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Stress and burnout are two of the most common issues faced by professionals today. Dr Tara Tofiq believes there is a silent epidemic happening in the city, with London being a melting pot of perfectionistic high-achievers, the rising prevalence of imposter syndrome coupled with people pleasing in the mix, all leading to features of burnout possibly undetected for some time. People often present with insomnia, lack of enjoyment, anxiety and stress-related conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and sexual dysfunction. While they may seem like separate things, they are often closely connected and can have a significant impact on an individual's physical and mental health, as well as their overall job performance. Stress refers to the physical and mental response to a challenging situation, which can result in feelings of anxiety, tension, and pressure. In the workplace, stress can be caused by a wide range of factors, including high workloads, tight deadlines, interpersonal conflicts and a lack of support or recognition. While some amount of stress can be beneficial in helping individuals to stay focused and motivated, excessive or prolonged stress can lead to a range of negative health outcomes, including exhausted adrenals, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Stress is an inevitable part of working in a high-pressure workplace. The pressure to meet deadlines, deliver targets and achieve goals can be overwhelming leading to anxiety, burnout, and other mental health problems. However, it is possible to manage stress in such an environment without compromising productivity or job satisfaction. Here are some effective tips on how to manage stress in a high-pressure workplace Prioritise tasks - a high-pressure workplace can be demanding, so it is important to prioritise tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. List all your tasks and prioritise them in order of importance. Focus on the most important ones and delegate others to colleagues if possible. Take regular breaks - taking regular breaks is essential to manage stress levels in a high-pressure workplace. Step away from your desk and take a walk, stretch or meditate. This will help you to clear your mind and refresh your focus. Set realistic goals - setting unrealistic goals can be a major cause of stress in the workplace. Be realistic with your goal setting and try to break them into smaller achievable steps. Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Communicate effectively - effective communication is critical in a high-pressure workplace where things can quickly get out of hand. Regularly communicate your progress to your colleagues and superiors. If you are facing any challenges, ask for help. Stay organised - a cluttered workspace can increase stress levels. Create a schedule or a to-do list and stick to it. Keep your workspace clean and organised to avoid unnecessary distractions. Learn to say 'no' -  it's important to recognise your limits and be able to say 'no' when necessary. Taking on too many responsibilities can lead to burnout and stress. Prioritise your own well-being and set boundaries. A healthy diet, regular exercise and enough sleep can help to reduce stress levels. Don't neglect your physical and mental health in the pursuit of work goals. Burnout is not the same as stress So, now that we’ve covered some ways to manage stress, it’s important to acknowledge that burnout is also a very real problem faced by many professionals. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that results from prolonged or chronic stress. It is often characterised by feelings of cynicism, detachment and reduced effectiveness at work. Burnout can occur when someone feels overwhelmed, unsupported, or undervalued and may result in a range of negative health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, poor sleep along with a weakened immune system. While stress and burnout are closely connected, they require different approaches to management and treatment. While stress can often be alleviated through stress-reducing activities such as exercise, mindfulness meditation and a healthy diet, burnout often requires more significant change to  a person's work environment or lifestyle. For example, it may be necessary to set clearer boundaries around work-life balance, seek out more supportive colleagues or supervisors, or take time off to recharge and recover. Find expert help for burnout in London When seeing a patient with burnout at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, leading London Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Tara Tofiq carefully uncovers the various underlying causes in order to address them effectively. What is key, is that it’s about two people meeting and leaving the persona at the office and taking the space to reclaim a sense of wholeness. A typical appointment for burnout would involve an open and honest conversation about how the patient is feeling with regard to varying aspects of their life. Are they feeling pressure at home or at work? Are they having relationship problems or suffering from a loss? Sometimes it may feel as though there is no true cause for feeling burnt out, but as a strong believer in truly listening, Dr Tofiq allows each individual to share their experiences in order to identify any key areas for concern and management. Understanding that each person is unique and responds to stressors in their own way ensures that each individual receives a tailored approach to treatment. After all, what one person finds stressful, another may thrive on. Regardless of whether someone is experiencing stress or burnout, it is essential to take steps to minimise the impact on their physical, emotional and mental well-being. This may involve reaching out to a mental health professional like our specialists at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, seeking stress management training, or developing a self-care routine that includes regular exercise, healthy meals and quality sleep. Ultimately, managing stress and burnout requires a proactive approach, and it is essential for employers, colleagues and individuals alike to prioritise their own well-being and that of those around them. Managing stress in a high-pressure workplace is essential for your wellbeing and productivity. Prioritise tasks, take regular breaks, set realistic goals, communicate effectively, stay organised, learn to say 'no' and take care of yourself. By following these tips, you can effectively manage stress levels in your workplace and maintain your overall health and wellbeing. By taking proactive steps to manage stress and burnout, individuals can remain healthy, productive and engaged in their work, contributing positively to their own well-being and that of their colleagues and employers alike. If you need support for stress, burnout or another mental health condition, our specialists at our leading London clinic Schoen Clinic Chelsea are available, offering a variety of treatments and therapies. Dr Tofiq is a specialist in a range of mental health conditions and has extensive experience in treating professionals with burnout. Dr Tofiq welcomes privately insured and self-funding patients to her burnout clinic in London. This article was reviewed by Dr Tara Tofiq, Consultant Psychiatrist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea on 27th April 2023.

