Happy World Mental Health Day

Today is 10/10/10 (or Shuāng Shí Jié), the birthday of Sir Matthew Pinsent and DJ Skribble, the first anniversary of the death of Stephen Gateley, Fiji Day, the Day of Finnish Literature and, last but not least, World Mental Health Day.

1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Sunday, 10 October 2010 at 7:25 pm

British parents’ relaxed attitude to teen drinking, drug-using and sex

Four nine-year-old boys have been suspended from their Lancashire primary school after being found in posession of Cannabis – shocking eh? Perhaps not shocking enough.  A recent survey of British parents has revealed an increasingly relaxed attitude towards their own children engaging in drinking, drug-taking and underage sex. Parents said that on average they would [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Tuesday, 5 October 2010 at 8:54 pm

Gay Suicide Spate in America

The homophobes are out in force in America. Yesterday I came across the shocking story of a young and talented musician who took his own life after some thoughtless idiot posted a secret video of him embracing another man – there was, of course, also a background of mocking and abuse towards him, all due [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Thursday, 30 September 2010 at 9:40 pm

First Memorial Service for those who lost their lives to Eating Disorders

One in five people with an Eating Disorder will die as a result.
At least 60% of Eating Disordered people will have their lives shortened.
Out of all mental illnesses, Anorexia Nervosa is the biggest killer.
It is estimated that 1.6 million people in the UK suffer with an Eating Disorder.
Today, the UK’s leading Eating Disorder charity held [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Tuesday, 28 September 2010 at 9:32 pm

University – Second time lucky

Last time I tried, I succeeded, but regrettably spent more time starving myself half to death wrapped in a dressing gown, shivering in my bedroom than enjoying what were supposed to be the best years of my life. I remember during the first week of university, all of my flatmates went out every night of [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Monday, 27 September 2010 at 8:36 pm

Men get eating disorders too

“Lonely, lost, broken, ashamed, hopeless, desolate, driven, and cursed”, “not recognised”, “Macho failure”, “scaredy little boy afraid of fry-ups” and “freakish”, suffering in silence, shameful, “Under-represented, under-researched and under-supported”, “forgotten”, “stigma”, “unheard of”, “overlooked”… those are just some of the responses I recieved from Twitterers and Facebookers when I asked the question ‘What do you [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Wednesday, 22 September 2010 at 9:34 pm

Extreme Advertising – How Far is Too Far?

One advert, one mesages – ‘15% of women who suffer from anorexia will die this year’. But it is the image, designed exclusively for an independent organisation in Israel to spread awareness of Eating Disorders, that have attracted (mostly negative) attention from critics all over the world.
Take a look:

It does not surprise me that it [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Monday, 20 September 2010 at 8:48 pm

The Ex-Good Catholic Girl on The Papal Visit – Part 2

Benedict expresses ‘deep sorrow’ for the innocent victims of the Catholic church’s abuse – about bloody time. Just a quick thought for now though. Below is a section of the Pope’s sermon given today at London’s Westminster Catherderal. You’ve probably seen or heard it already, but here it is again…
Here, too, I think of the [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Saturday, 18 September 2010 at 4:58 pm

The Ex-Good Catholic Girl on The Papal Visit – Part 1

Everyone’s talking about the Pope, more specifically today, his two pimping Mercedes M-class Pope-mobiles. I also found that he will be welcomed by the dulcet tones of that Scottish madwoman from Britain’s Got Talent – nice. This week’s TV schedule is spattered with documentaries and debates exploring the controversy surrounding Benedict’s visit, the inescapable issue [...]

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Tuesday, 14 September 2010 at 7:07 pm

Too Beautiful to Help the Poor?

Angelina Jolie – love her or hate her – has been splashed across headlines again, pictured wearing a dark veil on her recent visit to Pakistan to meet with the president and view for herself the widespread devastation caused by floods.

By Ilona Burton | Notebook | Sunday, 12 September 2010 at 7:22 pm