The Spark Blog

Category: relationships

  • Youth Mental Health: Reviews Are Great but We Need Action Too

    Youth Mental Health: Reviews Are Great but We Need Action Too

    Scotland, like the rest of the UK, faces a crisis in youth mental health. Studies and reports detailing the mental health issues faced by children and adolescents are regularly making the news headlines. The existing NHS-provided child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are under severe pressure which has led to extensive waiting times. A…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #22 – Van Morrison

    Songs For Sound Minds #22 – Van Morrison

    What are your thoughts when you first hear this refrain? ‘Well my mama told me there’d be days like this’ Are you thinking about the negative side of things?  The ‘chancers’ in life that your mum warned you to avoid? The times when it feels like nothing is going right? You might even be thinking…

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  • Why We Fear Change in Relationships

    Why We Fear Change in Relationships

    ‘There is nothing permanent except change’. Heraclitus This particular Greek philosopher had life pegged some 2,500 years ago: change is inevitable. The world around us changes, as do we as life progresses. Aside from the physical aspects of ageing, over time we evolve in our attitudes, beliefs and priorities. Change can lead to new opportunities,…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #21 – John Lennon

    Songs For Sound Minds #21 – John Lennon

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. It probably comes as no surprise that John Lennon features on our Songs for…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #20 – Kelly Clarkson

    Songs For Sound Minds #20 – Kelly Clarkson

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. This song focuses on moving on from a difficult relationship can be a liberating…

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  • Male Infertility and Mental Health

    Male Infertility and Mental Health

    Men are in general pretty bad at talking about their feelings. They are taught from their earliest years – both explicitly and implicitly – to hold emotions in. Never cry, get on with it and barely whisper about what is upsetting you. When it comes to male infertility, the whisper typically fades to complete silence.…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #19 – George Harrison

    Songs For Sound Minds #19 – George Harrison

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. ‘Any Road’ by George Harrison ‘If you don’t know where you’re going, any road…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #18 – Benjamin Clementine

    Songs For Sound Minds #18 – Benjamin Clementine

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. This weeks song tackles the subject of bullying. ‘Phantom of Aleppoville’ by Benjamin Clementine…

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  • Pupils Come First with Counselling

    Pupils Come First with Counselling

    The Spark is at the forefront of efforts to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of school pupils in Scotland. It is widely recognised that a child’s ability and readiness to learn can be compromised by difficult life experiences. Through counselling and education programmes we are helping schools manage the emotional and mental wellbeing of…

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