Humansolutions Bulletin - November 22nd 2018

Neil Thompson is a highly respected writer and developer of online learning resources, with over 40 years’ experience in the people professions. His titles are firm favourites on the Red Globe Press Social Work list: from the popular guide to reflective practice (co-authored with Sue Thompson) The Critically Reflective Practitioner, to specific explorations of complex ethical issues within the field of Social Work, such as Promoting Equality, Social Problems and Social Justice, and Anti-Discriminatory Practice. To celebrate 25 years of Neil Thompson’s publishing on the Red Globe Press Social Work list, they are offering 25% off all his titles when you use code THOMPSON25 at the checkout. Click here to browse the range of titles and place an order

Sayings can be very useful ways of briefly capturing important elements of wisdom. For example, the idea of ‘better safe than sorry’ has no doubt helped many people to avoid making rash decisions or launching into situations unprepared. So, they clearly have an important role to play as elements of whatever culture we are brought up in (different cultures will have different sayings, but there will, of course, be many common themes). But, it isn’t all good news. This is because, for one thing, sayings can be contradictory. Compare ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ with ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’. Sayings therefore have limitations, and so we need to be careful and critical in how we use them.…

Some of Britain's biggest employers are pressing the government to honour a promise to give mental health the same status as physical health at work. Royal Mail and WH Smith are among the companies asking the PM to follow through on her manifesto pledge to update health and safety legislation. That would mean employers would have to provide appropriate training for staff to deal with mental ill-health. About one in six of people at work have symptoms of a mental health condition. A government-commissioned review put the cost of those conditions, such as depression, anxiety or stress, to the economy at between £74bn and £99bn a year. Click here to read more

A Co Down student has caused a bit of a stir in the House of Commons with a rousing speech about homelessness. Cormac Savage, 15, was elected to the Youth Parliament in March and was selected to represent Northern Ireland in the House of Commons on Friday on the subject of homelessness. The topic was selected by more than one million young people when the Youth Parliament was drawing up its priorities for the year. The GCSE student from St Patrick's Grammar School, Downpatrick, received a standing ovation for his speech, in which he described himself as a feminist. Click here to read more

Perhaps it’s time to do something else. Not a new job, or a new city, but perhaps a different story. A story about possibility and sufficiency. A story about connection and trust. A story about for and with, instead of at or to. Bootstrapping your way to a new story about the world around you is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do. Our current story was built piecemeal, over time, the result of vivid interactions and hard-fought lessons. But if that story isn’t getting you where you need to go, then what’s it for? Click here to read more  

Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every single one of us, anywhere in the world. Human rights apply no matter where you are from, what you believe in, or how you choose to live your life. Human rights can never be taken away, but they can sometimes be restricted – for example if a person breaks the law, or in the interests of national security. These rights and freedoms are based on values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence. But human rights are not just abstract concepts – they are defined and protected by law. Click here to read more