Mental health is a fundamental aspect of overall wellbeing, influencing how individuals think, feel, communicate, cope with stress, and engage with others in everyday life. In workplace, social, and family settings, people often participate in group interactions that may appear positive, engaged, and emotionally settled. However, outward expressions such as smiling, laughing, or active participation do not always accurately reflect a person’s internal emotional state. Some individuals may be experiencing psychological distress, anxiety, low mood, or other emotional difficulties that are not immediately visible to those around them. This is particularly important to recognise during July, which marks Talk to Us Month, a campaign led by Samaritans to encourage open conversations about mental health. Samaritans Awareness Day takes place on 24 July 2026, highlighting the importance of listening, emotional support, and being available for those who may be struggling.
A colorful poster promoting Talk to Us Month and Samaritans Awareness Day in July 2026.
Mental health awareness is therefore essential in encouraging a more compassionate, informed, and supportive environment. Recognising that distress may not always be visible can help reduce stigma and promote open, respectful conversations about emotional wellbeing. It also encourages individuals, families, colleagues, and communities to respond with empathy rather than judgement. By fostering awareness, understanding, and early access to appropriate support, individuals are more likely to feel safe seeking help when they are experiencing mental health challenges.
Talk to Us Month 2026
1–31 July 2026 | Start the conversation. Listen with care. Support one another.
Talk to Us Month is led by Samaritans and encourages people to speak openly about mental health, reduce stigma, and recognise the importance of emotional support.
Key Dates to Remember
Awareness Activity
Date
Why It Matters
Talk to Us Month
1–31 July 2026
Encourages open conversations about mental health.
Samaritans Awareness Day
24 July 2026
Symbolises support being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Awareness Week
24–30 July 2026
Highlights listening, compassion, and community support.
How You Can Take Part
Talk: Start open, respectful conversations about mental health.
Share: Post Samaritans resources and helpline information using #TalkToUs.
Connect: Attend or host community events, webinars, or awareness sessions.
Support: Learn the signs of emotional distress and how to help someone safely.
Support Is Available 24/7
Samaritans Helpline: 116 123, free and available 24/7 Email: jo@samaritans.org
As Talk to Us Month reminds us, meaningful support often begins with a simple conversation. By listening without judgement, checking in on those around us, and sharing trusted sources of help, we can all play a part in creating safer, more compassionate communities. Whether someone is struggling silently or simply needs to feel heard, taking the time to talk, listen, and support one another can make a significant difference.
Getting a diagnosis of cancer at any time can feel overwhelming and isolating. The type of disease, the treatment ahead, and the prognosis all shape how a person processes the news and copes with what comes next. When hairdresser Denise in the BBC soap EastEnders was told she had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), she immediately struggled to absorb the reality of it. She had quietly sought medical advice for persistent exhaustion, keeping her concerns from her family, and even left a joyful wedding celebration to attend the appointment. Sitting alone in the consultation room, she heard the doctor explain that she had blood cancer. She outlined the realities of living with AML, the significant challenges of the diagnosis, and the rarity and aggressive nature of the disease. As the words settled, Denise was left trying to make sense of a life‑changing moment that no one around her even knew was happening.
The Realities of living with AML
Heading back to her family and friends. None of whom knew where she had been or what the appointment had revealed. She travelled home on the bus in a state of quiet disorientation. The conversation with the clinician replayed in fragments, each phrase surfacing and fading as her mind tried to process the information. Everyday sounds and movements around her felt distant, almost muted, as if she were observing the world from behind glass. The journey became a space where shock, uncertainty, and the first attempts at understanding coexisted. Many people who have received unexpected or life‑altering news will recognise this moment: the return to normal surroundings while carrying something profoundly new and difficult to articulate.
What is AML?
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood cells. On hearing those words for the first time can feel deeply unsettling. In AML, the body begins to produce abnormal blood cells that don’t behave as they should, disrupting the balance the body relies on to stay well. Because it develops quickly, treatment usually needs to begin soon after diagnosis, leaving little time for individuals to process what is happening.
Although AML can occur at any age, it remains a rare condition. Around 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed each year, with the highest number of cases seen in older people. For many, the rarity of the disease adds another layer of uncertainty. It is not something most people expect to face or know much about. Coming to terms with the diagnosis often involves navigating both the medical realities and the emotional weight of suddenly stepping into unfamiliar territory.
