Navigating puberty, trying to build skills and a respectable social life is difficult for any teenager but to have added anxiety and stress due to a mental disorder can make life even more unbearable.

Fortunately, we live in a time where it’s more acceptable to address such issues, in adults and young people, as the government plans to pump £215m into mental health support teams at school.

It should be a welcome introduction, considering that half of such… Read the full story

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‘I can do it all, but all of it is not mine to do’ should be the feminist anthem of 2018

February 18, 2018, 3:27 am

≫ Next: ‘Art helps me contain that chaos’– we talk schizoaffective disorder and creativity on Mentally Yours

≪ Previous: Young people are helping each other with depression by leaving kind messages

We’ve said before on this site that male incompetence is a low-key form of misogyny.

No matter how woke we are or how emancipated we feel, women still bear the brunt of domestic work.

Whether that’s preparing dinner, laundering clothes, getting the kids bathed and dressed, women are the ones who still typically take control. Oh, and that’s on top of our actual jobs and careers.

Women can have it all – but it doesn’t mean that we should have to.

Particularly if there’s a man around who could take some of the load.

Darla Halyk has written an open letter to that effect, which has gone viral since… Read the full story

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‘Art helps me contain that chaos’– we talk schizoaffective disorder and creativity on Mentally Yours

February 18, 2018, 3:48 am

≫ Next: Guys, you can now get your ‘dream body’ for selfies with a new app

≪ Previous: ‘I can do it all, but all of it is not mine to do’ should be the feminist anthem of 2018

‘It was an absolute state of fear. It was such a frightening experience that I don’t really know how to describe it.’

Alice Evans joined us on Metro.co.uk’s mental health podcast, Mentally Yours, to talk about schizoaffective disorder and the hallucinations and psychosis she experienced because of it.

‘One of the things that happened was that I would hear voices a lot.

‘So when I was phoning my parents I would hear gunshots down the phone and things like that, so it was quite frightening.

‘And I would hear voices coming out of the television and the radio that weren’t there, and things like that.

‘And that still happens now when I have psychosis.’

Alice also talked about how long it took for her to get a diagnosis – aged 30.

She said: ‘I think it actually gave me some degree of understanding of what I’d been going through.

‘So, in a way, it was useful because the diagnosis meant… Read the full story

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Guys, you can now get your ‘dream body’ for selfies with a new app

February 18, 2018, 3:55 am

≫ Next: Shop selling books written by women only is coming to east London next month

≪ Previous: ‘Art helps me contain that chaos’– we talk schizoaffective disorder and creativity on Mentally Yours

Are you a man? Do you wish you had a six-pack and pecs?

Do you think that looking more ripped online would improve your selfie game and body image?

If so, then you need to download Manly – an app which allows men to digitally enhance themselves.

It’s sort of like the online version of makeup, false eyelashes, and a push-up bra.

Playing on male insecurities, it’s a photo editor that allows guys to manipulate their photos in a bid to make them appear more ‘manly’.

For just £4.49 a month (LOL), users can choose from a range of body types while sculpting the perfect abs, pecs and biceps.

They can also give themselves… Read the full story

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Shop selling books written by women only is coming to east London next month

February 18, 2018, 4:24 am

≫ Next: These are the most beautiful UK locations your Instagram friends are going to

≪ Previous: Guys, you can now get your ‘dream body’ for selfies with a new app

There are thousands of amazing female authors.

This country, in particular, has so many contemporary women making waves in the literary sea – Malorie Blackman, Zadie Smith, Afua Hirsch.

Yet, although women often dominate UK bestseller lists, few are awarded the big literary prizes.

At school, reading lists are often male-author heavy too. English GCSE and A Level lists may include the odd Harper Lee novel but often, that’s about it.

So it’s fantastic that Penguin Random House is launching a pop-up bookstore in London that’ll only stock works by women.

Like A Woman will be running between 5-9 March in Shoreditch to mark International Women’s Day, which falls in… Read the full story

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These are the most beautiful UK locations your Instagram friends are going to

February 18, 2018, 5:22 am

≫ Next: We desperately need to stop buying so many clothes every year

≪ Previous: Shop selling books written by women only is coming to east London next month

Another picturesque image of a seashore, white cliffs or a majestic castle graces your Instagram feed.

You wonder what gorgeous exotic town your friend has travelled to.

And then there’s that pang of shock when you realise it’s in the UK.

Staycations really are all the rage right now.

Let’s face it, organising a trip abroad can be a headache at the best of times. But a quick getaway a few hours from your house might be exactly the kind of detox you need from everyday mundanesness.

They’re also significantly easier to prepare.

And because we live in times of uber helpful technology, Instagram data has been used to narrow down all the… Read the full story

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We desperately need to stop buying so many clothes every year

February 18, 2018, 5:37 am

≫ Next: Someone’s running a retreat in Costa Rica just for women of colour

≪ Previous: These are the most beautiful UK locations your Instagram friends are going to

Fall fashion, winter getaways, summer sunshine all seem to warrant a new wardrobe.

