Mental Health

Our relationships with our parents can be complex. Yet, many of us know we can count on them to provide emotional support, advice and guidance. But what happens when our roles become reversed? Even at the best of times, our relationships with our parents can be complex. Yet, we all know there are certain responsibilities

Spot the sneaky excuse that can lead to relationship inequality It’s fair to say that things like household chores and daily responsibilities aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. That said, what needs to be done, has to get done. But, sometimes, people have sneaky ways of avoiding those responsibilities – and it might be flying under

Learning is how we add dimension to our lives, acquiring skills and knowledge, in whatever way we chose to do it. When we learn something new, we may come away feeling accomplished, but the true test of our knowledge is how we then implement it The key to effective learning is not necessarily about how

Taking a gap year is no longer just for school-leavers or recent graduates. A ‘grown-up’ gap year can help you work out what you want in life, at any time of life I took my first gap year when I was 19, just after sixth form. I took my second in my late 20s following

Whether it’s a physical place, or a mental space, we all need somewhere to retreat and recover from the noise of the world Hello Happiful readers, “If we could make our house a home, and then make it a sanctuary, I think we could truly find paradise on Earth.” – Alexandra Stoddard. When I read

Settle down with these thought-prompting films Films have the ability to change our lives. With stories that open up other experiences to us, and characters who navigate the forces that we also face in our own lives, the right film at the right time can be transformative. Here, we’re rounding up six films that will

Singer Claire Richards joins Happiful’s podcast to discuss a year of career celebrations and the confidence she’s developed in her personal life Claire Richards and the rest of Steps, are in a slight state of disbelief. This summer they’re celebrating 25 years as a band, with a heady tour schedule and the release of The

A new study has revealed that many children who are not eligible for free school meals are going hungry The University of York and the Bradford Institute for Health Research are calling for the free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria to be widened, following research that shows that 20% of children who do not meet

Here, we share advice and guidance to ensure you get the support you need in the workplace, and can celebrate your unique strengths, as someone with ADHD Talking about neurodiversity in the workplace may initially feel a little daunting, however building up a successful channel of communication with your employer provides you with support and

We share 12 of Reddit’s greatest mental health and wellbeing communities to help you make connections, find advice, and discover new ways you can put your mental health and wellbeing first We all know the golden rule when it comes to your health and the internet: do not google your symptoms. But if you’re one

Indulge your senses and embrace the outdoors with these four, fun summer flower crafts that everyone can enjoy Nature bursts to life in summer, and is abundant with colour, texture, and fragrance – a sensory delight. We can harness this power to awaken all our senses through crafting with flowers, and children will love to

Taking care of yourself and finding a moment for mindfulness isn’t always easy, even for those who’ve practised it for years. Here, columnist Grace Victory shares her own struggles to refill her cup, and offers four simple ways to bring mindfulness into your everyday life – even when it’s tough It’s actually ironic that I’m

Do you want to start a yoga practice, but have no idea where to begin? We ask Hannah Barrett, one of the UK’s leading online yoga and meditation teachers, some common questions Hi Hannah, what are some of the benefits of yoga? Yoga has a host of benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, increased strength,

Most of us are familiar with the difficult side of social media. Whether that be all-hour access to bad news, furious arguments in comment sections, comparison traps, body shaming, or even cyberbullying, these once exciting technological platforms have started to lose their shine a bit. Though, of course, there is another side. New research from

Host of The Repair Shop, Jay Blades, joins Happiful to talk about the amazing ability to mend anything, even ourselves, with the help of community, human connection, and conversation Jay Blades is visibly buzzing with energy when he pops up on the screen from his agent’s central London office. The past month has been hectic

With the ASICS London 10k due to take place on 10th July, UN Women UK, Stylist Strong Women, and LimeLight Sports Club have partnered to campaign for safety, change, and freedom in London UN Women UK’s ‘Safe Spaces Now‘ initiative aims to redesign public spaces and people’s behaviours to free them from sexual harassment. Supporters

Getting to grips with how brands are twisting eco values for big business We’ve all seen it: products claiming to be ‘sustainably-sourced’, ‘carbon neutral’, or ‘environmentally-friendly’. But when might a seemingly positive policy actually be a bad thing? This is where greenwashing comes in, and it’s something we need to flush out. According to the

A new study reveals the power of feeling seen and heard for LGBTQ+ people Mainstream literature has a history of underrepresenting LGBTQ+ characters, choosing not to include them and centring heteronormative characters instead. Despite this, there is a history of LGBTQ+ literature that dates back to Ancient Rome and Greece, it’s just rarely taught. For

Psychotherapist and author of Ten to Zen, Ten Times Happier and now How To Be Your Own Therapist, joins our podcast to discuss working on yourself, managing change and addressing your internal tone Owen O’Kane believes wholeheartedly in the power of good therapy. As someone who was previously a NHS Clinical Lead for Mental Health,

For those times, when even the simple things feel impossible, try this Good and bad mental health days are something many of us will cycle through at some point in our lives, and, usually, we have strategies in place to keep on going about our daily routines. But, when things get really bad, those usual

What is it, why does it happen, and what signs should I be looking out for? We share everything you need to know about passive suicidal ideation Passive suicidal ideation is something that many of us experience, but few of us seriously talk about. Perhaps you have thought “I wish I could fall asleep and

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and for good reason. Seeing our innermost thoughts and feelings on the page can be a hugely beneficial thing, allowing us to express ourselves in a safe space, and process our experiences. Here, psychotherapist Bhavna explores the powerful practice of journaling, and how you can harness

From optical illusion cake videos to a virtual challenge across the UK, and a film that’ll inspire you to chase your dreams, try something new with our enriching suggestions 1. Page-turners Great TED Talks: Creativity by Tom May Never underestimate the power of a TED Talk, especially when you can access 100 of them right

It’s the small gestures that can make all the difference and, here, we’re sharing five ways to let the one you love know how you feel 1. Lingering eye contact It lets someone know that you’re listening, helps you express and read emotions, and studies have gone on to show that eye contact has the

When it comes to finding our personal sanctuary, we all deserve a space that can invigorate and inspire, as well as offering peace and protection – whether that be a physical place or a mental state. Here, mental health advocate, author, and broadcaster Fearne Cotton reveals how she found her own happy place, and invites

In what could be a breakthrough moment for those living with chronic pain, reachers from the University of Oxford have a new understanding of the mechanisms that cause chronic pain In a study published in BMJ Journals, estimated that chronic pain affects between one-third and a half of the UK population, approximately just under 28

It’s that time of year again and in the lead-up to the final weeks of exam season, students have been tackling their revision in a rather unconventional way Thousands of students will sit their A-Level and GCSE exams in the next few weeks before school’s out for summer, but with so much information to take

Birth anxiety is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to rule you Birth anxiety is extremely common – thought to affect up to 80% of women, with a further 14% experiencing ‘tokophobia’, a severe fear of childbirth. And, if we take a minute to consider where this fear might come from, it doesn’t take