A Psychiatrist’s Take on “Fifty Shades”

By Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, MD



I am neither a film critic, nor a sociologist, but to me, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is neither groundbreaking cinema, nor does it herald a new cultural shift in sexual mores. It is, nonetheless, a fascinating narrative for any student of psychology, let alone for a psychiatrist with a specialty in treating sexual disorders. Hence, when asked to write about the movie, it was my pleasure to offer a few thoughts.   



“Fifty Shades” is the story of Christian Grey and college-aged Anastasia Steele, whom he sweeps off her feet and into his den of bondage, whipping and domination. Christian is a concert-level classical pianist and helicopter and glider pilot.  He is ridiculously handsome, under 30 and a billionaire. His Achilles’ heel is that he is the unfortunate victim of childhood physical and sexual abuse at the hands of older women, and, as a consequence, can only connect by inflicting sexual pain on the beautiful virgin, Anastasia. 



For all his power and sadism, Christian is also partly a victim himself. He teaches us about the lingering effects of childhood abuse, and introduces the audience to the practices of bondage, domination, sadism and masochism (BDSM).   Although being a “dominant” is Christian’s ‘thing,’ clinically, one would expect Christian to be a submissive who would seek out reenactments of his abuse at the hands of an older woman. 



Ana is essentially a young woman who falls in love with an older, extremely powerful and rich man – a story taken out of the Harlequin romance novels of a previous era. But there is a psychological twist as well. Ana lost her dad when she was young, and her mother appears to be an unrepentant romantic. Mom is so enthralled by handsome men that she smiles when Christian arrives unannounced, even though he is stalking her daughter. Hence, Ana’s psychological backstory is that she is vulnerable to an older, abusive man because of her own losses and trauma. 



There is a debate in the popular media how evil Christian is, and about the degree of abuse that Ana tolerates. Certainly, the fictional relationship between Christian and Ana could hardly be called healthy. Spoiler alert: if it’s any consolation they both leave the relationship with higher levels of insight and knowledge, ending up in better places than they started. (No doubt, their plots will thicken in the sequels!)



It may be pointless to discuss Christian and Ana in psychological terms since they are Hollywood creations. Yet, in the real world, BDSM is a group of accepted sexual practices among consenting adults and common among those seeking BDSM sex workers (or Dominatrices as they are called.) Often BDSM involves more pain than gain – in other words more tying up and humiliation with less emphasis on the sex and orgasm for the seeker or submissive. When occurring with little harm, most psychiatrists see BDSM as a variant of normal. When it consumes the person and prevents intimacy, the practice may rise to the level of a sexual disorder, sexual compulsivity or even addiction.  When the person focuses on a particular inanimate object, like a whip or stiletto heel in lieu of any other sexual or romantic contact, the diagnosis of a fetishitic disorder may apply.  



According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), once an unusual sexual practice causes impairment and harm to oneself or others, it is labeled as a paraphilic disorder with subcategories such as sadism and masochism. The American Psychiatric Association has made it clear that non-normative or unusual sexual behaviors are not, in of themselves, signs of mental illness unless the behaviors cause great anguish or real harm to the participants. This distress has to be beyond the guilt and distress that comes from engaging in behaviors that deviate from societal norms. In the case of BDSM, the DSM-5 is careful to discourage labeling atypical behaviors as mental conditions. However, when the behavior rises to the level of causing grief or harm, DSM-5 offers the diagnoses of sexual sadism disorder and sexual masochism disorder.  Psychiatrists can treat these sexual disorders with a variety of modalities ranging from psychotherapy, medication, peer support groups and family counseling with excellent outcomes.  As psychiatrists, we need to make the public aware that when these sexual illnesses occur, real help is available.



Whatever we may think about the sex and stories depicted in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” as psychiatrists, the popularity of the movie provides us with an opportunity to educate the public about the possibilities of improving the lives of those who have serious illnesses and who may suffer in silence and shame.





Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, MD, is Director of Upper East Health (UpperEastHealth.com), a comprehensive practice in Manhattan that focuses on addiction and sexual disorders.  Dr. Rosenberg is also Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Cornell Weill Medical Center. 

