How symptoms of a:- 'mental health fad' can be damaging to those living with OCD? Are we medically self diagnosing from TikTok?

ACCORDING to data collected by the NHS in Merseyside and Cheshire, there are more than 122,000 people who have been diagnosed with some form of mental health condition. This is almost 6.5% of the population in this area, demonstrating the breadth of this diagnosis. Dr Alex Worthington, lead medic on the OCD clinical trial at MAC Clinical Research, explores the issues of self diagnosing using social platforms and the increased popularity of:- 'mental health fads,' with trends trivialising these conditions. Dr Alex comments:- "With #MentalHealthAwareness racking up more than 27 billion views on TikTok, and conditions such as #anxiety and #OCD reaching a combined total of 41 billion views, there's no doubt these popular social platforms hold reverence when it comes to researching mental health disorders. This, however, can prove problematic when sifting fact from the fiction. Over the years, the app has been called out by the media for showcasing:- 'fake news,' causing fabricated and exaggerated content to surge in viewing numbers. This, unfortunately, extends to mental health, as we've witnessed popular trends such as:- 'letting my intrusive thoughts win' fill our feeds with videos that have been seen to trivialise symptoms of OCD, rather than raising awareness of the condition. The trend saw people smashing eggs on the floor or screaming in a quiet location, all of which are considered:- 'impulsive thoughts' rather than:- 'intrusive,' there's a big difference between the 2. Impulsive thoughts are ideas that pop into someone's mind spontaneously, whereas intrusive thoughts are categorised as a symptom of OCD, and can be associated with safety or risk, for example fearing they will harm themselves or another person or fearing that they have already harmed someone without realising. The distress and damage these TikTok videos have on those living with mental health issues is palpable, and doctors and specialists are concerned this could worsen an individual's symptoms. OCD usually 1st appears in late childhood to early adulthood, between the ages of:- 10 to 25. If social apps, such as TikTok, are seen to be belittling the symptoms of OCD, this could flare up unwelcomed feelings of embarrassment, self consciousness and shame for those viewing who have been diagnosed with the condition or who may be experiencing OCD symptoms– emotions no 1 should ever have to deal with. The concern that arises with content such as this on TikTok is that it's presenting OCD related symptoms as:- 'trendy,' or even as a:- 'fad' that everyone:- 'must have.' The reality of this condition is that it can be debilitating and, with almost 750,000 people in the UK living with OCD, it's a struggle many face every single day. For anyone unsure whether they have OCD or are struggling to live with the symptoms, there are OCD support groups available, including OCD Action. At MAC Clinical Research, we're committed to improving the quality of life for people living with mental health conditions such as OCD through clinical trials and are currently investigating a medication that is thought to target a different signalling pathway in the brain to current OCD treatments, which may help to control obsessive and/or compulsive behaviours. For more information and to check whether you're eligible for the trial, you can visit our OCD Clinical Trialpage."

Empty homes in England rise by nearly 10% in 5 years

THE number of long term empty homes has increased nationally by nearly 10% over the past 5 years, the equivalent of just over 1% of the country's housing stock, a new report commissioned by the Local Government Association reveals. 

The new report from the LGA and the Empty Homes Network has found that the numbers across all definitions, types and tenures of empty homes have risen steadily since the pandemic and have largely exceeded the figures seen in 2018.

The data shows that more than 1 million properties across England in 2022 were unoccupied (4.01% of all dwellings), an increase of nearly 60,000 homes since 2018.

Despite the introduction of an empty homes premium in 2013, aimed at encouraging owners to bring empty properties back into use, along with efforts of Councils, numbers continue to rise not only across England, but in Scotland and Wales also.

While many of these homes are yet to have reached a stage of deterioration that prompts concern or encourages decline, every empty home removes a property from the housing market and with it the chance for those on housing registers to be housed, 1st time buyers to purchase, or those looking to progress on the property ladder. At a time of critical housing need, both Government and Councils consider the supply of safe, affordable and sustainable housing as a top priority.

It comes at a time of significant ongoing challenges for Councils to ensure that everyone can live in a home that meets their current and future needs. Frozen Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, the rising cost of living, the closure of Afghan bridging hotels, wider asylum and resettlement pressures, and an insufficient supply of affordable housing are driving increases in homelessness and reducing Councils' ability to source suitable accommodation.

There are currently more than 1 million people on Council housing waiting lists and 104,000 households living in temporary accommodation. Even bringing just 10% of these empty homes back into use could help to find permanent homes for these households in temporary accommodation.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, Housing spokesperson for the LGA said:- "At a time when we face a chronic housing shortage across the country it is wrong for so many homes to be left empty. Councils work hard to address the issue, but the existing measures are clearly falling short. This report, and the best practice proposals and recommendations within it, aim to support Councils in their efforts to reduce the numbers of empty homes, increase housing supply, encourage inward investment, and provide a better quality of life for residents and neighbours affected by the issues empty homes cause. Councils share a collective national ambition to tackle local housing challenges. The Government should also support this ambition by using the Autumn Statement to implement our 6 point action plan so that Councils can resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes."

Adam Cliff, Secretary and Policy Lead for the Empty Homes Network, said:- "Empty Homes are a hugely wasted resource, and at over 1 million empty homes nationally, this figure represents the equivalent to the number of total dwellings in the City of Manchester. At a time where the demand housing is so high, working to bring empty homes back into use can not only support meeting this need, but can encourage inward investment, improve communities and enhance the lives of those who currently live near empty homes. This report aims to set a standard from which Councils can build a solid foundation to deal with empty homes, and provides practical and evidence based ideas which will undoubtedly prove useful to Councils and their officers. While the numbers across all empty homes categories have shown an increase over the past 5 years, the report aims to address this by equipping Councils and officers with tools to assist in data cleansing, case progression and the overarching empty homes journey through the case progression flowchart."