Relationships are complex and require effort, communication and empathy. However, it can be challenging to keep up with these responsibilities when one or both partners are experiencing high levels of stress. As a common aspect in any relationship, stress can be triggered by various factors, including financial problems, work-related issues, or family conflicts. The majority of the time, stress can arise due to a mismatch in expectations, the incompatibility of lifestyles, and different perspectives on how to approach problems. What happens when stress levels are high? “People may have different love languages and this can lead to misunderstandings,” says Evangelia Mylona, a Psychotherapist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea. “When being caught up in a disagreement with a partner, it is easy to get lost in the emotion and miss the point being made.” When stress levels are high, the impact on the relationship can be profound. Over time, stress can take a toll on a relationship leading to heartbreak, misunderstandings, and even breakups. Recognising how stress can negatively affect relationships is the first step towards maintaining positive connections, or rebuilding rocky ones. Here are some of the key ways stress impacts relationships: Stress can lead to communication breakdown: This is perhaps the most pertinent point as effective communication and understanding are fundamental to (most) healthy relationships. When one partner is stressed, it can be difficult to communicate effectively. They may become short-tempered, irritable, or withdrawn. On the other hand, when one partner is trying to help the stressed partner, they may become frustrated with their inability to communicate, which can lead to arguments and misunderstandings. Stress can reduce intimacy: When one partner is stressed, they may not feel like being intimate, which can create frustration or even resentment from the other partner, who may feel neglected or unimportant. It is essential to understand that stress is often related to many factors, including mental and physical health issues, workplace or financial obligations, and other personal factors. Stress can cause a lack of emotional support: When one partner is experiencing high levels of stress, they may feel unsupported or abandoned by their partner. They may believe that their partner doesn't care about their stress or struggles. This feeling can lead to mistrust and doubt, eventually resulting in a breakdown of the relationship. Stress can cause depression and anxiety: These are additional barriers to a healthy and fulfilling relationship. Depression or anxiety can cause one partner to isolate themselves from the relationship, leading to a feeling of detachment and distance in the relationship. It is essential to recognise these challenges and work with your partner to address them to overcome these challenges. How to manage stress in relationships When stress levels are high in a relationship it can feel like a failure. However, hope is not lost and there are ways to build healthy connections, even through stressful times. Evangelia explains, “A way forward is to try and look for the intention behind the argument, and remember that you’re are a team and can work together toward mutual understanding.” Now that we’ve addressed how stress can negatively impact relationships, here are some useful tips for managing stress to support the building of healthy relationships: Communication: Communication is the most crucial factor in any relationship. It is important to communicate effectively and transparently with your partner regarding your feelings, wants, and expectations. Communication is the key to resolving any stress factors in your relationship. Talk to your partner and listen to their thoughts and take their opinion into consideration when making important decisions. Set boundaries: Boundaries are important in any relationship. When it comes to stress and relationships, setting boundaries can be useful in diffusing stress levels. Couples should be clear about their individual expectations and boundaries, and establish ground rules that should be respected by each partner. This can help to reduce stress and to avoid conflicts that can arise over unclear expectations. Maintain a healthy work-life balance: Work can be hectic and demanding, leaving individuals with less time to spend with their partners. It is essential to balance work and personal life to keep stress levels in check. Scheduling time with your partner, having date nights, or doing activities that both parties enjoy can release pressure and strengthen communication in the relationship. This will also enhance intimacy, improve attraction, and build a stronger relationship. Learn how to compromise: Compromise is an essential element in any healthy relationship. Being able to compromise helps to reduce stress levels by finding solutions that work for both parties. Instead of having a “win-lose” mentality, learn to have a “win-win” approach. Open communication and learning how to balance each other’s likes and dislikes can help to reduce stress levels in the relationship. Find help for stress in London at Schoen Clinic Chelsea At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, our leading London mental health centre, we support adults with a variety of mental health conditions, including stress. We understand that stress can have a significant impact on relationships so we offer a variety of treatment options to help dismantle stress and make it more manageable. We offer one-to-one appointments with our experts, a highly specialised treatment programme for adults with mental health problems and a range of group therapies - accessible through the programme, or single group therapy sessions for self-funding patients wanting a fast way to begin therapy. Call the team at Schoen Clinic Chelsea on 020 3146 2300  to find out more information about our mental health services in London. When it comes to relationships, it’s vital to recognise the signs of stress and talk to your partner carefully. Support, better communication, empathy, and understanding are some of the best ways to overcome the impact of stress on relationships. Through effective and healthy communication, couples can navigate stress together and continue to build and maintain healthy relationships. This page was reviewed by Evangelia Mylona, a Psychotherapist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea on 12th April 2023.