Sure, you need weather-appropriate clothes when the seasons change but do we really need to update our styles every few months?

Then there’s sale season (often multiple times of the year) where we indulge in purchases even more as if all the tops and trousers in the world are running out.

Why are we under the illusion that if we don’t buy… Read the full story

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Someone’s running a retreat in Costa Rica just for women of colour

February 18, 2018, 6:14 am

≫ Next: Fire hoses, parachute silks, tea bags and other reused materials went into creating these bags

≪ Previous: We desperately need to stop buying so many clothes every year

Yoga retreats are all well and good but they can be damned expensive and, well, white.

Yogis come in all shapes and colours for sure, but the ones you see most often and the ones who often get propelled to wellness fame tend to be slim, middle class and white.

Women of colour are poorly represented in wellness circles.

It may not be anyone’s fault but the fact remains.

Which is why someone’s started doing healing retreats specifically for women of colour.

Women of Colour Healing Retreats (WOCHR) is based in Costa Rica and is a space for women to focus on yoga, community building, nature, self-care and spirituality.

It’s the brainchild… Read the full story

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Fire hoses, parachute silks, tea bags and other reused materials went into creating these bags

February 18, 2018, 6:44 am

≫ Next: 10 ways to ask for help instead of saying ‘I’m fine’ when you’re struggling with depression

≪ Previous: Someone’s running a retreat in Costa Rica just for women of colour

Ethical fashion is in vogue now more than ever.

Not only are they better for the world, but purpose-driven labels are also very successful, with 73% of consumers saying they are more likely to buy from such brands.

The number is higher for millennials who are even more (81%) likely to buy from an ethical source.

Realising that we must do more to stop so much wastage going to landfills while using their keen eye for fashion, Elvis and Kresse is the brand attempting to lead a revolution.

The company started in 2005 by rescuing fire hoses and donating 50% of its profits to the Fire Fighters Charity and now… Read the full story

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10 ways to ask for help instead of saying ‘I’m fine’ when you’re struggling with depression

February 18, 2018, 7:00 am

≫ Next: ‘Talk dirty to me’: what men and women like to hear in bed

≪ Previous: Fire hoses, parachute silks, tea bags and other reused materials went into creating these bags

‘I’m not coping’ (Picture: Mmuffin for Metro.co.uk)

When I asked my friends if they’re comfortable asking for help with their mental health, the general consensus was a big old nope.

The common theme that came up was that we’re all just in the habit of acting like everything’s OK, so as not to bother anyone else with our problems.

Clinical psychologist John Mayer says we often feel like we don’t deserve help, since we don’t view depression as the disease it is, and it warps our minds so that we can’t see the full impact of the illness.

‘It’s an insidious condition that makes it hard to see clearly what is… Read the full story

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‘Talk dirty to me’: what men and women like to hear in bed

February 18, 2018, 7:25 am

≫ Next: When is World Book Day and what are some good costume ideas?

≪ Previous: 10 ways to ask for help instead of saying ‘I’m fine’ when you’re struggling with depression

ILLUSTRATION REQUEST: Talk dirty to me – what men and women want to hear in the bedroom (Almara) — (Picture: Phébe Lou Morson for Metro.co.uk)

What happens behind closed bedroom doors? A lot of dirty talk, apparently.

Online dating agency, Saucy Dates, has revealed what men and women prefer to hear between the sheets.

According to a recent survey conducted on bedroom sounds and noises, 76% of men and 74% of women said dirty talk was at the top of their list.

Favourite words included ‘harder’, ‘baby’ and ‘daddy’.

This was alongside moaning, heavy breathing and screaming.

Personally I like to stick to the classics, as I’ve found you can never go wrong with a simple… Read the full story

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When is World Book Day and what are some good costume ideas?

February 18, 2018, 7:29 am

≫ Next: Going plastic-free: Reducing your food waste is the best way to reduce your plastic waste

≪ Previous: ‘Talk dirty to me’: what men and women like to hear in bed

World Book Day is coming soon, which means you might need to get your skates on when it comes to costumes.

It’s a UNESCO-recognised day to celebrate authors and writing, and kids in the UK and Ireland get a book token to spend so they can read whatever book they choose.

A number of schools also encourage children to come dressed up as their favourite book character.

For World Book Day on March 1 2018, you might need some ideas that won’t break the bank.

Luckily, we’ve got you covered.

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Going plastic-free: Reducing your food waste is the best way to reduce your plastic waste

February 18, 2018, 8:09 am

≫ Next: When should you prune roses?

≪ Previous: When is World Book Day and what are some good costume ideas?

I’ve given up plastic for Lent.

Having nailed my transition to veganism, I thought the next best thing I could do for the environment would be to try and chuck my epic plastic habit.

I get through reams and reams of the stuff; I nab plastic cutlery from Whole Foods and Pret every day. I buy individually wrapped cereal bars. I have an embarrassing fizzy water habit.

