Mentalhealth

Friday, May 29, 2026 birmingham pickpocket crime rehabilitation mentalhealth psychiatry offender theft probation communityorder

Margaret Johnson, known infamously as Birmingham’s ‘Pickpocket Queen’, is poised for release after over a year in custody. With a criminal record boasting more than 200 offences, predominantly theft-related, … Read More

Monday, May 25, 2026 juliebeards court manslaughter threats rehabilitation criminaldamage vulnerability sentencing mentalhealth walsall

Julie Beards, infamous for her involvement in one of the region’s most notorious killings, appeared in Birmingham Magistrates' Court on May 22, 2024, facing charges related to criminal damage and threatening behavior. Beards, … Read More

Sunday, May 24, 2026 depression art mentalhealth recovery creativity therapy birmingham pentupemotions vangogh suicideprevention

Ben Poultney, a man from the Black Country, faced dark days where thoughts of death were a constant companion. His struggle with depression started with relentless panic attacks that he couldn’t understand or manage. He … Read More

Saturday, May 23, 2026 pip disability asperger anxiety tribunal assessment mentalhealth benefits appeal support

A man diagnosed with Asperger’s and extreme anxiety has been left devastated after being refused Personal Independence Payment (PIP) despite his inability to perform simple daily tasks without prompting. For six years, he had … Read More

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 sexualassault indecentexposure birmingham court sentencing victimimpact mentalhealth crime publicsafety justice

A woman was forced to leave her job in Birmingham city centre after being sexually assaulted near a well-known landmark. The victim, an office worker, was sitting by the ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ fountain in Victoria Square … Read More

Saturday, May 16, 2026 mentalhealth wolverhampton support community wellbeing railway rethink crisis outreach partnership

Since its opening in May 2025, The Hub at Wolverhampton Railway Station has provided essential mental health support to thousands of vulnerable individuals. This one-year milestone marks a significant achievement in community … Read More

Saturday, May 16, 2026 cradleyheath missionhall supportedliving sandwellcouncil edgeviewhomes johnowenhouse adaptivereuse mentalhealth learningdisabilities housingdevelopment

A neglected former mission hall in Cradley Heath is set to be transformed into supported living flats, bringing new hope to the Old Hill community. Sandwell Council has approved Edgeview Homes’ plans to convert John Owen … Read More

Thursday, May 14, 2026 birmingham mentalhealth care community support accessibility recovery nhs wellbeing innovation

Birmingham’s inaugural Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre (NMHC) is transforming access to mental health care by providing continuous, compassionate support for adults in Small Heath, Heartlands, and Bordesley Green. … Read More

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 rape assault trauma asylum victim mentalhealth conviction wednesbury sexualviolence support

After a night out at a Wetherspoon’s pub, a 24-year-old woman entered a shop in Wednesbury, a market town in the Black Country, hoping to use the toilet. Instead, she was subjected to a brutal attack by Wahidullah Hotak, an … Read More

Monday, May 11, 2026 middlesbrough unemployment benefits dwp jobcentre community employment deprivation mentalhealth council

Middlesbrough, once a thriving industrial town, is now confronting alarming levels of unemployment and social challenges that have sparked debate about the role of local support systems. Reports suggest that some residents … Read More

Monday, May 11, 2026 universalcredit welfare youthemployment healthclaims dependency dwp recovery mentalhealth benefits reform

The UK is witnessing a growing concern as more than one in ten individuals under the age of 30 in 41 regions are signed off work with no requirement to look for employment. These young claimants, amounting to 662,000, receive … Read More

Sunday, May 10, 2026 pip universalcredit disability autism benefits guilt student hiddendisability mentalhealth support

A 21-year-old student receiving £1,400 per month in benefits has opened up about the intense guilt they feel despite being advised to rely on support while studying. Living with high-functioning autism, they receive both … Read More

Saturday, May 9, 2026 solihull mentalhealth women community support wellbeing walk outdoors awareness stridesquad

Keeley Skelding established the Solihull Women’s Stride Squad to create a supportive community for women experiencing mental health struggles. Motivated by her personal difficulties and the lack of accessible support, … Read More

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 universalcredit dwp mentalhealth suicide welfare homelessness benefits depression inquest backpay

Andrew Halliday, a 41-year-old Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claimant, tragically took his own life after his Universal Credit payment was drastically reduced to just £37.50. The significant cut, which the DWP … Read More

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 dwp disability welfare benefits children behaviouraldisorders dla mentalhealth dependency education

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is preparing to provide welfare support to a record 1.03 million children by 2027, marking a significant increase from the current 900,000 recipients of Disability Living Allowance … Read More

Sunday, May 3, 2026 mentalhealth men friendship support awareness birmingham university film stigma wellbeing

Dan Collins, a student at Birmingham University, passed away in 2018 after facing challenges within mental health services often described as falling through a ‘black hole’. To honor his memory, a new short film titled You … Read More

Sunday, May 3, 2026 baking mentalhealth therapy wellbeing midlands anxiety recovery creativity mindfulness support

Rachael Vitins, a 44-year-old mother from Tipton in the Midlands, has battled mental health issues since she was 17. After years of struggling with persistent voices and anxiety, she discovered a unique form of … Read More

Friday, May 1, 2026 assault mentalhealth birmingham gp deregistration abuse therapy harassment racism rehabilitation

A Birmingham man, Shuaib Al-Azawe, who had been removed from a GP’s patient list due to previous aggressive behaviour, verbally abused and physically assaulted a medical secretary at Ejaz Medical Centre. The incident, … Read More

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 soho crash investigation police inquest driving mentalhealth hizarhanif westmidlands iopc

The family of Hizar Hanif, who tragically lost his life in a high-speed collision on Soho Road, Handsworth, is waiting anxiously for the findings of a police conduct investigation — which will not be released until after the … Read More

Monday, April 27, 2026 roadrage assault dashcam court sentencing mentalhealth violence injury family conwy

Dashcam footage from Conwy county reveals a shocking road rage incident in which John Lee attacked a driver, knocking him unconscious before turning his aggression toward the victim’s wife. The events unfolded on June 15, … Read More

Monday, April 27, 2026 dwp welfare mentalhealth benefits universalcredit iainduncansmith dependency workcapability claims tax

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has sharply criticized the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for what he describes as “absurd” welfare payments to those with mental health conditions. He blames lenient … Read More

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 disability dwp grants access-to-work artist mentalhealth support cuts dyslexia health

Michelle Baharier, a self-employed artist living with multiple disabilities, has revealed that a sudden £62,500 cut to her Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) grant has devastated her ability to work and manage her health. … Read More

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 solihull mertonhouse jordanherring bobbiegoodman trial testimony hostilewitness assault domesticabuse mentalhealth

Kerrie-Anne Grogan, the mother of Jordan Herring, was revealed to have been deliberately untruthful during her son’s trial for a serious assault that left his girlfriend critically injured. Jordan Herring, 22, was convicted … Read More

Sunday, April 19, 2026 housing birmingham temporary council safety children mentalhealth tenancy overcrowding neglect

A Birmingham mother of three has shared the harsh realities of living in temporary accommodation, highlighting serious safety concerns and the toll it has taken on her family. For the past two years, the mum, her partner, and … Read More