Author: Guest Poster

HIV TESTING WEEK: Do you need to be tested for HIV?
We invite Dr Julianne Barry, to talk about the importance of testing for HIV this HIV Testing Week.

Let’s talk about HIV. The topic may trigger unease in many – but it needs to be addressed. There is huge anxiety around the prospect of contracting HIV and many misperceptions in terms of how or who can contract it. The reality is that it can affect anyone, regardless of sexuality, gender or age. It has been reported that approximately one-third of people infected in the UK are not aware of their diagnosis.

This highlights the importance of getting checked if you perceive any potential exposure risk. HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the T-lymphocyte cell component of the body’s immune system. It is present in an infected person’s blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

How often should people be tested for HIV?
- If you are having regular unprotected sex you should have regular tests for HIV as well as other sexually transmitted infections, every 3 months. HIV testing is routinely incorporated into general STI screening. The majority of people diagnosed with HIV in the UK in the past ten years, contracted HIV through sexual contact. People with a higher risk of HIV include:
- Men who have sex with men, or their partners
- Those from other countries where HIV is endemic, and their sexual partners
- Injecting drug users and their sexual partners.
What do the tests involve?

HIV testing is quick and easy. You can have this done at your local Sexual Health/ GUM clinic, with your NHS GP or other private GP clinics. Your GP may suggest a HIV test if they have concerns in relation to your health that may point to HIV. A health care professional will ask you a few questions to assess your level of risk prior to performing the test. A HIV test involves a simple blood test taken from a vein in the arm.

Some clinics have results available on the same day.

Testing can also be carried out via a finger prick test (‘POC’ point of care tests) or at home with a self-sampling kit (finger prick blood test) which can be ordered online from some sexual health clinics. You then post the sample back to the clinic and your result is texted to you. These latter tests are third-generation tests and slightly less sensitive than a blood sample taken from your arm which is a fourth-generation test that can also test for the P24 antigen (part of the HIV virus that is detectable earlier than the antibody) and is preferable for early detection of HIV infection.

The period between being infected with HIV and developing antibodies is known as the window period. For HIV this is four weeks and most fourth-generation tests will pick up HIV by this stage.

A repeat test is offered at 3 months for a definitive negative result.

What are the risks if you aren’t tested?

CREIT: © garyphoto Depositphotos

Approximately one-third of people infected in the UK are not aware of their diagnosis. By avoiding getting tested for HIV you run the risk of late HIV diagnosis which can be associated with various serious, potentially life-threatening medical illnesses due to a damaged immune system, compromised quality of life and subsequent untimely death.

Early medical intervention is far more beneficial. If you are having unprotected sex and are unknowingly HIV positive you also run the risk of unwittingly infecting sexual partners. Pregnant women can transmit HIV to their baby if not tested and their positive HIV status is unknown. In the UK however, antenatal HIV screening is now offered as standard and very effective treatment in pregnancy can minimise this risk in HIV positive women.

What are the risks if it is identified too late?

With an earlier diagnosis, as well as anti- HIV medications, patients are offered medical treatment to prevent HIV related infections that can overwhelm the body in the context of a depleted immune system. If diagnosed late, some of these illnesses, also known as AIDS-defining illnesses, such as specific infections, certain cancers and cardiovascular problems may have already set in.

They can develop swiftly and can even be fatal. There is a higher risk of serious illness and death with a late diagnosis of HIV, particularly in the first year after diagnosis. Undiagnosed HIV can do a lot of damage and hence early detection is vital in preventing hospitalisation and improving length and quality of life. These risks also extend to the person’s sexual partners who are at high infection risk.

The treatment options that are available for those that test positive.

It is important to remember that a diagnosis of HIV is no longer a ‘death sentence’. Great advancements in medical treatment and earlier diagnosis have paved the way in this regard. HIV is not curable and there is currently no vaccine against HIV.

However, nowadays HIV is very treatable and with correct medical treatment from the early stages of infection, people diagnosed with HIV can live very normal lives and would be considered to have a near-normal life expectancy. People who test positive for HIV are usually seen in a specialist clinic within days.

These clinics are run by highly experienced and compassionate teams of healthcare professionals, which aim to encompass all aspects of the condition from medical, psychological and social points of view. A combination of tablets -Antiretroviral treatment – is prescribed which suppresses the amount of virus in the body (the ‘viral load’) by preventing the HIV virus multiplying.

These tablets are taken daily, for the rest of the person’s life and it is essential to comply with this treatment plan. Current treatments are thought to have less side effects than earlier regimes. Medication to prevent other HIV related infections may also be prescribed. The degree of viral suppression is monitored regularly by ‘viral load’ blood tests. The aim is to suppress the HIV viral load to an ‘undetectable level’. When HIV is ‘undetectable’ in the body, transmission to someone else is not possible.