Specialists at Schoen Clinic Newbridge have adapted the internationally recognised LEAP programme for younger patients. LEAP (Loughborough Eating Disorders Activity Therapy) is a well-regarded adult treatment to address excessive activity and over-exercise as components of anorexia. It was originally developed by Loughborough University’s Lorin Taranis and Dr Caroline Meyer. A clear need for support “We could see there was a clear need for this type of programme and an adaption for younger people,” explains Janet Tighe, senior occupational therapist and quality assurance lead at Schoen Clinic Newbridge. “It may be that exercise has a role in initiating the eating disorder, such as excessive running. Equally, it often has a role in maintaining the eating disorder and may involve over-exercising or simply obsessive activity levels, such as not being able to sit down for more than twenty minutes or keeping your legs still. What was clear to us was that it was no good simply saying – ‘Run less’ or ‘Just sit down’. That would be as ineffective as telling someone to just eat.” LEAP consists of eight sessions, running twice a week, starting with participants building their own exercise profile. LEAP is a CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) based programme, so developing the profile starts the process of each person understanding how they exercise and why. Common features of over-activity will be exercising even when you feel tired or ill and exercising becoming essential for mood regulation. The group then explores myths and misperceptions around exercise, followed by sessions exploring what is a balanced exercise programme and how this needs to be supported by food intake. “Several patients have told us how pleased they are to have this guidance on what they can do – what is safe and healthy,” explains Janet. “They can get so confused about exercise and spiral into a dangerous pattern of over-activity that they mistakenly believe is fit and healthy. “There has also been a lot of relief that we understand where they are coming from. Often, sport and exercise is a big part of their lives. “They can’t ‘just stop’ over-activity and they need help and support to find a means of exercising in a healthy and balanced way.” Relevant for young people The LEAP programme was introduced at Schoen Clinic Newbridge in August 2013. The programme follows the original Loughborough structure, content and themes but is adapted in parts to be meaningful and relevant to adolescents. It's normally offered in the early stages after admission and may be completed before a young person can join the Leisure Group, allowing them to participate in supervised activities including yoga, badminton and swimming.

PRESS RELEASE: 29.01.24 The mental healthcare group today have announced the acquisition of Minster Grange Care Home in York from the Maria Mallaband Care Group (MMCG), as part of their ongoing expansion plans in the mental healthcare field. The home on Haxby Road in the Clifton area of York until recently provided residential and nursing care for both younger people and those living with dementia. However, it also shared its premises with specialist mental healthcare provider, Schoen Clinic, which has occupied the ground floor of the building since spring 2021. Significant investment by both providers has been made in refurbishing the building and accommodation at Minster Grange. Following discussions with Schoen Clinic UK Group, MMCG took the decision to close the elderly care service offering Schoen Clinic York the opportunity to expand their service within the home. Andy Davey, Managing Director of Schoen Clinic UK Group, says:“Our acquisition of Minster Grange demonstrates our ongoing commitment to growing our mental healthcare portfolio and inpatient bed capacity within our UK group. The demand for our services is rapidly growing and evolving, and our vision remains to help as many patients as possible access treatment for the highly specialised care we offer. We would like to extend our support to the MMCG York team and the residents of Minster Grange following the relocation of their valued service.” Schoen Clinic York will continue to offer inpatient services for adults with eating disorders, but also expand into complex neurological conditions requiring specialist mental health care. **Commissioning partners - we are delighted to invite commissioning opportunities or discussions relating to our current or forthcoming offering. Please reach out to Hospital Director, Chloe Baron direct at cbaron@schoen-clinic.co.uk --ENDS-- For any press enquiries, please email our Press Office– ukmarketing@schoen-clinic.co.uk Notes to Editors: About Maria Mallaband Care GroupMaria Mallaband Care Group and sister company Countrywide Care are together one of the UK’s leading independent care home providers, with more than 80 homes across the UK. This family-run company offers a wide range of care and support including day care, respite care, palliative care, dementia nursing care, disability care, nursing care and residential care. About Schoen Clinic UK Group The Schoen Clinic Group was founded in 1985 and has since developed into Germany's fifth-largest privately-owned hospital group. It currently treats 300,000+ patients annually at 46 hospitals and clinics in Germany and the UK. The group also includes the leading online telemedicine clinic: MindDoc. Schoen Clinic entered the UK healthcare market in 2017 providing award-winning, expert-led healthcare super-specialising in certain areas of medicine – now mental health and eating disorders.