Symptoms of AML
🩶 Pale or “washed‑out” skin
😓 Persistent tiredness
🌬️ Breathlessness during normal activities
⚖️ Unintentional weight loss
🦠 Frequent or recurring infections
🌡️ High temperature or episodes of feeling hot, cold or shivery
😰 Night sweats
🩸 Unusual or frequent bleeding (gums or nosebleeds)
💜 Easily bruised skin
🔴 Flat red or purple spots on the skin (petechiae)
🦴 Bone or joint pain
🍽️ A feeling of fullness or discomfort in the tummy
🧬 Swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin (may be tender)
Getting a diagnosis of AML
First,
🩺 GP physical examination Initial assessment when physical signs or symptoms appear.
then go on to get
🧪 Blood tests Full blood count and specialist blood markers to identify abnormal cells.
🦴 Bone marrow biopsy A sample taken from the hip bone to confirm AML and assess cell types.
🧬 Genetic testing Identifies specific gene mutations that guide treatment decisions.
📸 Chest X‑ray Checks for infection or complications affecting the lungs.
and finally
💉 Lumbar puncture Used in selected cases to check if leukaemia cells have entered the central nervous system.
Treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is usually delivered in two main stages. Each with a clear purpose and a very different emotional and physical experience for the person going through it.
🧪 Induction therapy This is the first and most intensive stage of treatment. The aim is to destroy as many leukaemia cells as possible in both the blood and bone marrow. As well as managing any symptoms caused by the disease. It can feel overwhelming, as treatment often begins quickly after diagnosis. However, it is a crucial step in bringing the leukaemia under control.
🧬 Consolidation therapy Once induction has reduced the number of leukaemia cells, the second therapy starts. Consolidation aims to prevent the cancer from returning. This stage focuses on eliminating any remaining cells that cannot be seen on tests but could cause relapse in the future. It is a vital part of achieving long‑term remission.
Coming to terms with an AML diagnosis is never straightforward. The treatments are demanding, the uncertainty is heavy, and life can feel profoundly altered for the person affected and everyone close to them. The reality of navigating such a life‑changing condition is harsh and often overwhelming. By bringing this storyline to screen, the BBC helps raise awareness and shines a light on the significant challenges people face when confronted with a diagnosis like this. Challenges that are too often hidden from view, highlighting the realities of living with AML.
Inferior Outcomes
In EastEnders, Denise’s experience carries an added layer of fear and uncertainty because she is a woman of colour. Research has shown that Black patients with AML often have poorer survival outcomes than White patients. A reality that many people are unaware of until they are faced with it themselves. At her appointment, Denise voiced the question that so many Black patients quietly carry: does the colour of my skin make a difference to how I will fare?
It was a moment filled with deep vulnerability. Not only because of the diagnosis itself, but because Denise was confronting the painful reality that health inequalities still exist. For many people of colour, a cancer diagnosis carries an added weight: the knowledge that outcomes are not always equal, and that lived experience and systemic disparities can shape fears in ways others may never have to consider. By allowing this conversation to unfold on screen, the BBC brings an important truth into the open and that for some communities, illness is not just a medical journey but an emotional one shaped by history, inequality, and the need to be heard. Acknowledging this openly helps shine a light on an issue that deserves far greater understanding and attention.
A paper showing inferior outcomes can be read in ScienceDirect
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects 1 in 4 people globally. There are currently no medications available for this untreatable condition. Following a research study, this could change. At the Scottish University, Professor Lora Heisler and Dr Fiona Murray along with a team of international scientists leading the study. Groundbreaking research at Aberdeen University makes a breakthrough in treating liver disease. The research from this study can in turn result in medication being available to treat this condition.
This is a great step forward since the advanced stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease often leads to cirrhosis of the liver. And finally the only option is a liver transplant. This important breakthrough in research at Aberdeen University emphasises a prospective drug target for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This research at Aberdeen University makes a breakthrough in treating liver disease. Their research aims to identify novel targets that can aid in the diagnosis and management of metabolic disorders and associated conditions. Such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
400,000 Individuals were Researched
From UK Biobank more than 400,000 individuals were researched in the study. Researchers’ findings are that certain variations in the GPR75 gene are associated with being slim and having a reduced risk of developing hepatic steatosis.
In addition, the study reveals that when GPR75 is eliminated in mice. It prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver after consuming a Western diet.
To finish the end of this month I have designed an infographic for Ovarian Cancer. It doesn’t tell everything, but at least it has some information on it and it may provoke a few thoughts and most importantly get the message out there that March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s the the end of March… do you know it is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month?
Whether you did, or you do now, please pass it on.