Dr Julianne Barry, General Practitioner at the London and Birmingham walk-in GP clinic, London Doctors Clinic part of the Doctors Clinic Group
18th November 2019
COMMENT | Trans awareness in the gay community is still a work in progress

A gay male friend told me recently that he returns to Pride in his home town of Bristol for the drinking, as there is nothing to protest about anymore. Given the rise of hate crimes over recent years, I pointed out that this is not true even for him, let alone for me. It is not that he did not get it, but it had not occurred to him that for many transgender people Pride might be the only setting – if then – in which they actually feel safe going into a pub.

Or take another example. A lesbian friend earlier this year shared a transphobic joke on social media. This suggested that in parts of the LGBTQ+ community – those parts, perhaps, where the need for so many letters to define us is not entirely accepted – the phenomenon of being transgender and the particular forms of discrimination we face are not yet fully grasped. Yet if we, as we should, reject heteronormative assumptions about sexual orientation, why should my lesbian friend have nonetheless have been so ready to accept them when it comes to gender? The many similarities in transgender experiences to those of gays and lesbians – in terms of exclusion, discrimination and being hidden from history – are effectively denied by jokes which treat us as more or less delusional about our gender identity.

PHOTO: Supplied

Happily, this has proved a rare experience. The vast majority of my gay and lesbian friends have been very supportive both of my transition and of transgender people in general. The high profile of transphobia on the streets and in certain parts of the public sphere has, in my experience, helped to ensure growing sympathy with the issues transgender people can face. All the different nuances of those experiences are, however, not always easy to grasp, even for people who are themselves transgender. I cannot be the only person to have been transplained by an older trans woman for whom her transition experience was seemingly the only authentic one.

Then take the perennial issue of toilets. This, despite the continuing scarcity of gender-neutral ones, has not really been an issue for me as a trans woman. However, I am aware that it can be much more problematic for trans men and for those who identify as genderfluid or non-binary. Awareness of these latter groups, unfortunately, is generally much lower than for us MTF trans people. Nonetheless, they need every bit as much support and are if anything subjected to even more hostility from transphobes, who find their flouting of gendered norms more disturbing than that of the femme-acting trans woman.

Similarly, among the gay community, there is not always ready awareness that the binary, straight/gay, does not necessarily apply to trans people any more than the binary, male/female, does. Some trans people are straight, though they are sometimes misconstrued as gay men and women who are trying unusually hard to conform to heterosexual frameworks. Some, like me, are lesbians (or transbians if you prefer) or in gay male relationships. Some are polyamorous. In terms of sexual orientation, the multifaceted nature of transgendered experience does not always make it easy readily to translate it into a gay or lesbian framework.

In addition, there is not always full awareness of the distinctive challenges we face in terms of adjusting both ourselves and our acquaintances to identities which are social, official (changing your passport can be a nightmare) and bodily as well as sexual. Names and pronouns matter for us as signifiers of transition. Yet even in Stonewall-approved universities trans people are still regularly labelled and abused. This is not least because we challenge stereotypes imposed by heteronormativity. These stereotypes have, in the past, been used to confine and control all of us – gay, lesbian and trans – and our exclusion has been our common experience.

Challenging these stereotypes, both as they apply to sexual orientation and to gender is, in my view, a wholly good thing for all of us.

Pippa Catterall is a transgendered woman and Professor of History and Policy at the University of Westminster

11th October 2019
COMMENT | Is social media a blessing or a curse when it comes to mental health?
CREDIT: Minerva-Studio-bigstock

Use of social networking sites and the prevalence of anxiety and depression is on the rise worldwide.

But, is there a connection between social media and mental health concerns? Dr Shazia Bhatti, General Practitioner at the private GP clinic London Doctors Clinic is here to break down the facts.

How can social media impact mental health?

With smartphones in the pockets of almost every person in the UK, our lives are now full of; posts, followers, subscribers, likes/dislikes and comments.

We live in an age where communicating has evolved to far more than just the spoken word. Social media has changed how we talk and share information with one another – ultimately impacting how we live our lives.

The positive side of social media

In many cases, this is a blessing. Social networks are breaking boundaries, allowing us to communicate and get information from different countries and communities instantly! We have immediate access to breaking news and the story can go viral within minutes. As the name suggests, social media can be used to socialise. We can keep up to date with both old and new friends, helping us remain in contact with people we may have otherwise lost touch with. We are able to explore the world via the internet, learn new skills and for some people it has even become a full-time career! Aside from this, social media can also provide people with a sense of place, helping people find different communities of like-minded individuals with similar lives or backgrounds. Here people can learn about their health and mental health and seek advice from those who have gone through similar situations via support groups. This can help people to find suitable support, even if they do not feel comfortable expressing their worries or concerns to friends or relatives.