We are delighted to announce that Schoen Clinic Newbridge won the extremely prestigious ‘Best in Healthcare Outcomes’ at the 2023 LaingBuisson awards in London on Thursday 16th November!Best in Healthcare Outcomes is awarded for 'excellence in the delivery of better healthcare outcomes with a focus on ability to demonstrate those outcomes'. Lucy McFadyen, Clinical Manager at Schoen Clinic Newbridge said last night “This award is testament to all of the work we have done, are currently doing and will continue to do in future to strive for the best outcomes of treatment for our young people. The young people in our care have been and will always be the reason we will continue to do what we do. I am so immensely proud of all the team at Schoen Clinic Newbridge - this one is for you!” Andy Davey, UK Managing Director said today “Huge congratulations to every single colleague at Schoen Clinic Newbridge. To win this incredibly prestigious category is outstanding and demonstrates the clinical effectiveness of a widely renowned service, dedicated to improving the lives of children, young people and their families affected by eating disorders.” As a leading inpatient hospital for children and teens with eating disorders, Schoen Clinic Newbridge is committed to delivering the best possible clinical outcomes to all young patients in their care, providing the tools required for a sustained and long-term recovery from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and OSFED. This award shows our collective dedication as we continue to shape our future to ensure every individual receives the highest standard of specialised mental healthcare, as early as possible. Learn more about highly specialised mental healthcare at Schoen Clinic UK Group Schoen Clinic Newbridge | Schoen Clinic Chelsea | Schoen Clinic York

Schoen Clinic Newbridge featured in a new BBC3 documentary - Zara McDermott: Disordered Eating. The documentary, airing 22nd November 2022 at 9pm on BBC3 explores the huge rise in eating disorders amongst children and young people. Disordered eating looks different for everyone but may include undereating or overeating, excessive exercise, focusing more on appearance and anxiety around mealtimes, amongst other things. Between April and October 2021, hospital admissions for children aged 17 and under with eating disorders went up by over 40% and charities are concerned that social media may be compounding the problem. The film takes an in-depth look at the impact of social media, as well as speaking with young people in treatment for an eating disorder, and those in recovery. Schoen Clinic Newbridge granted exclusive access to their hospital, to speak to patients during the making of the documentary, to give valuable and rare insight to a social media influencer from the perspective of a young person with an eating disorder. Hospital Director, Natalie Maley says “It was clear from the outset that Zara and the documentary makers had a genuine wish to learn and hear directly from the young people most affected by eating disorders and disordered eating. They handled everything very sensitively and we worked closely with our young people, their families and our clinical team to ensure it was appropriate for anyone featured to be included.” Zara and the documentary makers spent a day at Schoen Clinic Newbridge in August of this year. Rachel Matthews, Schoen Clinic UK Director of Mental Health also features in the documentary and noted “The conversations with our young people on the day of filming were very powerful. I could see that Zara was deeply moved by what she heard, especially as some of our young patients confirmed they had been triggered by some of her posts. I feel that Zara has learned a lot from the making of this documentary, and we were glad to play our part in helping her on her journey of discovery and seeing things from the patient perspective.” Schoen Clinic UK Group would like to thank the young people, their families and our colleagues at Schoen Clinic Newbridge for taking part in this documentary. We would also like to thank Zara, Ellie the Director and the film crew for dealing with our patients so caringly during filming. For press and media please contact our Press Office at ukmarketing@schoen-clinic.co.uk 22/11/2022 page edit: The documentary is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001fgrd/zara-mcdermott-disordered-eating

Today is World Mental Health Day and the theme this year is 'make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'. Mental health problems don't discriminate and can affect anyone at any time in their life. At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, our specialists are committed to raising awareness and improving the lives of those affected by mental health problems all year round. For World Mental Health Day this year, Consultant Psychiatrist and leading London mental health specialist, Dr Tara Tofiq shares some simple strategies you can implement into your daily routine to improve your mental health and wellbeing. "In the spirit of World Mental Health Day here are my three mental health and wellbeing tips. Number 1: It’s good to talk. Studies have shown that sharing our feelings, emotions and thoughts with others does wonders for our wellbeing. It’s so important to find someone you can confide in, whether that be a mental health professional or simply a friend or family member you can open up to. Finding someone you can trust to talk to pays dividends." Schoen Clinic Chelsea offers a variety of trusted therapies, approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which includes talking therapies. Based in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, patients are welcomed into a discreet and contemporary clinic and have access to some of the best mental health specialists in London, for mental health therapy, counselling and treatment for children teens and adults, including eating disorders. Dr Tofiq also has a keen interest in treating adults with eating disorders. She has a great understanding of the link