Few things rival music as an outlet for the expression of mental health. This week, we look at Pink Floyd and their original frontman Syd Barrett, as well as Layne Staley, the late lead singer for Alice In Chains. Two very different bands dealing with the same themes of addiction and isolation, and two stories that carry the same message – you are never as alone as you may think you are.
Eddie Vedder has been the frontman for legendary Seattle band Pearl Jam for nearly 35 years. This week, we’re looking at how he’s dealt with the loss of friends and family in that time, and the power music has to both honour those we’ve lost and help us to process grief.
With Sam Fender’s long awaited third album around the corner, we take a look back at how Sam uses his music and his platform to bring an important focus to mental health and suicide awareness and prevention.
It’s been just over a year since Sean Martin, the lead singer of Liverpool band The Night Café, passed away. We take a look at how Sean and the band used their music to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health, and why it’s so important for us to actively listen to others when they need support.
I tried to write this piece several times but as I stared at the blank page words alluded me, until 4 am Friday and then
Slowly but surely, COVID-19 lockdowns are lifting and life is returning to some semblance of “normal.” Yet for many, the fog of the pandemic isn’t
Me and anxiety have lived side by side for nearly a decade. A time span in which I have transformed from a high school student
“The stress and strain of the last year has drained us all and is undoubtedly having a negative impact on our mental health, which if
Newport County and My Discombobulated Brain are holding our second virtual drop-in session for Mental Health via Zoom from 7 pm on 28 October 2020.
A few years ago I got to write a piece for the amazing, Parenting without tears. I thought given the time that we are in and the things that are going on in maternity care it was apt to share it again.
Opening day of the 2017/18 season is away at Stevenage, part of the attraction of football is away days with your mates. The journey together
If you have been to see your GP about your mental health, I would imagine you were offered some sort of SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Saturday 29th July 2017 is a date I will never forget; not because it was my son’s 6th birthday but because it was the day
There is a strong discourse about mental health in sport and particularly in professional football at this time of national crisis but for it to
What is Mental Health? Part one of our Discovering Mental Health series
We have so much negative around us at the moment and it can be so overwhelming so I wanted to share with you some of
A two-week checklist that will help your mind: Food: Buy the food you need. Use your freezer. Cleaning: Do you have enough stuff to keep
We are going to be releasing a few articles over the next few days, about how to cope at this time.
My Discombobulated Brain, the Welsh mental health charity that aims to tackle the stigma associated with mental health and offer a source of support and
Today is International Men’s Day which celebrates the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities; highlighting positive role models and raising
Wowzers, what a crazy month, my brain is in overdrive. On 5 October we had at the Newport County FC Mental Health match and it
Our Founder, Laura Jane Dernie has been in several articles in the Western Mail and South Wales Echo about Peri and Post Natal Depression and her work
Laura does a lot of work with Cardiff University Medical School. She is a regular speaker at the Winter and Summer School of Psychiatry Medical
Katy Garland donated her Charity day to us. She wrote a PR campaign and carried out introductions between Discombob and relevant recognisable people who could
We work with Phil Raeburn who is an MMA fighter training out of SBG in Ireland. Phil trains alongside John Phillips and Connor McGregor. Phil
Laura’s work with NCMH is very personal and varied but we would like to talk about a few collaborations. Laura went to Time to Talk
On 1st March 2015 Laura spoke at the Welsh Liberal Democrats Conference about how Mental Health research and real stories were very important. She also
Laura was asked to be a part of MIBA’s second number one Amazon book, Mumpreneur On Fire 2. This book contains 20 women stories and
We met the amazing Pigeon art at our Pop up restaurant at Little Man Coffee on 4th June 2016 where Cam, the artist was working
We are really proud of our ‘I Will’ film. This was filmed in Welsh Ice, where Discombob is based on 24th May 2016. This was
We are truly blessed to have this blog from the wonderful Tilly who is a medical student at Cardiff University and we are proud to
We have an amazing new blog from our anon blogger. ________________________________ There is a side to me that most people I know don’t see. Only
Ok, you got me, I am not going to buy heat magazine but I am going to London… I am on the train to London and
In October 2017 Laura attended Llanishen High school and carried out PSE lessons to the entirety of year eight.