The negative side of social media

On the other hand, though, research has also found that social media could be detrimental for mental health. Much of the evidence which suggests that social media could be harmful to mental wellbeing is related to cyber-bullying. This could include online ‘trolling’, name-calling, creating a fake profile to intentionally damage another’s reputation or continuously harassing and threats of physical harm. One of the most common forms of online bullying is posting negative comments on someone’s profile, which can be about any aspect of their life, such as social status, appearance, family or job. What makes this type of bullying so harmful is that the bullies can be anonymous, meaning they rarely receive negative repercussions, but the posts can be seen by the whole world.

For someone experiencing cyberbullying, it can lead to a whole host of negative implications for their health, in particular, their mental health. They may be left feeling alone, rejected, ashamed, humiliated and afraid which can result in stress and anger. In their personal and professional life, this might be shown through an increase in days off work, increase in mental health issues, reduced self-esteem, suicidal ideation, and poor physical health which may lead to tobacco, alcohol drug and other substance abuse.

How are social media ‘ideals’ having an impact?

©-Maridav-Depositphotos

In most cases, social media is a highlights reel for many people’s lives, with posts that are shared often being manipulated in order to look perfect and ‘bad’ days rarely (if ever) shared. While these photoshopped images of people with perfect bodies may be aesthetically pleasing, they can be harmful and promote negative messages. This is because they can affect our body confidence and how we perceive our appearance.

Recent studies have found that there is a link between viewing images of perfect bodies online, on Instagram, Facebook pages and developing personal body dissatisfaction.

The craze of displaying altered manipulated photographic images via Photoshop and Lightroom program creating a false, unachievable and unrealistic digitally edited body image. This can, intentionally or not, send the message that people should not feel good about their looks unless it matches the images that social media culture promotes. This then lends itself to the rise in trolling, bullying, and body shaming those who do not fit in with that unrealistic image.

The pressure from social media to have an unrealistic, ideal and perfect body is may lead to the increase in eating disorders, poor self-esteem, relationship issues, negative self-image, anxiety, depression, Body Dysmorphic disorder, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

It is very important to encourage people to develop Digital Resilience to be able to understand that these perfect body images are often digitally enhanced and only showcasing someone’s best side. It is important to also learn how to be kind to yourself, to find things you like about yourself to create a more positive perception of yourself.

What should you do if you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health?

The negative effects of social media have often been associated with various mental health ailments, such as; anxiety, loneliness, fear of missing out (FOMO), low self-esteem, poor self-image, depression and suicidal ideation.

It is very important to recognise the early signs of social media fatigue or mental health issues and seek help if you are concerned.

Some of the signs that you should look out for include:
- Feeling isolated
- Being bullied and harassed
- Receiving threats or abuse
- Security attacks such as hacking, identity theft and viruses
- If you feel targeted by hate groups
- Constant low mood and feelings of depression
- Feelings of anxiety when looking at social media comments
- Difficulty in sleeping due to the constant need to check social media
If you have experienced any of the above you should speak to someone that you trust, such as a family member, friends, a helpline or join a support group and ask for help. This will help to give a deeper understanding of how social media can affect your mental wellbeing and health and give advice on how to overcome it.

Fortunately, awareness is now being bought to these issues and it is very encouraging to see brave people, celebrities, parents and family members who had dealt with negative effects of social media sharing their stories. This raises awareness, helps to form support groups and gives hope and guidance to others who may be experiencing these issues.

The positive effect of Social media is that support groups and campaigns are helping the users to ignore and report the abusive messages they receive from online trolls as part of a new campaign to stop the spread of hateful content.

The campaign group ‘Get Safe Online’ and the new charity ‘The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH)’ has published advice on how to best to deal with abuse. Social media users are encouraged to resist the urge to respond back and instead block the troll’s account immediately. It is also encouraged that messages received if they could be seen as containing criminal content, such serious trolling should also be reported to the police.

Dr Shazia Bhatti, General Practitioner at the private GP clinic, London Doctors Clinic
10th October 2019
6 things you shouldn’t say to people living with HIV

Lizzie Jordan, Founder and Director at Think2Speak, is a multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, a mother, widow and is HIV positive. Lizzie is one person with a myriad of possible labels.

More than a decade ago, Lizzie became a mother, a widow and HIV positive all within an 18-month period. Her life was turned upside down, in 2012 as a single mother to a grieving child, Lizzie wanted to find resources and training locally for her child’s primary school. She struggled.

Lizzie recognised the issues being faced in classrooms across the UK and wanted to do something about the ‘uncomfortable silences’ young people often felt when discussing sensitive subjects with the professionals involved in their lives. 18 months of plotting and planning later Think2Speak CIC was founded.

With the recent revelation that former Welsh rugby captain, Gareth Thomas has been diagnosed with HIV, here are Lizzie’s tips on what not to say, or how to approach someone who has HIV:

Don’t bring it up unless they do:

Someone’s HIV status is their HIV status and theirs alone – as we’ve seen with Gareth he has been forced to share his news because the press were threatening to make this public. There’s nothing wrong with being curious about HIV but there are certain things that should be respected and it isn’t every HIV positive person’s job to educate you.