between physical health and mental health and highlights the importance of balancing the two. "Number 2: The mind and body are connected. Of course, we know that but we often forget to take good care of ourselves in terms of nutrition and exercise. Whether you’re working from home or in the office, the importance of very basic things such as getting enough sunlight and fresh air often get forgotten when we get caught up in the rush of our busy modern lives." Ensuring you nurture both your body and mind can go leaps and bounds towards maintaining positive mental health. But it's not just nutrition and exercise that can assist in helping to improve your daily mental health. Connections with the world around you play a key part too. Dr Tofiq regularly sees patients from high-pressure roles experiencing burnout from work and people going through difficult times in relationships. The two are often connected as stress from the workplace can seep into personal life and cause conflict within relationships. Adjusting to change or new ways of living can present obstacles for many people, so helping those with adjustment disorders (including life transitions, major life events, divorce, parenting, chronic medical conditions etc) to build connections can assist in grounding individuals who might otherwise find it difficult to cope. "Number 3: Foster connections. We often think of connection as connection with others, but connecting with yourself, your job and your community is often overlooked, again as a result of our busy lives. It’s so important that everything you connect yourself to is working for you and not against you and brings a sense of balance and wholeness to your life. Happy World Mental Health Day!” Dr Tara Tofiq is a top private Consultant Psychiatrist in London treating adults with eating disorders and anxiety and mood disorders. She supports a person-centred strategy in addition to a personalised treatment plan. While a diagnosis can be helpful in designing a treatment plan, each patient has specific requirements, preferences, and circumstances that are taken into account when developing a personalised therapy plan to aid the patient in their recovery process. Dr Tofiq offers fast private appointments at Schoen Clinic Chelsea. Access world-class mental healthcare at one of London’s top private mental health clinics, with assessments in as little as 24 hours and leading experts. Contact us today. At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, we want you to feel like yourself again. We welcome both privately insured and self-funding patients at Schoen Clinic Chelsea. Get in touch with our caring team today by phone on 0203 146 2300, or send an email to che-privateenquiries@schoen-clinic.co.uk

Press Release Date: 10.07.23 YouTube's recent announcement regarding its new regulations to crack down on content related to eating disorders has raised concerns from a leading eating disorder specialist. Dr Tony Winston, Medical Director at Schoen Clinic UK Group, has welcomed the platform's efforts to adopt a more responsible attitude towards harmful content but has questioned the effectiveness of these measures and their impact. YouTube’s latest policy update around content related to eating disorders outlines plans to provide more guidance for at-risk users, while also restricting access to some eating disorder content for younger audiences. Videos promoting or glorifying eating disorders are already banned on the platform, but the new rules will see a clamp down on content which demonstrates eating disorder behaviours viewers could imitate. Speaking following the announcement, Dr Winston said: “It is welcome that YouTube is starting to take a more responsible attitude towards material which might encourage eating disorders. However, I am not sure how effective this will be.” Moreover, Dr Winston highlighted the vast array of informative videos available on YouTube focussing on recognising the signs, symptoms, treatment options and recovery from eating disorders. Created by qualified health experts, these videos play a vital role in raising awareness and encouraging individuals to seek professional help. “It would be illiberal and impractical to ban any videos which make reference to eating disorder behaviours and this would include important educational materials. However, deciding whether videos which refer to ‘imitable behaviours’ are glorifying or promoting these behaviours will not be easy.” One of the proposed measures is to restrict access to these videos to individuals over the age of 18, with users required to sign in to a verified account to watch. Dr Winston acknowledged this is a step in the right direction, but noted that individuals aged 18+ are not immune to their potential impact. Dr Winston's comments and YouTube’s new policy come in the wake of TikTok's ban last year on content promoting disordered eating symptoms, such as overexercising and short-term fasting, which the platform said are ‘under-recognized signs of a potential problem.’ About Dr Tony Winston Dr Winston is Medical Director at Schoen Clinic UK Group and a Consultant in Eating Disorders at Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust. He has more than 20 years’ experience treating young people with eating disorders. He qualified in medicine in 1987 and undertook postgraduate training in general medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy. Dr Winston is an Honorary Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Warwick and has published extensively on various aspects of eating disorders. He currently leads a national working group on complex eating disorders at NHS England. For more information, please contact our Press Office at ukmarketing@schoen-clinic.co.uk

