Bravo to colleagues for writing in The The Times and The Sunday Times today . Some correction of the gross misrepresentation of mental illness, following the dreadful article they published earlier this week. Not dreadful because I disagreed with it but dreadful because it was plain misleading.

The prevalence of mental health problems among young people keeps going up and up 2017: 1 in 9 young people had a mental health problem 2021: 1 in 6 young people 2023: 1 in 5 young people… And this is a fact, it’s from NHS research. (3/6)

Stigma has devastating real world consequences like shame, isolation, exclusion and ultimately puts huge barriers in the way of getting the support we need. We've come a long way as a society to tackle mental health stigma, and there's still a long way to go, let's not start

I've an article about loneliness and new motherhood in the @Guardian today. Many thanks to Ruth Naughton-Doe for talking to me about her important research, and maestra editor Jenny Stevens theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/a…

600 people a day are having to give up work to provide unpaid care to family members or friends, due to a lack of flexibility and support in the workplace. Important report from Carers UK which makes the powerful case for paid carer's leave Helen Walker carersuk.org/reports/taking…

What. A. Goal. Beauty.

“Pensioners… rely on a functioning NHS, good public transport, strong national infrastructure.” There’s an obvious omission from this list, isn’t there? Couldn’t be clearer that #socialcare is not a priority. theguardian.com/politics/live/…

We’re incredibly proud to announce our latest campaign #ThisCountsAsCare On average 12,000 people a day become unpaid carers, we want to halve the time it takes them to recognise themselves as carers.

DID YOU KNOW? In a flush of enthusiasm for life, work & problem-child short stories, I'm set to run my rarely-seen Bootcamp course this autumn for @LondonLitLab. Super-flexible course format to suit most folk, no matter where and when you work. Eternal happiness guaranteed.*

This. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Learnt today that there will be a new Almodovar film with these two extraordinary actresses. Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore. And one of my favourite living directors. Can't wait...!

Excellent thread here on local govt finance. It begs the question of how you can have a fair #socialcare funding system when a) local govt funding is so obviously unfair, and b) a typical council spends c40% of its budget on adult social care. The answer, surely, is: you can't.

Together with 109 organisations, led by National Voices, we have written to Wes Streeting MP, to highlight the continued challenges carers are facing with the cost of living crisis and the vital role they play in supporting primary and social care. 👉 nationalvoices.org.uk/publication/na…

Note also that the decline in AIDS related deaths has started to level out. The goal of fewer than 250k AIDS deaths by 2025 appears to be out of reach - as does the goal of zero deaths by 2030 on this trajectory. Celebrate the success but question why not all are saved. 2/2

So I wrote an honest and heartfelt column about Ben, and me, and the loneliness of long-term illness newstatesman.com/back-pages/202…

We thank Ed Davey for raising with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer at #PMQs today the impact that the removal of the universal entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments will have on unpaid carers like Norman, who are over state pension age and will no longer receive the payment.

Great to see mental health at the top of the agenda for today's Prime Minister's Questions. The crisis in our mental health hospitals has been going on for far too long. It's time to #RaiseTheStandard. Thanks to Bill Esterson for asking this important question!

This, from one of the most highly respected economics columnists around. Labour’s decision to cut winter fuel payments is mean and politically inept | Larry Elliott theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

#FreddieMercury would have turned 78 today. As we celebrate his life and music we also remember the profound impact of his diagnosis at the time. The fight against HIV and HIV stigma continues, for him and countless others we have lost or who've been affected by HIV.

Excellent and passionate debates at the The NPC annual convention in Blackpool yesterday. Morgan Vine Independent Age sharing important data and insights about the poverty being experienced by older people and the action required.