It doesn’t define someone:

Just because someone is living with HIV doesn’t mean that’s all they are. It’s a virus, it isn’t someone’s personality, their fault, their ‘choice’ nor is it their identity or the only subject on which they can speak.

Use your common sense:

There are certain aspects of conversation that are off-limits, but morbid curiosity often prevails. Try to think if you actually need to know the answer to the question you’re about to ask! Or maybe you can search the internet before you ask a glaringly obvious, or even insulting question.

Don’t ask how they got it:

This is perhaps the most insulting. You’d never ask the same of someone who’s living with cancer or diabetes. A lot of this kind of thinking can be attributed to the ‘blame’ culture that exists when it comes to sexual health and HIV, it is often viewed as a ‘choice’. Blame is never apportioned to other health conditions.

Don’t tell them they are ‘looking well’:

People often comment in this way as if having HIV should mean you look ravaged by disease. This is often accompanied by a well-meaning, but ultimately patronising tilt of the head. Science has moved on dramatically since the 1980s and people with HIV who are diagnosed, accessing care and treatment, live full, healthy and happy lives.

Don’t presume the worst:

Many people who ask questions aren’t aware of the fact that someone living with HIV, on antiretroviral medication, can now be undetectable and therefore untransmittable. This is known as U=U (UEqualsU). It totally dispels the perceived ‘threat’ of people living with HIV. This will become general knowledge as time moves on, but for now, education and awareness is still needed.

Overall, relax. If someone shares their HIV status with you; respect them for sharing their personal and sensitive information with you. Lots of people living with HIV, choose to share their stories to encourage awareness and understanding. Curiosity is fine, being too personal and intrusive isn’t it is all about respect.

16th September 2019
Here’s everything LGBT+ couples who are considering surrogacy need to know

Surrogacy for LGBT+ couples – What you need to know

© DGLimages Depositphotos

For those in the LGBT+ community, creating a family is not straightforward. Biology and the law have to both be considered long before a baby is conceived.

Surrogacy is now very much de rigueur, and, in the last five years, the UK has seen an exponential increase in the number of Parental Order applications following surrogate births. My firm is only too aware of this, as we have a vast number of clients from the LGBT+ community choosing to start their families through surrogacy.

The law governing surrogacy dates in part from the 1980s when attitudes towards surrogacy itself, and the LGBT+ community, were vastly different from what they are today. The law reforms announced by the Law Commission and The Scottish Law Commission on 6 June 2019 are therefore very much welcomed by all involved, but particularly by LGBT+ families.

What are the laws now?

© DGLimages Depositphotos

As it stands now, when a child is born through a surrogacy arrangement, whether they are born here in the UK, or abroad, if the intended parents wish to live with the child in the UK, then an application must be made in the UK courts for a Parental Order. The Parental Order will then extinguish the legal status of the birth mother (and her spouse if she has one) and confer legal parentage on the intended parents. Without that order, the birth mother will remain legally responsible for that child. The intended parents, who in reality are the only parents the child knows, have no legal standing to make crucial decisions, such as consent to medical procedures for their child, as they have no Parental Responsibility.

It will also change the UK birth certificate to ensure that the intended parents’ details are instead recorded.

In order to be eligible to apply for a Parental Order, at least one of the intended parents must be domiciled in the UK, at least one of the intended parents must have a biological connection to the child, the child must live with the intended parents, they must be over 18, have made the application within 6 months of the child’s birth, have the surrogate’s (and her spouse’s) consent and only reasonable expenses must have been paid to the surrogate. Since January 2019 it is now possible for single people to apply for a Parental Order, but the above criterion must still apply and those separated can utilise recent ground-breaking caselaw, achieved by this firm, that if intended parents are separated an order can still be achieved as ‘living’ together can apply to two homes.

The glaring fault with the Parental Order process is the requirement to have to apply for it in the first place. From the moment of birth, up until that Order is granted, the child, and the intended parents live in limbo. Speak to any surrogate and they will tell you that they want to carry the child to enable other people (often LGBT+ people), who can’t have a child in the usual way, to have a family. They do not want to be legally responsible for that child, yet the law keeps them entwined despite (usually) no biological connection and no intention to be so responsible. The surrogate bears the child for the intended parents on trust that they will make that application for a Parental Order which will then extinguish her legal responsibilities.

As for the intended parents, until that Order is made, they are, in the eyes of the law, not legally related to their child. Yet in reality they wanted the child, they love the child and they care for the child. Why should that child, and the intended parents, be in that limbo position? It leaves many risks, that Wills and insurances can mitigate, but the uncertainty of 100% protection during this period is difficult for all the parties.