Press Release Date: 19 April 2023 A leading Consultant Psychiatrist has warned of the dangers of diabetes drugs being repurposed as off-label weight loss aids hailed as ‘miracle drugs’ on TikTok, highlighting the worrying risk to young people vulnerable to eating disorders. Dr Tony Winston, Medical Director at Schoen Clinic UK Group, has warned that the growing popularity of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy on the platform could lead to a spike in eating disorders in adolescents across the country. “While we don't yet know whether the use of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy will contribute to the development of eating disorders, it seems likely that a drug treating obesity without addressing its causes, will increase the risk of developing an eating disorder in vulnerable people,” says Dr Winston. Dubbed the ‘skinny jab’, Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for Semaglutide, a relatively new injectable drug used for treating Type 2 Diabetes and long-term obesity and weight management. Ozempic has been gaining attention in the media as celebrities like Twitter owner Elon Musk and other high-profile social media users have been linked to the drug for appearing to rapidly lose weight within a short time frame. In recent months, specialists at Schoen Clinic UK have highlighted a worrying trend for Semaglutide ‘transformation’ videos on TikTok, with some users promoting weight loss results before and after taking the drug. Although many claim to have been prescribed the drug for ‘hormonal imbalance’, countless pieces of content focus on the damaging view of weight loss with titles such as “Week 4 Ozempic weight loss results”, “How to save £150 on your Ozempic pens” and “What I eat in a day on Ozempic”. As awareness of the drug has grown, rumours concerning its use by different celebrities have also circulated rapidly through social media. A number of celebrities including Mindy Kaling, Kyle Richards and Kim and Khloe Kardashian, are rumoured to have used Ozempic to accelerate dramatic weight loss, though none of them have publicly confirmed these claims. Regardless of whether the allegations are true or false, celebrity rumours have boosted the drug’s presence on TikTok. The term ‘Ozempic’ currently has over 1.2 billion views on the video platform app. As of March this year, Ozempic’s sister drug Wegovy has been approved for use in the NHS via specialist weight management services. Despite it being prescription-only, there is growing concern around adolescent off-label use, with online pharmacies promising the wider population access to the drugs in just a few clicks. Dr Winston says the potential ease of access to these drugs alongside so-called ‘success stories’ on TikTok, coupled with viewing weight loss content in general, may trigger eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia or lead to relapse in those who have recovered. “Media attention to any means of weight loss in a positive light, associated with celebrity or success, reinforces the idea in vulnerable young people that this is a desirable outcome,” says Dr Winston. “It is also likely that people with an eating disorder, or at risk of developing one, will be attracted to the idea of a drug which leads to weight loss also linked to popular celebrities.” Studies have found that TikTok is most popular with young people, with users aged 10-19 accounting for 25% of all users. Schoen Clinic UK Group is a leading hospital group in this demographic, with 3 highly specialised eating disorder centres offering a multidisciplinary team approach (unique in private healthcare) to help children, teens and adults with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. The safety and efficacy of drugs like Wegovy have not been established in paediatric patients and are not approved for use under 18 years in the UK. Accessing medicines from an unregistered website could be dangerous to anyone’s health, as they can be poor quality at best and dangerous at worst. TikTok influencer, Remi Bader recently discussed her experience of using Ozempic for her pre-diabetic, insulin resistance and warned of the dangers, noting that once she stopped taking the drug, her binge eating worsened and she gained double the weight back. Another recently discussed side effect tied to the drug has been coined “ozempic body”, where rapid weight loss leads to sagging skin. “Vomiting, which is a recorded side effect of Semaglutide, can be particularly dangerous in those with an eating disorder, as it can lead to further rapid weight loss and reinforce unhealthy behaviours,” notes Dr Winston. Conversely, Dr Winston warns that for young people with obesity and weight management issues, taking off-label drugs to ‘solve’ the problem can also lead to missed vital treatment. “In people with an eating disorder which can lead to weight gain or obesity, such as binge eating disorder, use of Wegovy may prevent them seeking appropriate help for their mental health.” If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, an eating disorder or any other mental health condition, help is available. Please visit your GP or contact our experts at Schoen Clinic to see how we can help. For interviews and further case study information, please contact our Press Office at ukmarketing@schoen-clinic.co.uk.

Leading private mental healthcare provider, Schoen Clinic UK Group, is pleased to announce they are now recognised by Healix. Healix patients can now access highly specialised healthcare for eating disorders and mental health conditions at 3 UK locations; Schoen Clinic Chelsea, Schoen Clinic Newbridge and Schoen Clinic York. This includes children and young people/CAMHS patients with eating disorders. Jo Morse, Partnerships Director for Schoen Clinic UK Group says “We are delighted that all 3 of our mental health facilities are now recognised by Healix. We look forward to welcoming Healix patients and ensuring we get them on the road to recovery as soon as possible.” Schoen Clinic understands the importance of delivering fast access to their services and Healix is now part of Schoen Clinic's growing list of partner providers. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder or mental health problem, please contact our caring team or your insurance provider to learn how you can quickly access highly specialised, quality mental healthcare.