But after going to this year’s Lush Summit and learning that the biggest plastic pollutant right now is food packaging and polystyrene cups and forks, something had to change.

A quick recap on the plastic problem

25% of plastic produced globally is packaging
14% of plastic is recycled
By 2050, according to 5 Gyres, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea if figures continue to rise
In 2014, we were consuming 311 million tonnes of plastic – a number which is set to… Read the full story

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When should you prune roses?

February 18, 2018, 8:57 am

≫ Next: The best beauty looks from the 2018 Baftas

≪ Previous: Going plastic-free: Reducing your food waste is the best way to reduce your plastic waste

If you want beautiful blooms, pruning rose bushes is an absolute necessity.

It serves the purpose of getting rid of any dead wood which helps avoid pests, improve circulation to the plant, shape the plant, and encourage new growth.

Pruning is something of a thankless task, but it’ll definitely be worth it when those beautiful roses come through in the spring.

Roses will start to grow again after the last frost of spring.

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The best beauty looks from the 2018 Baftas

February 18, 2018, 10:56 pm

≫ Next: The next hot cosmetic surgery trend is getting your belly button shaped

≪ Previous: When should you prune roses?

anya taylor-joy at the baftas — (Picture: Getty)

You’ve checked out the winners and made a note to go watch Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. That’s the main bit of the Baftas 2018 covered.

Now it’s time to look at the finer details.

As the majority of the dresses worn to this year’s awards ceremony were black in honour of the Time’s Up movement, makeup was the area celebs had a little more room to play with.

Think bold lips, hair accessories, and heavily lined eyes with simple black dresses as a safe base.

Here are the best beauty looks from the night.

Anya Taylor-Joy

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The next hot cosmetic surgery trend is getting your belly button shaped

February 19, 2018, 12:11 am

≫ Next: 5 ways to tackle mental health questions during a job interview

≪ Previous: The best beauty looks from the 2018 Baftas

Now belly button surgery is trending — (Picture: Shutterstock)

The not-at-all-fun thing about being a human being in the modern world is that there’s always something about your body that you’re encouraged to think needs changing.

Your cheekbones aren’t visible enough, so you need to smother them in highlighter. Your arm vagina needs trimming. Your hair’s curly, make it straight. Your hair’s too straight, make it curly.

The next trendy bit of your body to obsess over? Your belly button.

Allure reports that belly button surgery is the trendy surgery of 2018. Darren Smith, a plastic surgeon working in New York City, says he’s seen a significant increase in the number… Read the full story

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5 ways to tackle mental health questions during a job interview

February 19, 2018, 12:23 am

≫ Next: Don’t google those answers: 8 hacks for winning the pub quiz

≪ Previous: The next hot cosmetic surgery trend is getting your belly button shaped

What will they ask? (Picture: Dave Anderson)

Since quitting my management job after a mental breakdown several years ago, it’s been a challenge to find a job to suit my circumstances.

My ongoing battle with depression and anxiety means that I often go through long periods of illness where I may appear fit and well, but on the inside I’m crumbling.

welcome back illustration for mental health at work

5 people tell us what happened when they told their employers about their mental illness

As a result I take regular sick leave and I also have some gaping holes on my CV… Read the full story

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Don’t google those answers: 8 hacks for winning the pub quiz

February 19, 2018, 12:48 am

≫ Next: Yes, light skin gets you further in the entertainment business, and probably in life – but change has begun

≪ Previous: 5 ways to tackle mental health questions during a job interview

Winners and losers (Illustration: Dave Anderson for Metro.co.uk)

There was a time when pub quizzes consisted of a fairly tipsy ‘regular’ bellowing football questions in a room of fairly disinterested punters, with regular fag breaks and a points bonus if you bought the quizmaster a pint.

Happily, times have changed.

19 ways to make your bartender secretly hate you

Pub quizzes now offer pretty decent prizes to the winning team, from a couple of bottles of wine to a respectably sized bar-tab.

The pub quiz I run even had a £1,100 roll over prize at one point.

Whether you’re in it for the prize… Read the full story

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Yes, light skin gets you further in the entertainment business, and probably in life – but change has begun

February 19, 2018, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Why Kate Middleton’s Bafta dress could never have been black

≪ Previous: Don’t google those answers: 8 hacks for winning the pub quiz

Matthew Knowles says Bey wouldn't be as successful if she were dark-skinned — Matthew Knowles says Beyoncé wouldn’t be as successful if she were dark-skinned (Picture:
PA)

Last week, Matthew Knowles re-lit the fire under the colourism debate by claiming his daughter, Beyoncé has benefitted from having light skin.

Beyoncé is undoubtedly one of the most talented and hard working performers in the industry, but do I think her career has benefited from the caramel hue of her skin? Oh, yeah.

Even Saturday Night Live knows it as evidenced by their hilarious skit following the release of the Lemonade album where white people finally discovered Beyoncé was black.

But let’s go back a decade or so.

If… Read the full story

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A quick recap on the plastic problem

Anya Taylor-Joy

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