Black History Month – African Americans and Mental Health

Ranna
Parekh, MD, MPH

As we celebrate Black
History Month, we reflect on African Americans’ place in US history. At the
APA, we give thanks to psychiatrists – such as Jeanne Spurlock, MD, Solomon
Carter Fuller, MD, Chester Pierce, MD, and a long list of Solomon
Carter Fuller Award recipients--whose great contributions continue to
influence our medical field.  It is also
a time when we are reminded of the unique mental health challenges facing the
black community and the importance in working together toward improved access,
assessment and treatment.  

The history of African
Americans predates slavery; however, its legacy and the ongoing discrimination
continue to impact the lives of African Americans today. Emotional strength, strong social connections, and
determination have enabled many African Americans to overcome adversity.
 Yet African Americans, just like people of all racial/ethnic backgrounds,
experience mental illness.

While rates of mental
illness in African Americans are similar to those of the general population,
African Americans receive less care and poorer quality of care and often lack
access to culturally sensitive care. For many reasons, African Americans face
particular obstacles in getting help for mental health concerns. Racism,
discrimination, cost or lack of health insurance, or distrust of the health
care system may prevent some African Americans from getting the help they
deserve. Stigma about mental illness can also pose a barrier, and blacks are
much less willing than whites to use medicines for a mental illness.

Also, African Americans
sometimes express mental illness and emotional distress differently than
others.  For example, among people with depression, blacks are more likely
than whites to complain of body aches or other physical symptoms. 

Racism
and discrimination have multiple effects on mental health.  Victims of
discrimination experience feelings of unfairness when dealing with mental
illness and those feelings make it difficult for them to do anything about it. 
In addition, the anticipation of discrimination, the perception of being in an
environment of discrimination, or seeing others being victims can contribute to
greater ongoing stress and anxiety.  

Chester M. Pierce, MD, emeritus
professor of education and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder of
the eponymous Division of Global Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General
Hospital is to receive APA’s 2015 Human Rights Award. His life’s work included
studying people living in extreme conditions. In 1970, he coined the term microaggessions to help people
understand the continuing stain of racism experienced by African Americans.
Microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges
that send denigrating messages that are not overt discrimination – the person
may not even be aware of the denigrating action. Being continually subjected to
these microaggressions takes a toll on physical and mental health. 

This is also
compounded by the economic effects—blacks have much higher unemployment and
poverty rates than whites.  In January 2015, the unemployment rate for black
 men over 20 was more than twice that of
white men (11.4% vs 5.2%) and the unemployment rate for black youth age 16-19
was significantly higher than white youth (30% vs 17%). 

Also, African-American men are less likely to seek help for medical problems and
mental health concerns often become secondary to any medical concerns. Physical
conditions and conditions affecting the mind are connected in many
ways--problems that first affect the mind can later increase one’s risk for
physical problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or malnutrition. And
physical conditions, such as a disease or an accident, can affect the mind
(i.e., emotions, thinking, and mood). African Americans have a much higher
risk than white Americans for many types of chronic diseases, such as diabetes
and heart disease.

The California Mental Health Services Authority has developed a 

video and discussion guide about young black men and
mental health. 

Beyond the Beat and the Lyrics --
Understanding the Impact of Stigma and Discrimination on the Mental Health
Status of Transition-Aged African American Males,"  is intended to raise
awareness and stimulate conversation.

Mental disorders are
nothing to be ashamed of. They are real medical problems, just like heart
disease or diabetes. As with these illnesses, there is help available and much
you can do to support or improve your health. Like all people with mental
illness, African Americans, do recover and go on to lead productive and
fulfilling lives.

Ranna
Parekh, MD, MPH, is the director of the Division of Diversity and Health Equity
at the American Psychiatric Association

Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2015: Speak Up and Speak Out

By Deborah R. Glasofer, PhD

Reviewed by B. Timothy Walsh, MD

This
week marks Eating Disorders Awareness Week. It is a
time to speak up about eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia
nervosa and binge eating disorder. Many of us fall prey to messages about what
is and is not beautiful or healthy. For people with eating disorders, however,
the problem extends far beyond any messages heard from the outside world.
Individuals with eating disorders struggle – perhaps because of their biology,
or as a result of persistent behavioral patterns – with critical messages from
within that define health or beauty narrowly or with great distortion.