Press Release Date: 18 January 2023 According to some reports, there has been increasing concern about the role of serotonin in moods and whether SSRI’s work as a treatment. The research which featured in Molecular Psychiatry reviewed 17 studies and found people with depression didn’t appear to have different levels of serotonin in their brains to those without. This in turn questions the theory of how the drugs might work – by correcting a deficiency. We spoke to expert, Senior Psychiatrist Dr James Woolley at Schoen Clinic Chelsea in London to find out more about the research and whether it will have an impact on the use of SSRI’s in treating depression. Is depression a chemical imbalance? What could be the other biological factors predisposing for depression? It has long been thought that there are differences in some people’s levels of serotonin in the brain, and that in some cases this may predispose to depression.  This research has been one of the reasons given why medication which increases effective serotonin levels can help improve depressive symptoms.  These sorts of medications, commonly known as SSRIs are very widely prescribed within hospitals and GP surgeries alike, so if there is a suggestion they may not even work, then this is big news. The research was something of an oversimplification when the study was reported in the press concluding that, "antidepressants do not work", are little different from placebos, and, rather than improve depression, just "numb emotions".  As well as not being supported by a great deal of other scientific studies, without a more balanced discussion there was the risk of people suddenly stopping antidepressants which they had taken without difficulty, sometimes for a long time, leading to withdrawal symptoms and risking a return of their depression. More balanced reading of the evidence reveals that there is good evidence from large, well conducted studies clearly demonstrating that antidepressants are effective in treating people with new episodes of depression-and not just due to the placebo effect.  For example, 25% of people with depression taking part in a well-designed trial of antidepressants experienced a significant improvement, compared with about 10% of people taking placebos. The question of antidepressants either working, or not is at best not helpful and can be rather damaging.  In reality, some people find them very helpful, do not experience any significant side effects, take them for a while (often a few months), and then stop them again without any problems and remain well. How do SSRIs work? For those where SSRIs work well, they do not put extra serotonin into your system, but they allow the brain to more effectively use your existing serotonin levels.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which helps to pass electrical signals from one nerve cell to the next.  Is contained in a small balloon-like structure at the end of the nerve cell, and when required is released, travels along the gap from one nerve cell to the next, and then triggers a signal at the next one which then passes it on. However, that is not the end of the story, as the serotonin when it has done its job, is then recirculated.  It is reabsorbed by the nerve cell which released it in the first place, packaged back up again into the balloon and is ready to be released once more.  SSRI antidepressants block this reabsorption process to a degree.  So, once the serotonin is released it lingers around for longer, exerting a greater effect and so it effectively seems as if there are high levels of serotonin before eventually getting reabsorbed. One of the reasons why antidepressants are thought to take a while to have an overall impact on mood, is that the nerve cells do notice that there is not so much serotonin being reabsorbed and so readjust by starting to produce more than they would have ordinarily done in order to balance back the levels they are expecting again.  This process takes a while and does result in higher overall levels of serotonin eventually, but can take a few weeks to become noticeable. What else causes depression? Serotonin is clearly not the whole story, as a sizable proportion of people with depression do not improve significantly with antidepressants which boost serotonin levels.  Rather than therefore leading to a conclusion that "antidepressants do not work", a more meaningful question is to try and work out why some people improve and others do not.  This likely points to the issue that what we call "depression", can be quite a broad umbrella term encompassing lots of different people, varying situations, triggers, stresses and traumas which have led to a similar cluster of symptoms. We end up calling the result depression, but underneath this there may be a wide range of causes and reasons - only some of which are linked to low serotonin levels.  However for those people at least, having access to effective medication which assists them by boosting serotonin levels is valuable. Most psychiatrists and GPs, when surveyed, will readily acknowledge that a chemical imbalance is only one possible cause of depression.  In fact in one study they ranked this in last place amongst thirteen broader biological, psychological and social factors. This confirmed that most clinicians understand the complexity of a much wider overall concept of depression than just an imbalance of a single chemical such as serotonin. What other neurochemicals may be involved? Even if we put to one side the range of social and psychological factors which can quite easily lead to depression, and confine our thinking to biochemical imbalance alone, we know that there are a wide range of neurochemicals involved in depression. As well as serotonin others include histamine, melatonin, noradrenaline and dopamine to name a few.  In fact there are a range of antidepressants which work largely through these other mechanisms and have very little to do with serotonin at all. -ENDS- For interviews and further information, please contact our Press Office at ukmarketing@schoen-clinic.co.uk

