key themes, to plan their writing, and to improve the clarity of their writing. The first part worries me - students are losing opportunities to develop critical thinking skills.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

When I leave my writing alone for a while I tend to get scared of it. But I'm glad to say I'm back on it now and enjoying bringing ideas together. Here's a picture of my guinea pig Sharon.

A guinea pig with her paws in front of her. She is black, white and ginger and has a tuft on her head.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Half my "Focused" inbox for today is predatory journal emails. This despite the fact I usually block or report any that come in. I could create inbox rules to sift them out but I'm nervous about sifting out genuine emails. Is this a common problem for academics using Outlook?

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

January was a busy month as both teacher (marking/moderating exams) and student (completing assignments on good academic practice). So here is a picture of my dog Sonja.

The face of a black and white dog looking into the camera.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I've just logged back on to Bluesky after about 6 months away. When I joined it was quiet on here but I've heard it's now like 2014 Twitter. Excited to see that I have more followers than people I'm following - took a screenshot for posterity before following people back!

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 14/06/2024

We're looking for people with OCD to test out a new lived-experience-based theory. It's had great anecdotal feedback from people with OCD - this research will help us gather empirical data. Please share with anyone who might be interested! Sign-up: edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 01/02/2024

Last year was difficult as I had 5 fellowship rejections for my OCD research ideas. But I've just sent out the 4th of four surveys in a Delphi study to progress these ideas. Things are moving more slowly than if I had a fellowship, but they are moving, thanks to the support of people with OCD.

A picture of the Sky Lagoon in Iceland. The image shows water with some mist above it, and rocks in the background.

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 15/12/2023

Yesterday I had a meeting with a product design student who was thinking about products that could support people who have hoarding conditions. She wanted to get my perspective as someone who researches OCD. It was a really interesting interdisciplinary chat!

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Reposted by Lizzy Kirkham

Eiko Fried @eikofried.bsky.social · 13/12/2023

Trying to read myself into a new research area: the relationship of the menstrual cycle and mood disorders broadly. Not so much interested in biology/mechanisms rather than descriptive epidemiological evidence and open questions. Recommendations welcome—thanks a lot!

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/12/2023

@thementalelf.bsky.social it was great to hear from you at the GROW programme this morning. It left me feeling more optimistic about things (I'm not entirely sure why that happened, but wanted to tell you about it anyway!)

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Lizzy Kirkham @ekneuro.bsky.social · 07/12/2023

Last night I discovered a hidden talent for ice-free curling.

A picture of a woman crouching down with her arms in the air celebrating because she has got a curling stone inside the middle of the target.

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