Humansolutions Bulletin - January 25th 2018

Are you a social worker who uses Facebook? If so, why not join Neil’s brand new Social Work Focus group? A group for discussion, support, learning and sharing. Just click here. Coming soon! The Social Worker’s Practice Manual. Neil’s latest publication is not a textbook; it is a hands-on manual that distils his decades of experience in social work. Watch this space!

Every cloud has a silver lining may well be a cliché, but that does not mean that the idea does not contain more than an element of truth. Of course, it would be an exaggeration to argue that every negative (cloud) has within it a positive (a silver lining) of some description, but it is certainly the case that negative events will often also bring some degree of positivity. In a sense, this is a reflection of the complexity of life. There is a very common tendency to want to simplify things as much as possible, and that often leads to an oversimplification, a distortion of reality – a situation has to be either good or bad; it can’t be a mixture…

If we’re to understand the causes of loneliness among older people, we have to challenge misconceptions and stereotypes. When it comes to older people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, there’s often an assumption they live in ‘traditional’ family structures, with young relations looking after or living with older generations. Though there is some truth in this, the fact remains that for many older BME people, life in later age can be a lonely experience. Research indicates a problem of ‘hidden loneliness’ among older BME people – because even when you live in a busy household, it’s possible to feel alone... Click here to read more

When confronted with too many good options, it's easy to get paralyzed. The complaint is that we don't know what to do next, because we're pulled in many good directions--and doing one thing with focus means not doing something else. This is a common way to get stuck. After all, if you're at this crossroads, where more consideration means more possibility, while more action merely means walking away from a potentially better choice, it's easy to settle for the apparently safe path, which is more study. No one can blame you for careful consideration. More careful consideration seems to insulate you from the criticism that follows taking action. But getting stuck helps no one... Click here to read more

Talking to family or friends is one thing – but speaking about your mental health at work can be really daunting. Here on Like Minds we’ve been finding out who you should tell, and how to make it a bit easier to start the conversation. Click here to read more

A think tank has called for the creation of hundreds of shared sites across the country designed to bring young and old people together and end Britain’s ‘age apartheid’. A new report from United for All Ages insists 500 shared sites must be created by 2022 in order to overcome the age divide that was revealed in the Brexit vote and the 2017 election. The 2016 vote to leave the European Union (EU) revealed a clear divide between young and old. An estimated 73% of 18-24 year olds voted to remain in the union while 60% of those who were 65 and older voted to leave. Click here to read more