Have you noticed your child becoming distressed at the sound of a vacuum cleaner or perhaps they can’t bear the feeling of the seams in their socks? These behaviours might be more than just quirks. Sensory processing difficulties are particularly prevalent among autistic children.

It’s not always clear what routes are open to parents or carers who are considering an autism assessment for their child. Waiting lists vary dramatically across the country and there are different pathways depending on where you live.

The language around autism is a topic of much debate, including the term ‘diagnosis’. Here, we explore why some embrace it and others reject it and try to find a balanced approach that accounts for all views.

Rates of mental illness in England have been steadily rising since the turn of this century. The number of people with a common mental health condition, such as anxiety and depression, seeking treatment rose from 23.1 per cent in 2000 to 39.4 per cent in 2014. That’s an increase of more than two thirds.

Flexibility – it’s a vital part of our physical health. It allows us to move our body in different directions with ease. But actually, we now know that flexibility of the mind is also an essential part of good mental health.

Dr Steven Hayes, the founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), has identified 10 core skills that can help us all adapt to life’s challenges and build resilience. By building these into our daily lives, we can start to see positive change.

If you’ve decided you’d like to try some therapy, you may be feeling confused by the different options out there. It can seem like a minefield. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy lists more than 30 different types of therapy – so where do you start?

What makes a good life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone—but according to a landmark study spanning over eight decades, you'd be mistaken. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies on human happiness, reveals that the key to a fulfilling life isn't wealth or celebrity. It's something much more accessible: meaningful relationships.

Can AI accurately detect the symptoms of mental health conditions? And could this be used to improve support for people who are affected by them? This is the focus of a new collaborative research project between Spicy Minds and the University of Bristol.

Mental health is a critical aspect of overall wellbeing, but many people face obstacles when trying to access the support they need. While traditional talking therapy is a proven method of improving mental health, it’s not always easy to get started.

There has been an explosion of digital mental health interventions in recent years driven, in part, by the Covid pandemic alongside greater pressures on the health system which has made it harder to access traditional routes to support. However, finding information on their effectiveness isn’t easy.

Deciding whether to pursue an autism assessment for your child can be a difficult decision. Here we explore some of the benefits of opting to assess.

If you’re looking to speak with a professional mental health specialist, working out what you need can be tricky.

The idea of digital talking therapy can feel quite alien to begin with. Talking about our worries and feelings without a genuine human interaction is a new experience for most and one that many are sceptical of.