Eating
disorders do not discriminate. They impact women and men of all ages, races,
and sizes, although they most often affect girls and women between 12 and 35
years old.

Eating
disorders do not tread lightly. These are dangerous illnesses characterized by
behaviors (e.g., severely restrictive eating, purging) with potentially
life-threatening physical consequences. They can negatively impact
psychological health – obsessing about food, eating, or body size, rigidity in
thinking, overall anxiety and mood – and carry an
increased risk of suicide.

Listen
to learn more about the latest
breakthroughs in eating disorders understanding and treatment, including
cognitive neuroscience and pharmaceutical research. Read up to learn more from
the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders, a part of the New York State
Psychiatric Institute, about spotting an
eating disorder and approaching a
child
(of any age), a teammate, friend, or
loved one
about whom you are concerned. Listen in to learn more about who’s who on an
eating disorder treatment
team,
and differences between treatment
setting options.




Deborah R. Glasofer, PhD, is a clinical
psychologist at the Columbia
Center for Eating Disorders and an
assistant professor of psychology in the Columbia University Department of
Psychiatry.

"…the quiet attention of others."

Coral Mallow

An evening with George Khut
So after all the brilliant feedback from last week’s Chaos & Comfort event, and keeping my promise, I’m pleased to confirm that we'll be hosting three FREE events over the next few months - another 'big event' in June and before that, another visit from Vic McEwan in later March, but before that the Australian artist, academic and interaction-designer, George Khut! 

George is part of the forthcoming exhibition at FACT, Group Therapy - Mental Distress in a Digital Age and a friend of Arts for Health. For the past 12 years he has been working with biofeedback technologies, creating intimate, body-focussed interactive artworks experiences, that re-frame our experiences of embodiment and presence. In addition to presenting his work in fine-arts galleries and museums, he has been developing new audiences for interactive and participatory art with exhibitions and research projects in hospitals, starting with The Heart Library Project at St. Vincent’s Public Hospital in 2009, and more recently with his collaboration with Dr Angie Morrow, Staff Specialist in Brain Injury at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Kids Rehab. George will be sharing his work on Tuesday 3rd March at 6:00 until 7:30pm at Manchester School of Art. As with most of our networking events, if you want to share your own practice or research, we'd welcome input from those of you exploring digital art and new technologies. There are limited places at this event. Find out more and register for a place by clicking HERE. Watch one of George's films about pain relief for children undergoing painful procedures below.

“...the quiet attention of others”
Again I recommend the reflective and poetic blog of Mike White as he shares the day-to-day realities of his palliative care. 

MAPSI CONFERENCE CALL

Conference and study visits
Insights and Tools for Managing Arts Projects with Societal Impact
July 7th 2015 in Tallinn
A vital question today is how art and culture can interact with and enrich the society. The first MAPSI (Managing Art projects with Societal Impact) international conference, held in Tallinn, July 7th 2015, aims to bring together researchers, academics, students and educators as well as practitioners involved with artistic and societal activities in order to explore the emerging issues around the managing art project with societal impact topic. We are focusing on contributions where arts and cultural issues are managed to achieve public and societal objectives from various disciplines; all management approaches, cultural policy, social sciences art and economics. As a part of the conference, the study visits to organisations involved with societal impact of art will take place. The program will be also enriched with the optional study visits on July 6th and showcasing of Estonian music. Click on the photograph of Linnahall, the former V.I. Lenin Palace of Sports and Culture, to find out more.

Get Creative
Perhaps as a reward for diligently paying your TV Licence fee, the BBC feel compelled to do something for the larger public good - whatever - here is their current public engagement offer...