Another amazing blog from our amazing anon blogger. We really love them! _________________________ You know that dream we’ve all had at least once where you’re
Our anon blogger has done it again! _____________________________ “I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it, I will survive, keep on surviving” Now that I’ve got
This was written by an amazing friend of mine who doesn’t want to be named. Enjoy. World is becoming a lot more understanding and a
Laura spoke at The Royal Collage of Midwifery Conference on the 27 April 2017 in City Hall, Cardiff. Since then she has spoken at several
Another amazing blog from our anon Bipolar blogger _________________________________________ Unfortunately with me at the moment, although I’m in a better place, my mental illness is
It’s been a while since I have personally written a blog for Discombob. This is for many a reason, one other people give us blogs
When this appeared in our inbox from someone I immediately asked if we could post it…they said yes by the way! _______________________________ Ask anyone that
Becky is one of the amazing people that I know! I am super chuffed we have a blog from her for you. ____________________ The first
Another amazing blog from our Anon Bipolar blogger! ____________________ You know when people say it’s ok to lean on others for support? Well this last
On the 30th January 2017, Laura carried out four PSE sessions, to cover the whole year.
We are lucky enough to start the year with another blog from our favourite anon blogger! ________________________ A note for 2017 New year, new
2016… For many, this year has SUCKED! I mean, we lost some of the legends – Bowie, Prince, Victoria Wood, Alan Rickman, Mohamed Ali, Gene
Following last weeks blog from our anon writer we were sent this beautiful blog about Christmas from them. If writing about how you are feeling
This week we have a blog from an anonymous supporter who wanted to share their story with you. They are amazing, strong and brave for
Owen, our Treasurer and all round top bloke, and I went to a charity meal yesterday, which was put on by the amazing Janet Harris
Katie Barnes is an amazing writer who is currently living and working in Spain. She is currently writing her latest book and I was super
Hi all! Please see our press release below! MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY SECURES START-UP FUNDING Welsh mental health charity My Discombobulated Brain has been awarded a
My name is Zoe. I’m 24, a PhD student at Cardiff School of Social Sciences. Here is the story of my struggles with mental health,
We have some pretty cool news. We are lucky enough that the amazing Pigeon aka Kamila Krol is going to be collaborating with us! We
This blog is a strange beast. It is something that thrills me and also can terrify me dependant on my mood. This one is a
This blog is an exciting one for me. It isn’t a buy one get one free, it is a free one get two more! Again
Todays blog is written by John Sennet, again I met John through Twitter and we immediately got on. We both see the web as a tool
Every guest post I seem to say the same thing that I am so blessed to find and meet all these amazing people through our
As I walked towards the wood and slate structure, I realised how beautiful this building truly is. I forget that this is usually seen as
I found the Red Lipstick foundation when doing research for My Discombobulated Brain. This is a blurb about them from their website: “As a foundation
WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS CONTENT THAT SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING Through social media I meet some amazing people who have amazing stories about their lives.
For years I worked with this fab guy called Steve Gray and he has written this blog. Steve Gray I spent years trying to be
I went to go see the exhibition in Whitchurch Hospital prior to it closing. It was a very moving experience. As I walked in the corridor,
Through what I do I get to meet some amazing young people meet Coral. Coral got on board with our #SickNotSad campaign and we started
People remember the mothers, people forget the fathers. Be that the sleepless nights they have or the post natal. Yes that’s right I said it.
We are live people, we are live. This is not a drill! Finally, after months of being on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and years of being
Our founder, Laura Jane Dernie, featured on Bournemouth University Radio’s talk show with Dr Andrew Mayers, Open Your Mind: A Mental Health Discussion, on 17th March 2016,