As the daffodils sway in the wind, dancing together with their beautiful bright heads on strong green stems bring together your thoughts of women’s health and for this month of March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian Cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women. In the UK there are approximately 21 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed every day. Despite survival rates increasing only 35.3% women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive their disease for ten years or more. Further research and early diagnosis would help improve this survival rate. Early Diagnosis helps with survival rates, many women unfortunately do not know the symptoms, help them help themselves let them know March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Photo by makefuneoflife.net
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Most Common:
Persistent Bloating
Feeling Full
Needing to wee often
Stomach Pain
Other Symptoms:
Unintentional weight loss
Tiredness
Post-menopausal vaginal bleeding
Back pain
Indigegstion
Changes in bowel habit
Pain during sex
Early diagnosis is imortant
Please seek medical advice if you have any of these symptoms or are worried. Speak to your GP. Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is a game changer. When a person is diagnosed with stage 1, they generally have a 90% chance of surviving five years or more. However if they ignore the symptoms and the cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage the survival rate is reduced to a staggering 4%. Quite often cancers have spread due to being overlooked or misdiagnosed, when they have metastasised, the cancer becomes more difficult to treat and treatment options become more limited, thus survival rates drastically lower. Hence early diagnosis is important giving the opportunity of providing the best possible care and improving cancer outcomes.
If you are going to read and share one thing this month, please let it be this. Let others know this Mother’s Day Month of March it is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
If you would like to read further you can read at:
With 10 million people dying every year cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Female breast, lung, prostate and colorectal are the most common cancers globally. According to The World Health Organisation in 2022 there were over 22 million new cancer cases worldwide with 9.7 million deaths. 70% of these deaths happen in low to middle income countries. World Cancer Day is 4th February, the theme for 2024 is close the care gap. The first World Cancer Day was in 2000 and has been led by The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) every year since. The UICC believe that access to life-saving cancer diagnosis treatment and care should be equitable for all; regardless of where a person lives, how much they earn, whatever their ethnicity or gender.
Risk Factors
Over 40% of cancer related deaths could have possibly been prevented. These deaths are associated to modifiable risk factors such as alcohol consumption, lack of physical exercise, smoking, and poor diet.
Prevention
One third of deaths related to cancer can be prevented through people attending Cancer routine screening programs such as breast screening, cervical, and bowl, and finding cancer early and treating it quickly and effectively.
Impact of World Cancer Day 2023
In 170 different countries there were over 25,000 press articles
Over 850 events took place in 102 countries
There were over 430,000 Social Media Posts
Over 60 Governments actively took part
February 4th is a day like any other, however this Sunday in 2024 it is World Cancer Day an international day raising awareness of cancer and encouraging prevention, detection and treatment. Happy World Cancer Day.
I first recall chatting about Huntington’s Disease ((HD) when I was approaching my teenage years. Josie diagnosed with it was a beautiful lady inside and out. I was privileged to spend time with her, she was brutally honest and told me she loved my honesty in asking questions and not hiding fears, anxieties or any questions I had. She explained as the disease progressed her speech would deteriorate and most likely no-one would understand her talking despite the fact she would be able to hear and understand everything. The one eventuality she dreaded was being a prisoner in her own body. She laid her hand on mine, my heart beating so fast and loud, I could feel it thumping so hard and echoing in my ears. She asked “you will still talk to me”. I took her hand with my other and said, “of course I will”. That day by listening I learnt a lot physically and emotionally about this disease, that it is Rare, Genetic and Terminal: Huntington’s Disease.
Neurons in Huntington’s.3D illustration showing amyloid plaques in brain tissue, neurofibrillary tangles and destruction of neuronal networks.Stock photo courtesy of Create.vista.com
Neurons in dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease. 3D illustration showing amyloid plaques in brain tissue, neurofibrillary tangles and distruction of neuronal networks
So what is Huntington’s Disease? It is a devastating rare hereditary disorder of the brain. The chances of getting diagnosed is 50% if you have a parent with the disease. It affects the nervous system of the body; the network of tissues in the brain and the spinal cord that coordinates your body’s activities. Everyone with Huntington’s through time will deteriorate physically, cognitively and emotionally. Till eventually they are fully dependent on the help of others, whether it is family, carers or nursing staff; or a mixture of all. Symptoms usually rear their ugly head between the age of 30 and 50 years of age, with symptoms getting worse over a period of 10 to 25 years until the person dies. Huntington’s affects between 1 and 10,000 and 1 in 20,000 people in the Uk. Unfortunately, as yet there is no cure and very little awareness.
Charities throughout the UK try their best to raise awareness, offer support those affected, etc. The Huntington’s Disease Alliance UK and Ireland ran a campaign in May 2023, HD awareness month. The campaign Family Matters. The Alliance consists of four independent charities throughout the UK and Ireland. The four charities all have the same goals and strive to help those affected by the disease, promote awareness and do their best to increase the understanding of UK wide of Huntington’s Disease. You can find a relevant organisation in your area:
Charities like these are important to get the message out there. Also to help those living with the illness, offer support, put you in the right direction in a time of need. The Scottish Huntington’s Association avidly campaigns for Huntington’s disease charities. Olympic medalist and double world champion rower, Sarah Winckless is patron. Huntington’s is in Sarah’s family on her Mum’s side. Sarah herself has tested positive for the gene.