Proposed new laws

The Law Commission and The Scottish Law Commission have recognised this failure and have committed to reforming the law. The consultation into surrogacy law is currently open until September 2019 and their proposals include a new pathway to parenthood which would recognise the intended parents as the legal parents from birth. With the new pathway, the ‘work’ would be done pre-conception. This would include finding the surrogate, medical checks, enhanced criminal records checks, independent legal advice and implications counselling for all parties, then a written surrogacy agreement and an assessment of the welfare of the child. Once the child is born, the intended parents will be the legal parents (without the need to make a court application) subject to the birth mother objecting within a defined period. If the surrogate does object, then the intended parents would need to make an application for a Parental Order in the usual way.

However, this new pathway would not be applicable to international surrogacy arrangements. Instead, the proposal is that recognition would be on a “country by country” basis and that there should be a streamlining and shortening of the process of obtaining a passport or a visa for the child born overseas so that that process begins before birth.

These proposed reforms to the current surrogacy legislation have been welcomed by the LGBT+ community as well as by the community of surrogates. The proposed reforms will enable the law to reflect the reality of these new families and ensure that the child is legally protected and cared for by their intended parents from the moment of birth.

Karen Holden, Founder at A City Law Firm

8th August 2019
10 things gay guys need to stop Instagramming now

Drunk or otherwise – thinking it’s a great idea to share our most intimate moments with the world via Instagram. We’ve made a list of the top things we need to stop sharing.

Your Trout Pout.

It just isn’t sexy. No, really it isn’t. Unless you’re Katie Price or Rylan Clark it’s best to leave the lip service to the professionals. (Even if you are cute)

Wearing Sunglasses Indoors.

Clearly, there’s a problem here.

You Looking Like A Member of a boy band. Black Vest, check…

Vacant look, CHECK. Flawless skin, which has been photoshopped into a smooth paste… CHECK. Come to bed eyes… CHECK. In other news those eyebrows are amazing.

You And Your Toys.

Not sure this one needs explaining. The world does not need to see the cone you put up your ass. No wait, hang on – show us how you do that…

Pictures Of Your Conquests.

No one wants to know you ‘Just nutted in his ass’ (yes an actual caption), such a romantic notion. We don’t wanna know. Okay, that’s a blatant lie, more of these pics, please.

Random pictures of hot guys on public transport

As cute as he is… This is creepy AF.

Your Hook Up Texts.

TMI. Now I can’t concentrate.

Your First Class Ticket.

Bitch we don’t care about your priority sticker for your Ryanair flight.

Disney Stuff

What are you ten? Although we agree Elsa is the best Disney princess ever.

Sh** That’s Suppose To Be Inspirational…

because it’s not.

4th August 2019
Saying goodbye to Facebook could help your mental well being
Dr Mark Winwood has revealed that leaving social media could help your mental health – here’s how.

Simon / Pixabay

Social media is everywhere. If we’re not updating our connections about where we’ve been or what we’re seeing, we’re no doubt uploading a photo of the delicious meal we’re about to eat. The popularity of sharing our experiences via social channels can’t be denied, with an estimated 2.77 billion social media users globally, and it plays a significant role in our lives – both at work and at home. But has our need to keep people updated on our every move or thought gone too far?

An often debated benefit of social media is that it reduces isolation by connecting people all over the world, as you are able to track what your friend in New Zealand is up to, without needing to stay up late to Skype. However, in many ways, this connectivity can be a ‘false reality’ – simply a window through which you see just a snapshot of another person’s life – you don’t know what they’re really thinking or feeling, emotions which can only be delved into during a conversation.

Additionally, this snapshot is often carefully choreographed, and portrays the subject at their best, without realities to impair the moment. As a result, when seeing these pictures of perfection, it’s natural to envisage their perfect life and compare their experiences to yours, which may not live up in comparison. It’s not surprising to learn that a recent study by researchers from the University of Houston in Texas has shown that social media is contributing to depress ion due to users comparing themselves to others.*

So, bearing this in mind, is it time we put down Snapchat, deleted Facebook or disabled Instagram for a while, to give us not only a break from the perfect lives of others, but also to regain perspective?

TheHilaryClark / Pixabay

If you’re considering taking a social media holiday, bear the following in mind:
1. Suspend your accounts – suspending them for a week means you can take a break without the temptation to check for any new notifications.
2. Take the time for face-to-face – cutting down on virtual messaging may free up time to meet your friends in person. This not only allows you to have a proper catch up, it also fills the void in terms of knowing what’s going on
3. Regain your focus – how many times have you missed a crucial moment on TV due to checking someone else’s holiday photos? Not having these distractions will help you tune into the moment more freely.
4. Get an alarm clock – it’s easy to use your phone as an alarm clock, but this encourages you to look at it as soon as you wake. Try a conventional alarm clock and turn your phone off overnight. The blue light used by phones disrupts sleep**, so it may help your sleep quality too by switching it off completely.
5. Rather than going cold turkey it’s best to start small and build up to something. Why not start by turning off notifications for an hour, then two, building up to a whole day, or even a week at a time? Check out apps designed to block sites at certain times of the day. This helps to avoid that mindless checking and re-checking we all fall victim to!
Taking the plunge and giving up social media for a week or more can be an incredibly refreshing experience. It lets you live in the present, and remember memories in real-time, instead of via a camera lens. Technology has made it so easy for us to stay connected and to know our friends’ ins and outs, but it shouldn’t replace face-to-face contact as this is not always the healthy or desirable option.

