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Reposted by James Downs

EDCRN (Eating Disorders Clinical Research Network) @edcrn.bsky.social · May 19

🔬 This month's journal club comes from @jamesldowns.bsky.social , a member of our Lived Experience Steering Committee! James has published a brilliant paper on the diverse ways of knowing in mental health research. Read the thread to learn more! 🧵👇

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · May 18

Absolutely, it's not money that accrues! Such a key point, should've added this.

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · May 18

"Benefits didn’t incentivise me to sit back and relax, nor have they kept me disabled. They help me to mitigate some of the consequences of the multiple disabilities I live with, and have given me a chance to build a life where I have dignity."

My article today: nation.cymru/opinion/you-...

You can’t cut your way to health: Disability benefits and the politics of prevention in Wales

James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner The UK Government is proposing sweeping changes to the disability benefits system, with a focus on reducing the number of claimants and cutting costs by £5bn. Pla...

nation.cymru

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · May 18

Please read my article in @nation.cymru today about disability benefits, based on some of my personal experiences and highlighting the false economy of proposed cuts: nation.cymru/opinion/you-...

You can’t cut your way to health: Disability benefits and the politics of prevention in Wales

James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner The UK Government is proposing sweeping changes to the disability benefits system, with a focus on reducing the number of claimants and cutting costs by £5bn. Pla...

nation.cymru

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · May 18

Please read my article in @nation.cymru today about disability benefits, based on some of my personal experiences and highlighting the false economy of proposed cuts

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Reposted by James Downs

NationCymru @nation.cymru · May 18

‘The government’s arguments for cutting disability benefits ignore the truth about what creates disability in the first place. It doesn’t arise in a vacuum. It’s shaped by the social conditions around us’ ✍️ James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner

You can’t cut your way to health: Disability benefits and the politics of prevention in Wales

James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner The UK Government is proposing sweeping changes to the disability benefits system, with a focus on reducing the number of claimants and cutting costs by £5bn. Pla...

wp.me

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Reposted by James Downs

Platfform @platfform.org · May 7

“The new Mental Health Strategy for Wales offers a moment of hope – a chance to rethink and rebuild. But hope alone is not enough.”

An poignant reminder from @jamesldowns.bsky.social via @nation.cymru on why this new strategy is so needed – and why the ambition must be met with action.

No more waiting: Wales needs a mental health system that truly cares

James Downs In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn’t just an administrative inconvenience; it’s a…

nation.cymru

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Apr 30

Please read my latest which highlights the vital work of @mindcymru.bsky.social

NationCymru @nation.cymru · Apr 30

In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn't just an administrative inconvenience; it's a crisis with real- life consequences ✍️ James Downs

No more waiting: Wales needs a mental health system that truly cares

James Downs In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn’t just an administrative inconvenience; it’s a crisis...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by James Downs

NationCymru @nation.cymru · Apr 30

In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn't just an administrative inconvenience; it's a crisis with real- life consequences ✍️ James Downs

No more waiting: Wales needs a mental health system that truly cares

James Downs In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn’t just an administrative inconvenience; it’s a crisis...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by James Downs

Simon Jones @seimon76.bsky.social · Apr 30

Thanks to @jamesldowns.bsky.social for using our work listening to people with lived experience to inform this piece on his hopes for the new mental health strategy.

Powerfully and articulately argued as ever and I hope the new strategy can deliver on these outcomes for all of us

NationCymru @nation.cymru · Apr 30

In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn't just an administrative inconvenience; it's a crisis with real- life consequences ✍️ James Downs

No more waiting: Wales needs a mental health system that truly cares

James Downs In Wales, people with mental health problems have long been caught in a system that delays the care they so desperately need. This isn’t just an administrative inconvenience; it’s a crisis...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by James Downs

Northumbria University @northumbriauni.bsky.social · Mar 27

Co-authored by @thecyberpsyche.bsky.social Richard Brown, Claire Murphy-Morgan and @jamesldowns.bsky.social, the paper is part of the RHED-C project, funded by @medresfdn.bsky.social.

Find out more: rhedc.uk

RHED-C

Remote Healthcare for Eating Disorders

rhedc.uk

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Reposted by James Downs

Cenric @cenricc.bsky.social · Mar 7

Aren’t we cute?How Westminster trivialises Cymru nation.cymru/opinion/aren...
@jamesldowns.bsky.social on 10 DowningStreet video
"Here’s what happened when we asked some famous faces 2 say the longest word in Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿" Outraged?No.Bored? Yes! Always patronised! Perhaps we shld all say "C**t y Môr"

Aren’t we cute? How Westminster trivialises Wales

James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner This week, Number 10 Downing Street and the Labour Party released statements and a video celebrating Wales and Welshness, featuring well-known figures, including ...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by James Downs

Dr Mary Quinton @maryquinton.bsky.social · Feb 27

Really happy to see this paper published today! We identified best practices to promote researchers' mental health in emotionally demanding research. Thank you to all involved in this project, especially the participants for their invaluable expertise!
🔗 Read the paper here: doi.org/10.1080/1748...

Researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research warrants immediate attention: new paper outlines best practices

Introduction As the spotlight on researchers' mental health grows, especially for those immersed in emotionally demanding research (EDR), the need for robust support strategies becomes more evident. ...

www.sprintproject.org

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Reposted by James Downs

Awais Aftab @awaisaftab.bsky.social · Feb 23

“In some ways, Unshrunk is a memoir of Delano’s unstable and intense interpersonal relationship with psychiatry, alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation, and ending with a partial course correction.”

Awais Aftab @awaisaftab.bsky.social · Feb 23

A Memoir For the Iatrogenic Age

A Review of Laura Delano’s “Unshrunk”

“The reason I’m no longer mentally ill is that I made a decision to question the ideas about myself that I’d assumed were fact & discard what I learned was actually fiction.” Delano

www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/a-memoir-f...

A Memoir For the Iatrogenic Age

A Review of Laura Delano's "Unshrunk"

www.psychiatrymargins.com

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Reposted by James Downs

Owen Williams @owswills.bsky.social · Jan 30

One year of 20mph in Wales:
🚦 100 fewer killed or seriously injured
🚶‍♂️ 26% drop in casualties
🏁 35% drop in summer road injuries – the lowest since records began

Slower speeds. Safer streets. Fewer tragedies.

It’s not perfect, but it’s progress. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Welsh 20mph limit: 100 fewer killed or seriously hurt in first year

Ex-minister says it shows policy was the most successful road safety initiative in modern times.

www.bbc.co.uk

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 30

Thank you 🙏🏼

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HP 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌱🐱🍂🎵 @ursusminimus.bsky.social · Jan 30

Really wise words from James in this article. We can't afford to lose the arts and culture in Wales!

James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 29

Please read my latest article about the awful news from Cardiff University 👇🏽

“If we continue down this road, Wales may end up as a country that cannot afford to teach its own language, its own arts, or its own thinkers. We will have severely limited our own future.”

nation.cymru/opinion/card...

Cardiff University cuts: When education serves the market, society pays the price

James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner Cardiff University’s recent announcement that it plans to cut 400 jobs – around 10% of its total workforce – alongside course closures and departmental mergers, h...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by James Downs

mari-bradbury.bsky.social @mari-bradbury.bsky.social · Jan 29

Excellent, compelling, spot on. The commodification of HE in combination with Tory cuts (halved funding for all subjects they deemed non priority /non STEM) and extortionate student costs have killed off the idea of value in the pursuit of knowledge and culture. It’s conveniently dumbed us down.

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Reposted by James Downs

Simon Jones @seimon76.bsky.social · Jan 29

Great piece by @jamesldowns.bsky.social 👇🏻

NationCymru @nation.cymru · Jan 29

‘If an institution’s ability to function is contingent on the financial choices of students from overseas, rather than the needs of the communities it serves, then it isn’t a sustainable or just system’ ✍️James Downs https://buff.ly/4gniaWy

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 30

Exactly …

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 30

It’s awful!

James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 29

Please read my latest article about the awful news from Cardiff University 👇🏽

“If we continue down this road, Wales may end up as a country that cannot afford to teach its own language, its own arts, or its own thinkers. We will have severely limited our own future.”

nation.cymru/opinion/card...

Cardiff University cuts: When education serves the market, society pays the price

James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner Cardiff University’s recent announcement that it plans to cut 400 jobs – around 10% of its total workforce – alongside course closures and departmental mergers, h...

nation.cymru

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 29

Thank you

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James Downs @jamesldowns.bsky.social · Jan 21

I had great time in Switzerland last week with GALENOS. I wrote about it here:

“This is about enriching our understanding of mental health by weaving together varied ways of knowing, from laboratory findings to lived experience.”

www.galenos.org.uk/blog-news/co...

Co-producing a Model a Mental Health Science That Performs for All

James Downs discusses the complexities of mental health science and the importance of co-producing research with lived experience to make it more meaningful and impactful.

www.galenos.org.uk

Reposted by James Downs

NationCymru @nation.cymru · Jan 16

Communities should be able to sustain themselves. They should not have to rely on imported or temporary wealth to fund basic services or remain viable ✍️James Downs
wp.me/p8Mk4U-TJ2

Second homes and tourism taxes in Wales: It’s fair play to pay

James Downs, Campaigner and Researcher Council tax premiums on second homes and the introduction of tourism taxes in holiday hotspots are polarising issues in Wales today. While critics decry these po...

wp.me

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