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Ill man told to 'drink warm milk'

A Perth man has criticised the out-of-hours service provided to psychiatric patients after he was told to "drink a glass of warm milk".

Crawford Buchan, who has bipolar disorder, tried to kill himself and attacked his father after he could not get a face-to-face appointment.

A Generation Under Stress? Pressure To Grow Up Too Fast Takes Toll on Girls’ Mental Health

New Girlguiding UK and Mental Health Foundation research shows pressures of premature sexualization, materialism and boredom are taking a toll on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of girls and young women.

The report, A Generation Under Stress has been published today in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.

The mental health units that shame the NHS

Millions have been spent on the NHS since Labour pledged to reform it 10 years ago - so why does the incoming president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists think the state of some wards is so dire that he would not let his own family use them? Social affairs correspondent Amelia Hill reports.
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Drink and drugs fuel Scottish suicide and homicide rates

Alcohol and drug misuse mean Scots are almost twice as likely to kill or take their own life compared with people living in England and Wales, research published today reveals.

The findings by The University of Manchester's National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCI) also show that the number of mental health patients committing homicide or suicide was proportionately much higher in Scotland.

Support for vulnerable witnesses

All involved in the justice system are today being urged to 'play their part' in making sure vulnerable witnesses receive the support they need to give their best evidence.

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill will make the call when he hosts a conference with an audience of solicitors, sheriffs, social workers and police to discuss the implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses Act.

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