Communications Strategist

Cancel culture: have you been cancelled or does no one really care what you think?

After the Pope decries “cancel culture” as “ideological colonisation”, LBC ditch Maajid Nawaz from the airwaves and Maureen Lipman calls out Helen Mirren, being cancelled is once again back in the news. But what does it mean, how does it differ from being ignored and what can it mean for a person’s career?

uterus

Cervical screening programme in the spotlight: outrageous money-saving ploy, or sensible Public Health Measure?

Rachel Paul’s change.org petition has gained traction across social media, as she urges Public Health Wales to renege on their change to Cervical Cancer Screening.

Demonic Possession: a case for mental health professionals?

The word “exorcism”, for most of us, brings to mind the rotating head of Linda Blair and the terrifying accompanying sounds of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, but for others, exorcism … Continue reading Demonic Possession: a case for mental health professionals?

ghost in a field by the sea

Hunting the unexplained: the importance of “investigating” strange phenomena

The other night I became embroiled in a conversation sparked by a fellow skeptic’s comment: “hunting” big cats, monsters, ghosts and investigating their sightings is utterly pointless. The psychology behind … Continue reading Hunting the unexplained: the importance of “investigating” strange phenomena

Heroin paraphernalia

It’s time to rethink drug addiction treatment

As a moderate amount of heroin is now more affordable than a pack of 20 cigarettes, deaths attributable to drug poisoning and drug misuse are rising year on year. It’s time to revisit how we treat drug addiction.

Tories in the time of Cholera – savage sewage row prompts u-bend u-turn

With raw sewage regularly turning up on the shores of “Stool Britannia”, most recently seen happening in the newly crowned city of Southend, the government has been caught with its trousers down. Public reaction to what some are calling “shitgate” has been vociferous and MPs have been inundated with complaints

Sherlock Holmes statue in London

Ghoulish online True Crime communities, online sleuthing & the case of Gabby Petito

There’s nothing new about human interest in crime but as we watched the revelations around the murder of Gabby Petito play out on social media, a ghoulish and repugnant entertainment factor crept in. 

No fuel - an empty filling station

Malice a forecourt: the psychology of panic buying

With some petrol stations reported at 500% of their usual demand this past Saturday, just why do humans panic buy, even when reassured there was no reason to? Fights broke … Continue reading Malice a forecourt: the psychology of panic buying

Being ill shouldn't be termed as a war or a battle

It’s time to surrender the language of war when it comes to our health

Not everyone “wins” their “fight” and terming it as such suggests that anyone who succumbs to the disease has “lost” it; the implication being that they just didn’t fight hard enough

DNA double helices

Autistic voices speak out about “concerning” new research study

We’ve come a long way from the days of unethical experimentation on – and routine institutionalisation of – autistic people, but critics of the Spectrum10K study fear it has murky … Continue reading Autistic voices speak out about “concerning” new research study

Baked in oppression: how the racism of ‘things’ perpetuates injustice

Recent discussions on racism have moved us away from ideas around tolerance and being “not racist” and towards an aim of being “anti-racist”. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial we now tackle the more insidious – and dangerous – racism inherent in the products and technology we use every day.

breastfeeding

World Breastfeeding Week: how best to “protect breastfeeding”?

This week is World Breastfeeding Week – a celebration of breastfeeding and a chance to discuss what’s important to breastfeeding parents – as well as understanding what barriers face us … Continue reading World Breastfeeding Week: how best to “protect breastfeeding”?