If you're feeling low at this time of year, you’re not alone. As people talk of ‘blue Monday’, which was actually a PR campaign invented by a holiday company several years ago to sell holidays, you may be wondering what can be done to turn your blues away. The good news is, that there are plenty of things you can do to help alleviate some of the stressors which can trigger feelings of low mood. It’s also important to note that feeling more than a little run down after the rush of the festive period is completely normal. The January blues may arrive at the peak of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a mood disorder which affects people during winter, manifesting as feelings of sadness, tiredness, lack of motivation and low energy. Typically occurring between October and March, SAD is known to induce episodes of depression during the darker, colder months. In the UK, it's estimated that SAD affects up to 2 million people. Seasonal affective disorder can occur when your circadian rhythms (physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a 24-hour cycle) are disrupted by shorter days and colder temperatures. This disruption of the body’s ‘internal clock’ leads many people to experience feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Combine this with the aftermath of the festive period, returning back to a regular working routine and potential financial struggles after an early December payday, it’s no wonder many people struggle at this time of year. Thankfully, these feelings usually don't last and most people will feel much better within a few weeks. Here are our top ten tips to help give yourself the best possible start to 2023! 1. Avoid making New Year’s resolutions you can’t keep. People who make too ambitious New Year's resolutions and then feel disappointed when they can't keep them are among those who experience the January blues. It's a wonderful idea to make resolutions to improve yourself, but just make sure you can keep them. Make sure your resolution is something you can truly do and quantify. Avoid difficult and ambiguous ones like "save money" and "be more organised." 2. Get back into your routine and stay active. Getting out of bed and going to work or school will help you get back into a schedule, helping to make you feel more accomplished throughout the day. If your job isn’t as exciting as it used to be, try doing something in your own time that makes you happy. Even if it's just walking around outside in good weather, exercising releases chemicals in our brains that help us feel better about ourselves and happier overall. 3. Enjoy as much daylight as possible. It’s been established that getting insufficient amounts of sunlight and vitamin D lowers our happiness and makes us feel depressed. You may feel better and sleep more soundly if you are exposed to sunlight. Serotonin, a brain chemical linked to happier moods, is produced in greater quantities in the brain when exposed to natural light. 4. Plan ahead, but try not to take on too much. Make a plan for the future. The January blues can last a little longer than one month, so it's important that you have a plan that extends beyond this time period—even if this is just having a goal of making plans with friends once per week or scheduling regular check-in sessions with your doctor or therapist every three months. Try breaking down your tasks into manageable steps. Focus on one task at a time and set deadlines for each step, so you can feel like you're making progress towards completing your project. The more clearly you define what needs to be done, the less overwhelmed you'll feel. Keeping a to-do list is also helpful in maintaining focus on what's important and helping you prioritise which tasks should be tackled first. 5. Focus on what you can control. Try not to let other people's moods affect yours, and avoid letting a temporary downturn in your health or relationships make you feel powerless. You have the ability to decide how you will react, even when life throws challenges your way. So instead of focusing on everything that's going wrong, remember that there are many things that can be kept under control. Eva Mylona, a Psychotherapist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea says “It’s important to acknowledge that it’s not always easy or straightforward to not be affected by other people. We can always try and if things don’t go according to plan, to not be discouraged, but try again. 6. Eat and drink properly. It’s typical for people to crave heavier foods during the chilly winter months. Sugar crashes make you exhausted and unnecessarily hungry in addition to being incredibly unhealthy. Eating a healthy, diverse diet that includes things like oily fish and taking extra vitamin D, also known as the "sunshine vitamin," will help you feel better. A balanced diet will improve your mood and offer you more energy. Have plenty fresh fruit and vegetables, and ensure you’re drinking enough water each day. 7. Volunteer at a support group or charity! Volunteering can be a great way to get out and meet new people if you're feeling lonely or isolated. Not only will it help you feel more fulfilled, but it can also help boost your skills in new areas. For example, if you want to learn how to use social media for marketing purposes but don't have the time or budget for classes, volunteering at a local non-profit organisation that uses these tools might be the perfect way for you to gain hands-on experience with them. As well as helping others in need, volunteering is good for your own mental health too because it makes us feel like we're contributing towards something bigger than ourselves. 8. Make time for friends and family. People who make you feel good about yourself are important at any time of year, but especially if you're feeling down or stressed out by bad weather or exhausting work schedules that may have been put upon us during the holidays. 9. Positive affirmations and social media. Social media can be great in many ways, allowing people to connect with others around the world who share fun positive content. There are plenty of accounts that share daily positive affirmations to help give your mood a boost in the right direction. It’s equally important to minimise your exposure to triggers - content that makes you doubt yourself or promotes negative feelings of self-worth. Consider having a social media clear out of unhelpful accounts or even take a break from social media if you need to. 10. Be thankful for all the good things. Pay attention to the good things, no matter how minor, that are happening all around you. You might be appreciative of getting a good night's sleep or finishing your work on time, for instance. Remember to appreciate the small victories and recognise your accomplishments; doing so will assist you to shift your attention from the shortcomings. In fact, studies have shown that focusing on gratitude can help alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety. If you suffer from the January blues, there are ways to help get rid of them. This article has looked at some of the most common causes of these feelings and how you can tackle them. From making sure that your body is well-rested and fed, to keeping busy with new projects at work or home; there are plenty of options available if you want to beat the January blues. However, if you feel that everything is having a negative or uncontrollable impact on your mood and general wellbeing, it's crucial to neither dismiss these feelings nor assume that they will go away on their own. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at Schoen Clinic if you need assistance with your mental health, now or at any other time of the year. Contact our team at Schoen Clinic Chelsea today. Reviewed by: Evangelia Mylona, one of our lovely Psychotherapists at Schoen Clinic Chelsea.