Get Creative is a major celebration of the nation's arts, culture and creativity. Led by the BBC and What Next? in collaboration with a huge range of arts, cultural and voluntary organisations, everyone is invited to get involved and share their creative talents. Get Creative will launch on 19 February 2015 with a week of debates and activity across the BBC and around the UK and will last for 12 months. The campaign will culminate in a celebratory weekend over 20 & 21 February 2016. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/sections/get-creative 

Ambition Giving
Grants of up to £2,000
Deadlines: 2 March 2015, 30 April 2015, 31 July 2015, and 30 October 2015.
Ambition, a leading national youth charity, has launched Ambition Giving. As part of the charity’s 90th anniversary celebrations it is offering grants throughout 2015 to groups in the UK to help deliver activities to young people (under the age of 24 years) in their community. The funding will support a wide variety of projects and is open to applications from young people, youth clubs, charities, community groups, resident associations and voluntary organisations. Ambition has at number of overarching outcomes for all of its programmes including, Improved health (both physical and mental).

http://www.ambitionuk.org 

Grants to Help New, Innovative Visual Arts Projects (UK)
The Elephant Trust has announced that the next deadline for applications is the 13th April 2015. The Trust offers grants to artists and for new, innovative visual arts projects based in the UK. The Trust's aim is to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when confronted by lack of funds. The Trust supports projects that develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fine arts. Priority is now being given to artists and small organisations and galleries who should submit well argued, imaginative proposals for making or producing new work or exhibitions. Arts Festivals are not supported. The Trust normally awards grants of up to £2,000, but larger grants may be considered. http://elephanttrust.org.uk/docs/intro.html 

Oliver Sacks talks about his recent terminal prognosis 

"Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure." Read more by clicking on the image below.

                                                                                                 

“...one must still have chaos in one, to give birth to a dancing star…”

New research suggests health benefits of cultural activity

Last Thursday the 12th I had the wonderful opportunity to see the last few months work with MA - Art, Design, Health and Wellbeing students come to fruition. The 14 students who come from a variety of disciplines showcased their work at the launch of a new report; The Long-Term Health Benefits of Participating in the Arts, published by Arts for Health and which reveals that engaging with the arts and culture generally has a positive long-term effect on health and wellbeing. I was thrilled too, to welcome just under 200 people to the Manchester School of Art to share their practice and encourage some lively debate. Part of the day was an Open Space session which enabled us to re-visit the Manifesto for Arts and Health and imagine where the field might be in 2020. Hey 20/20 - is this all about having perfect vision?? More of that when I’ve collated the extensive notes from the day. But a huge THANK YOU to everyone who presented, came along and took part. All North West Arts and Health Network events are free and made possible by your inspiration and input.

Now, back to the research undertaken by Dr. Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt which has uncovered evidence, stretching back a number of decades, that shows a significant association between engaging with the arts and longer lives better lived. All this despite being consistently told that there are no long-term studies! Under the auspices of the Cultural Value Project – initiated by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the UK’s main academic funder in the field – Rebecca has compiled an evidence base comprised of fifteen longitudinal studies. These international studies collectively suggest that attending high-quality cultural events has a beneficial impact upon a range of chronic diseases over time. This includes cancer, heart disease, dementia and obesity, with an inevitable knock-on effect upon life expectancy. 

Many possible reasons for this positive association are speculated upon by the researchers brought together in this report – from increased social capital to psycho-neuroimmunological responses – all of which are interrogated in detail. One of the most compelling potential explanations for any positive association observed between arts engagement and health comes from the field of epigenetics, specifically the idea that environmental enrichment (in this case, cultural activity) can cause certain harmful genes to be switched off, enabling health-protective effects to be communicated from one generation to the next.

In an era in which arts organisations are repeatedly urged to account for themselves in economic terms and we have largely lost sight of the individual and social value of culture, it is hoped that these combined findings will be heeded by policy-makers in the arts and health. This work highlights that there is every chance that any positive health effects attributed to arts engagement are the result of a hidden factor, most likely a socio-economic one. As such, this compelling report urgently incites further research into the inequalities that mediate our access to health and the arts.

The report is available free online by clicking on the issuu image above. Thank you to Rebecca for sharing this work at our event and presenting it so compellingly - and eloquently. 