Experiencing stress and mental health challenges is a normal part of many people’s lives – for additional support, visit AXA PPP healthcare.
16th July 2019
This is how employers can ensure well-being in the work place

We spoke to Dr Mark Winwood, Director of Psychological Services for AXA PPP healthcare, to ask what he would recommend to employers to help them take active steps towards supporting the wellbeing of all of their staff:

CREDIT: ©-halfpoint-Depositphotos

“We see many people regretting the fact that they did not seek help with their mental ill health sooner. Most don’t want to admit to having a problem as they are concerned about how this would be received by colleagues and fearful it could affect their careers prospects. We want to help change this.

Our research has shown that people who have experienced mental ill health want employers to offer free screening for depression in the workplace. If this were widely available, we might see more people seeking and receiving support for their mental health sooner – before reaching crisis point. Employers who adopt this approach would also show employees that their psychological wellbeing really matters – something that should, in turn, help to break down the stigma of mental ill health at work”.

According to Dr Mark Winwood, if you’re experiencing stress in the workplace, there are steps you can take to help address it:

Basic wellness checks – should you be doing more exercise, improving your diet, or getting more sleep? Fairly simple changes in these three areas can improve your outlook and ability to cope with stressful situations at work

Challenge your thinking – if you find yourself taking a negative perspective on work issues could there be a more balanced or alternative way of looking at things? Write down what’s troubling you and challenge it. Take some time to focus on the positive – what are your strengths and what have you achieved?

CREDIT: ©-monkeybusiness-Depositphotos

Make lists and plan workloads – by ticking off  jobs on your list you’ll start to recognise your accomplishments and feel more in control

Find time to relax – reset your mind, listen to your favourite music or take a walk for air. Whether it’s at home or on your lunch break, make time for you. Switching off will also improve your sleep health, allowing you to tackle tasks with a fresh head

Be fair on yourself – think about what you have the power to change in your current circumstances and prioritise these things, rather than worrying about areas you can’t control. Keep things in perspective. Ask yourself ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ It’s probably not as bad as you imagine

Try not to avoid – whether it’s faking a sick day or putting something off, ignoring the source of your stress won’t make it disappear and may only add to your to-do list

Identify the real problem – are you afraid of failing? Sometimes we’re our own worst critics.  Think about what you’d say to a friend or a colleague in the same situation. Would you be as hard on them as you are on yourself?

CREDIT: © BrianAJackson | Depositphotos

Protect your work-life balance – don’t abandon social plans for the sake of working late. Overtime can lead to diminishing returns on productivity. Making time to catch up with friends and family will boost your mood and take your mind off work pressures

Avoid unhealthy habits – excessive food or drink consumption may offer temporary relief but it won’t help in the long run. Explore good habits that can boost your mood and energy levels. Exercise releases a chemical in the brain called dopamine which gives you a healthy high

Don’t bottle it up – it’s helpful to share your concerns, so speak to your manager or a supportive colleague.  A problem shared is a problem halved

28th May 2019
5 amazing global drag events you have to visit

Drag events have that unique ability to bring fun and excitement to all areas of the community. While they’re a huge draw for the LGBT community, these events provide fun for everyone.

But what really makes a night at a drag show really stand out from the crowd? Perhaps the biggest global events will answer that question. Here are five shows that you simply cannot miss.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Tour

via GIPHY

If one TV show seeped beyond the reaches of the LGBT community to earn a wider audience, it’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. A reality show designed to find the best drag artist around, it even drew a grudging approval from a host of straight viewers.

The good news for all is that the Drag Race is on tour and in 2019, it’s a global phenomenon. Hosted by Michelle Visage under the title of Werq the World, all of your favourite superstars from the show are here. The event takes in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia so there really is no escape from the Drag Race phenomenon and while the Tour is already underway, it runs right through to the end of 2019 with tickets left for all remaining shows.

Michelle Visage will be your host for the live show and will introduce such great acts as Detox, Bob, Asia. Peppermint and Shangela to name just five of the cast. For fans of the TV show, this is not to be missed. Even if RuPaul’s Drag Race has skipped your radar, this is a night of pure fun that has to be seen to be believed.

Austin Drag Festival

Austin Drag Festival is a fixed event that doesn’t go out on tour – but it’s one of the longer-established events on the drag circuit. For those in the vicinity or for fans who want to make a special trip, it’s well worth the expense.

Held across four days in November, this event attracts hundreds of drag artists from all over the world and it boasts over 400 performances across the weekend. Meet and greets are available with your favourite stars while there is a drag market and even a workshop where you can learn the ropes and become a top drag act yourself.

