Ellie Broughton

Thanks to @nikisethsmith.bsky.social for the commission and @humanists.uk, Joy Brooks, Aisha Khan, Abi Millar, Donna Craine, Iacopo and Gillie Jenkinson for taking part.

Breaking: on two counts, the High Court has ruled that the Labour government's proscription of the campaign group Palestine Action was unlawful – a win for its co-founder Huda Ammori, who sought a judicial review of the ban

Had my first AI dream last night

Thank you again to these campaigners for publishing my FOI!

I couldn't place this FOI anywhere, so it was kindly supported by @madintheuk.bsky.social: www.madintheuk.com/2026/02/peop...

I asked trusts about maximum wait times, and one reported that a patient waited over three years. Another trust reported that over 40% waited more than 90 days for help.

Follow back or email elliebroughton@gmail.com for more info! 👋

Hi! For a story for Bustle, looking to speak with folks about the cost of their mental health care. Particularly interested in people who do somatic treatments incl. art/dance/equine therapy or have in-patient experience. First names/anon ok! Can DM here or email me: rebeccafishbein@gmail.com

People who stop taking weight-loss jabs regain weight in under two years, study reveals Analysis finds those who stopped using medication saw weight return four times faster compared with other weight loss plans

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

dietitians have been warning about this two-year problem for weight loss jabs from the outset. There is no offloading plan when you start jabs - only a warning to stop at two years. V good to have a study demonstrating it

More or Less - The Stats of the Nation - Health - BBC Sounds Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain the state of health and the NHS.

From 12:18, a really good summary of what's going on for GPs:
–training more
–fewer full-time
–lots un/underemployed (newly-qualified and experienced)

The only logical conclusion for me is that there's simply not enough cash to pay for the GPs we already have.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Xmas decs are down but you can unplug these warm-toned fairy lights over my dead body

Beats the Pantone discourse. Happy New Year

young people have always looked for a safe place to put their secrets that can’t judge their feelings! it’s why kids like to keep diaries. the difference is that a notebook will never actively encourage mental illness or explicitly validate suicidal ideation

Outstanding

The Ice Tower!

For UK therapists and counsellors, many of whom in private practice, the budget's probably not good news:

👉 Freezing tax and NI means less take-home pay
👉 More of the high-earners will slip into the £50k+ bracket
👉 New ISA rules seem annoying and divisive

... But: nice commitments to schools/NHS

For GPs who missed the budget: some vague good news.

📍 "£4.9bn" from efficiencies will be spent on 'more nurses and GP appointments'.
📍 NB that's a good chunk of the £26bn of tax rises.

No mechanism or detail yet but given the sessional GP workforce crisis, any news is positive.

Sorry forgot my email! elliebroughton@gmail.com - I also have a contact form on my website

Looking for named or anon case studies of people who've had low-cost therapy, or therapy from a trainee therapist.

#journorequest #therapistsconnect

Looking for UK therapists and counsellors who went into debt to train for anon interviews. You don't need to be in debt any more to take part!

Please email elliebroughton@gmail.com – we can talk it through before you decide to work with me.

#TherapistsConnect #TherapistSky #BlueSkyTherapists

The commonly prescribed drug that could reduce schizophrenia risk Scientists may have found a new use for the ‘broad-spectrum’ antibiotic commonly used to treat infections and acne

Late to this story (out last week) but it's a very cool finding about doxycycline: www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

Seeking former religious people (de-converts, 'dones', lapsed, exvangelical...) with an OCD diagnosis to talk briefly about their experience of both, and how they relate to one another (if at all).

Quite a specific request! Anon is fine. Pls email elliebroughton@gmail.com, subject in caps if poss

Xmas sandwiches and it's not even Halloween 🥰

If I was an editor I would simply commission 5k words on orange peel theory

Sick of hearing podcasters push this service when they themselves wouldn't dream of using it!

When you hear, 'This episode of Tara Brach is sponsored by BetterHelp'

I can accept one 'explore' per 1000 words, NO MORE

Writing about spirituality, about to cull my dozens of references to 'exploring'

Thanks for having me on! :)

Hi all! Looking for someone who dabbled in conspiracy theories/antivaxx ideas, ideally who's also had therapy. Named/anon both fine.

I'd also love to hear from anyone whose friend/relative/partner got lost in misinformation 💙