Women Make Music grant scheme

Deadline: 27 April and 28 September 2015

The Performing Right Society’s Women Make Music grant scheme offers financial support of up to £5000 to women musicians. You can create new music in any genre, from classical, jazz and experimental, to urban, electronica and pop. Support is available to:

  Individuals and organisations / groups including solo performers

  solo songwriters or composers

  promoters or event producers

  bands/ensembles/orchestras

  local authorities and schools

For more information, visit http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Women-Make-Music

New Building Better Opportunities Fund from Big Lottery (England)

Subject to approval from the European Commission, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is planning to put up to £260m of Lottery funds against a similar figure from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 in order to support communities and people most in need across England. Projects delivering against the ‘Promoting Social Inclusion and Combating Poverty' part of the ESF can receive funding in Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas according to local priorities, which have been set by the LEPs. LEP area partnerships have made provisional decisions about how much of their ESF allocation to devote to this strand of work, meaning that the amount of main funding available will vary widely across different areas. Ahead of the main funding becoming available from 2015, BIG will also offer Lottery development funding in each of the LEP areas it is working with. Read more at: 
https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/england/building-better-opportunities 

Arteffact Manager (Freelance): North Wales

Duration: 60 days  Fee: £12,000  Start date: April 2015  Closing date; 23rd Feb 2015.

Arteffact is the project name for a partnership of museum and archives across north Wales working together to use historic collections and exhibitions to inspire creativity and self-expression to promote better mental health. Arteffact helps people suffering from depression and other forms of negative mental health to begin to feel better about themselves and to start making positive changes in their lives. It does this by engaging professional artists to run creative activities in museums or galleries, providing a supportive way to engage with culture and heritage. The absorbing art activities, the stimulating settings, the social interaction and the connection to the stories and lives of others all help to achieve this positive impact.

Arteffact is also a unique way of opening up museums and galleries for groups of people who may never have thought that such places had anything for them. It is a partnership between museums, galleries, archives and community art services in north Wales that collaborate to deliver positive creative experiences for people with mental health needs. Our courses of art workshops are inspired by the artefacts and records held in the museum and archive collections. Full details & job description http://www.gwyneddgreadigol.com/eng/newyddion/290115c.html 

Less is More...

Radium223
“So I am now in the curious position of looking towards some life beyond treatment at the same time as doing a coda on my life through palliative care…” Catch up with the as-ever erudite Mike White on his new blog, as he discusses his journey “into a sub-atomic wonderland.” Click on the Incredible Shrinking Man above to link to Mike's absorbing and deeply personal blog.

New Arts Council England Research Grants (England)
The Arts Council England has launched a new Research Grants Programme to help build collective knowledge and deepen understanding of the impact of arts and culture; and to also promote greater collaboration and co-operation between the arts and cultural sector and research partners. In the first round (2015-16) organisations can apply for funding of between £50,000 and £100,000 for projects that last for up to three years. A total of £700,000 is available for 2015-16, with indicative budgets of £900,000 available for 2016-17 and 2017-18. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 12th March 2015. Read more by clicking on the filthy lucre below. 

Comic Relief Care Home Challenge Fund (England)
Comic Relief has announced that its Care Home Challenge Fund is open for applications. The aim of the fund is to improve the conditions for older people and staff in not for profit care homes and hospitals. In particular, the fund wants to support projects in not for profit care homes and the wider voluntary sector to develop and try out innovative ideas. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 will be provided for up to 12 months to try out new approaches to creating communities of care and strengthening relationships between all people living and working in the not for profit care home environment. Comic Relief want to provide a range of grants of different sizes and welcome partnership bids. Applicants must be working either directly in or in partnership with a not for profit care home in England and they are particularly interested in applications from care homes that have been rated as good or requiring improvement by the CQC. The closing date for applications is the 28th February 2015. Read more by clicking on Scoopy the Clown! 

Wear Red Day: Promoting Healthy Hearts and Healthy Minds 

Erik R. Vanderlip, MD, MPH 

Researchers today are putting together what it means to truly have a “broken heart.” As we adorn our favorite red apparel for “National Wear Red Day” to raise awareness of the untold stories of millions of women experiencing strokes or heart attacks in our country, we must consider the contribution of poor mental health to this burden. 