If your appetite has been whetted by the Austin Drag Festival, the official website offers information on flights and accommodation to make this the most memorable of weekends for fans of drag.

Drag Queen Bingo

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Some of the greatest drag events across the world are held in some exotic locations across far-flung corners of the globe, but for those who are confined to barracks between now and the end of the year, there is a way to enjoy your favourite drag artists in most LGBT cities – at drag queen bingo.

As drag events go, drag queen bingo perhaps an unlikely pairing in a game that is thought of more as a pastime for straight ladies over a certain age. The original concept of Drag Queen Bingo was dreamt up by Judy Werle in Seattle in the 1990s. It was a fun way for the early LGBT community to get together to play and to raise money for the AIDS charity Chicken Soup Brigade at the same time.

While the game remains popular in the US, drag queen bingo is now being held in Amsterdam, London and Berlin. It’s like conventional bingo but with a drag caller and a whole feast of fun so get dressed and look forward to a great night out. Intrigued? Head over to Wink Bingo to learn more about some of the best drag bingo events.

Christmas Queens

The festive season is the perfect time to celebrate all things relating to drag artists and events and Christmas Queens is your perfect partner. This is predominantly a UK event which has been held over the holiday season for a number of years and it tours up and down the country. There is, however, a clear focus on towns and cities with a strong LGBT community including sunny and welcoming Brighton down on the South Coast.

The show largely features the best artists from the UK but there are appearances from overseas acts, too. The festive theme is carried on throughout the performance with sketches and songs including We Three Queens and a unique LGBT friendly look at Let It Snow.

Since its launch, Christmas Queens has grown steadily in size and the 2018 tour will take in 10 dates in the UK before crossing overseas and adding a further six shows across Europe from Amsterdam to Helsinki.

Tickets are widely available from online sources but if you can’t get along, don’t worry because the official site’s webstore has a host of merchandise including CDs and downloads.

Partysane

For so long, Berlin has been a mecca for drag queens, as one look at David Bowie’s music video for Boys Keep Swinging can demonstrate. Watch the video and you’ll see the Thin White Duke dressed as drag queens of various vintages. The drag scene in Germany’s capital preceded Bowie and his legacy lives on, partly in the crazy Partysane event.

In many ways, this event could be the decadent Berlin of Cabaret, and there is certainly a harder edge to the Partysane shows. The host, Gloria Viagra, is the moustache-toting temptress and this is an event that combines the best in drag entertainment with a traditional club night featuring some of the hottest DJs in town.

Not able to get to Berlin? Don’t worry – the Partysane roadshow goes on tour. In 2014, it made its London debut at the Dalston Superstore and it has been gradually making its way around Europe. This is not always a regular show on the annual drag circuit so keep a close eye out for future dates. Even if the event isn’t on the forthcoming calendar then don’t worry as you are sure to find the iconic Gloria Viagra, dubbed as the Empire State Building of the Berlin scene, in one of the many drag clubs around the city.

17th May 2019
Can you catch an STI from a French kiss?

So, you’ve reached second base! Lucky you. You’ve reached that much anticipated first kiss with that hottie from across the bar. You are thinking this is a good, SAFE start to intimacy and it’s certainly not as bad as having oral sex or sexual intercourse with essentially a stranger, right? I hate to break it to you but, while it is very rare, it is possible to contract an STI simply from kissing.

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Fortunately, Dr Preethi Daniel from London Doctors Clinic is here to break down everything you need to know about oral STIs.

What are oral STIs?

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Oral STIs are most commonly shared through oral sex, and unprotected stimulation of the genitals or anus using the tongue or lips. This is because coming into contact with bodily fluids carries a significant risk of spreading STIs. However, a recent study, published in the British Journal of Medicine Sexually Transmitted Diseases, has found that kissing and specifically ‘deep kissing’ could also be to blame for the spread of STIs. The most common STIs which could be spread in this way include herpes, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, syphilis, chlamydia, other hepatitis, warts and even HIV can be transmitted by kissing.

How to spot the symptoms?

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While it is not very common to contract an STI from a kiss, your likelihood increases if you have cuts or sores in and around your mouth. Symptoms can vary from person to person and what the condition is. If you experience itching, rashes or sores in/around your mouth, this will require medical attention, similarly, a vague sore throat after contact with multiple partners could also be indicative of an STI. Here are the most common oral STIs and their symptoms:

Chlamydia:

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Many people will not experience any symptoms of oral chlamydia, however for those that do they may experience painless sores, lesions that are similar to cold sores, tonsillitis or redness with white spots. A less conspicuous symptom is a scratchy, dry throat.

Gonorrhoea:

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Much like with Chlamydia, many people who have oral gonorrhoea do not exhibit any symptoms, however if they are present you may experience a sore throat, a fever, redness or swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Syphilis:

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The symptoms of syphilis occur in stages which become progressively worse as they progress. The initial symptoms include painless sores or raised lesions which may appear grey or white.