Josie gave birth to four children before her HD diagnosis. As statistics go their family came out on the button. The first two children tested negative for the gene, child three and child four both tested positive. Despite receiving the news of having this cruel debilitating condition the siblings both had a glass half full attitude. That zest for life and wanting to live and enjoy each day as independently as they could for as long as they could. As time goes on life becomes a struggle; food becomes an enemy through the fear of choking, talking to strangers lessens from the embarrassment of not being understood. For many this can lead to isolation.
This disease changes the daily life of everyone that is affected with it. The person diagnosed is eventually trapped in their own body; forced to accept help from others, both physical and emotional. Even the fittest and most ambitious of us, as times goes by, our bodies get consumed by HD. Families and friends do their ultimate best to help care. However at times they feel the pressure and need reassurance; we need to remember they too are fighting their own battle. Living with Huntington’s Disease not only affects the person with the disease but those living around them. It can have a massive impact on those who live in the home. When symptoms start to worsen and physical symptoms begin to progress equipment invades the house. Yes it’s a fabulous help, but at the same time another tick of the box that the disease is progressing in the direction you were hoping would take a little longer.
Living with HD is not the same for everyone; for those affected severely with swallowing a tube feed is often fitted, some have involuntary movements, mood changes. Anxiety and depression are common with people affected with Huntington’s disease.
If you knew very little about HD I hope reading this short post has given you an insight and you have an idea of how this crippling disease not only takes over the body but haunts the minds of those affected.
I have rarely met a person with Huntington’s that has been a complainer in life.They have such a hard deck of cards to deal with in life and yet always seem to make the most of it.
So while you may have winged about being trapped in your four walls for a few weeks or even months due to Government restrictions during COVID, remember the people that are fighting a battle all the time.
At last there is heartening news published in JAMA Neurology on Monday 22 January 2024 regarding the early diagnosis of this incurable disease Alzheimer’s. The research was led by Nicholas Ashton, PhD, a professor of neurochemistry at The University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The study found that the blood test was up to 96% accurate in identifying elevated levels of beta-amyloid (another hallmark of Alzheimer’s) and up to 97% accurate in identifying tau.
“This project – which is thanks to £5m in funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery – will gather the information needed to introduce a blood test for dementia into UK healthcare systems. This blood test would be a crucial step in speeding up how quickly and how early we are able to diagnose dementia”
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society
The current protocol for diagnosing Alzheimer’s is a PET Scan and lumbar puncture to detect signs of progression of the disease. Whilst both procedures are not life threatening they can be slightly invasive, take time and come at a cost in man power, machinery and monetary terms to the NHS.
Since Ashton’s study showed that the protein phosphorylated tau (p-tau2) is clearly accurate this could mean there will soon be a key biomarker blood test for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Offering an affordable and hopefully easier way to diagnose the disease.
This physical illness damages a person’s brain. Through time the Alzheimer’s disease causes dementia. As the disease progresses the person affected will rely on more support until one day becoming Almost totally dependent on others.
“This is an excellent study and brings us very close to a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease that can be used in daily practice.”
Prof Bart De Strooper, Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease research at UCL
One thing we all have in common is the muscle sitting in the middle of the chest about the size of a fist that beats whilst pumping blood around our body. Delivering oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, helping other organs and muscles function well. It really is a marvellous muscular organ however unfortunately not everyone is born with healthy hearts; congenital heart disease (CHD) affects one in 125 births. Every 3 minutes a person dies in the UK either from a circulatory or a heart condition. Raising awareness and funding for lifesaving research will help improve and save lives. You can help, be bold, wear red on 2nd February 2024.
Support can save lives
February is heart awareness month. Wearing red the first Friday in February will help others take notice. Wear red to work, school, clubs, etc. Have a red themed day/night – just some fun, bake some cakes, a quiz, etc. You can even look online and learn CPR for free on your phone or tablet.
Cardiovascular Disease
Congenital heart disease
Heart attack and angina – coronary heart disease
Inherited heart conditions
Stroke
Vascular dementia
Diabetes
Risk factors
Obesity and generally being overweight
Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Poorly managed diabetes
Alcohol – drinking too much
Everyday many people live with life threatening heart conditions through no fault of their own. Facing lifelong physical, emotional and practical challenges of living with congenital heart disease. Your body is precious, including the heart that beats around 100,000 times a day.