Clinical depression has repeatedly been linked with accelerating the onset of heart attacks and strokes and severely complicating recovery. People with depression often lack the concentration and energy to effectively exercise, eat healthfully, and engage in rehabilitation to optimize recovery. Several studies 1,2 have suggested significant reductions in heart attacks and improved rehabilitation after stroke with proper depression treatment, yet these practices are not yet standard care. Proactively managing our moods and emotions should be granted the same time and effort as lowering our cholesterol, losing weight or dieting. From taking a daily aspirin to taking a walk, keeping tabs on our emotions and addressing them head-on should be an essential part of heart and brain health. 


There are a number of reasons this hasn’t caught on. Cardiologists and primary care physicians are happy to roll up their sleeves to manage cholesterol and lower blood pressure, but when it comes to emotions, many lack the training and expertise to feel confident in diagnosing mental illness, much less manage it. Mental illness is often seen as very subjective, making it challenging to measure or assess. 


Furthermore, mental illness is too often stigmatizing, and many people are embarrassed to admit they’re struggling to cope. Or they may feel as if the overwhelming hopelessness they’re feeling is a natural consequence of having a heart attack or stroke. While it may be common, we know it’s not healthy. Solid, effective treatments exist that we know can help improve our quality of life as well as, perhaps, extend longevity. 


We’re not scared to talk to our doctors about high blood pressure or aspirin, and we shouldn’t be scared to talk to them about our mood. It may be one of the only ways we can begin to mend our broken hearts. 

More information from the American Heart Association:

• Mental Health and Heart Health


• How Does Depression Affect the Heart? 

References: 

1. Jorge RE, Acion L, Moser D, Adams HP, Robinson RG. Escitalopram and enhancement of cognitive recovery following stroke. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(2):187-96. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.185.

2. Stewart JC, Perkins AJ, Callahan CM. Effect of Collaborative Care for Depression on Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Data From the IMPACT Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychosom Med. 2014;76(1):29-37. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000022.

→ → → ☁ ← ← ←

What a line-up!
Short and sweet this week, as your blogger is out of the country. More on that soon. I’m thrilled to announce some of the line-up for our free one-day event here at Manchester School of Art on the 12th February. Alongside Dr Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt, who will be publishing her new report on the long-term health benefits of participating in the arts, we will hear from/about:
  WordPlay with Michelle Green and Harriet Morgan-Shami 
  42nd Street with Julie McCarthy 
  Red Balloon Pop with Sandra Bouguerch
  I Care with Kate Bevan 
  The Art Room at The Christie Hospital with Patricia Mountford
  Medical Waste with Coral Mallow 
  Gemma Climbs Her Mountain Gemma Christie and Chris Salt
  Look200 with Lucy Burscough
  Well into Words with Julie Walker 
  Outside In with Jennifer Gilbert 
  Pool Arts and St Lukes with Alison Kershaw
  I AM - Art as an Agent for Change and a Recoverist Manifesto
  Mark Prest and Clive Parkinson
The event is fully booked, but you can join our waiting list by clicking on the winter scene above.

BBC Children in Need Main Grant Programme
BBC Children in Need has announced that the next applications deadline for its Main Grants Programme is the 15th May 2015. Funding is available to organisations that work with young people who are suffering from:
 Illness 
 Distress
 Abuse or neglect
 Are disabled
 Have behavioural or psychological difficulties
 Or are living in poverty or situations of deprivation.
The Main grants programme is open to applications for grants of over £10,000. find out more by clicking on the image of the bizarre Ms Beatrix Potter taking her poor rabbit for a walk.

Healthy Hearts Grants for Community Projects
Heart Research UK has announced that its Health Hearts Grants Programme is now open for applications. Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants support innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities. Grants of up to £5,000 and £10,000 are available to community groups, voluntary organisations and researchers who are spreading the healthy heart message. The closing date for applications is the 28th February 2015. Read more by clicking on the tickety-boom-boom below.

That's it for this week. Short and Sweet.