Herpes:

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The most common symptoms of oral herpes are cold sores which may occur on the lips, gums, tongue, inside of the cheeks, throat and roof of the mouth. These may also extend to the chin or neck. Some people may also experience swollen and bleeding gums or swollen lymph nodes.

Warts:

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These will exhibit as warts or lesions in the mouth; however, they have little to no other symptoms and are generally painless.

HIV:

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HIV does not usually have symptoms in the early stages. Rarely, those with HIV in the mouth may experience a dry mouth, tooth decay, gum disease, cold sores or oral warts.

How can you get diagnosed?

If you experience any of the above symptoms you should visit your GP. Many clinics offer same day throat swabs which can check for the signs of gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Any sores or lesions will need closer inspection and discussion with your GP, risk factors and symptoms must be assessed before testing is conducted. As with anything the sooner you are tested the easier it is to treat, so visit your GP as soon as you notice any unusual or uncomfortable symptoms.

What are the treatment options?

Treatment options depend on what STI has been contracted. Some infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can be treated effectively with antibiotics. Viruses, such as herpes cannot be cured but the symptoms can be easily managed with medication. If you have developed warts, they will need to be treated with cryotherapy to completely eradicate the warts. Hepatitis and HIV have no cures and will require specialist management which your doctor will need to advise upon.

Dr Preethi Daniel is the Clinical Director at the, private GP, London Doctors Clinic

16th May 2019
5 reasons why chocolate is actually good for you (yes actually!)
Scientific studies have actually proved that chocolate makes you feel good because it’s full of a mix of mood-elevating chemicals, including caffeine, theobromine, tyrosine and tryptophan. It’s important to use dark chocolate with a high cocoa solid content as it offers more health benefits than milk chocolate, it is also lower in fat and contains antioxidants.

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Did you know that small amounts of dark chocolate can boost your health, from improving your mood to helping stop a cough?

With the help of Ceitanna Cooper, Registered Associate Nutritionist at AXA PPP healthcare, we’ve put together the top 5 health benefits of having chocolate (a few squares or a small bar) as part of a well-balanced diet:
1. It can cheer you up
The taste, smell and texture of chocolate stimulates feel-good areas of the brain. Chocolate also contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that stimulates production of serotonin, the brain’s natural anti-depressant. Experts equate the feelings it induces to those we experience when we fall in love.
1. Helps heart health
Eating chocolate can lower blood pressure, thin the blood (reducing stroke risk) and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Ceitanna Cooper says this is due to chocolate’s high content of chemicals called flavonoids. “Flavonoids also seem to stimulate the body to make more nitric oxide, which helps to widen and relax blood vessels, which may help to lower blood pressure,” says Ceitanna.

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1. Protects your arteries
Flavonoids in chocolate also help to stop LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidising, helping to prevent the furring up of arteries. Flavonoids contain more than 50% of an unusual type of saturated fat called stearic acid, present in cocoa butter, that doesn’t’ raise bad cholesterol and may even increase levels of the protective good cholesterol.
1. Calms coughs
Chocolate also contains a chemical called theobromine, which has been shown to suppress coughing by acting on the vagus nerve, which carries messages from the central nervous system to the brain.
1. Brain benefits
A chemical called epicatechin – found in cocoa and green tea – may also help protect the brain against the formation of sticky proteins or amyloid plaques which develop in Alzheimer’s disease.

“We all know that too much sugary or fatty food can contribute to obesity and other health problems, but the good news for chocolate lovers is that small amounts can also have some health benefits. So there’s no need to feel guilty about indulging your cravings now and then, as long as it’s part of a well-balanced diet.”

What sort of chocolate is best?

Generally, the darker the chocolate (look for 70% and above cocoa), the higher the flavonoid content. Flavonoids are found in foods like broccoli, onions, fruit, as well as tea, and may help protect people against some types of cancer and heart disease.

Ceitanna Cooper says: “It’s most likely that you get more flavonoids in a dark chocolate that lists cocoa beans, cacao, chocolate liquor or cocoa mass on its ingredients list, so check the label. Milk chocolate tends to have very few flavonoids and white chocolate has none.”

Does chocolate make a good snack?

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Surprisingly, dark chocolate is classified as ‘low GI’ food, which means a small bar makes a suitable snack between meals as it doesn’t cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels after being eaten. This is because the fat that it contains slows down the absorption of the sugar.

The caffeine content of chocolate has also been shown to help boost concentration and energy temporarily. But if you’re curbing your caffeine intake then be sure to remember that chocolate counts as a caffeinated product!

Before you rush off to grab the nearest chocolate bar, it’s best if you regard it as a ‘treat’, rather than a health food. If you eat it in small amounts, alongside a healthy, balanced diet, it shouldn’t contribute to weight gain and it will certainly not do you any harm.

Want to find out more about the benefits of food? Visit AXA PPP healthcare’s diet and nutrition centre.
5th May 2019