David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
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davidwoodhead.bsky.social
David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
@davidwoodhead.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.8K following 14 posts
Mental health researcher. Writer. Queer. Sober. U=U. Free Palestine 🍉
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davidwoodhead.bsky.social
David Woodhead PhD (he/him) @davidwoodhead.bsky.social · Jul 5
Stood before the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at Tate Modern and felt fury and sorrow coil together. Grief for those lost.
Rage at the silence that let it happen

My blog on remembering—not passively, but defiantly.
Grieving loudly. Loving fiercely. Refusing erasure.
thepolyphony.org/2025/07/02/q...
Looking Again: The Quilt, the Gaze, and Queer Remembering
David Woodhead reflects on the memories, legacies, and queer histories provoked by viewing- gazing upon- the AIDS memorial quilt in 1994 and in June this year.
thepolyphony.org
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
pauleric70.bsky.social
Steve Martin & Martin Short singing the way you look tonight to the beautiful DianeKeaton 🥺💔
October 12, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
How do global catastrophic events – like climate change, war and pandemics – affect mental health?
And how can governments support those most at risk?

@davidwoodhead.bsky.social & @andybell-centremh.bsky.social explore in this special edition of @rsph.bsky.social's journal 👇 tinyurl.com/y5x88td3
The mental health impacts of catastrophic events: policy considerations - A Bell, D Woodhead, 2025
In this article, authors Bell and Woodhead look at the terminology surrounding and impact of catastrophic events on mental health on a global basis. They outlin...
tinyurl.com
August 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
literarti.bsky.social
For reasons I don’t fully understand the UK #AIDS quilt was displayed recently at @tatemodern.bsky.social for only three days.

My friend and colleague @davidwoodhead.bsky.social writes in this incredible piece about his encounter there w materiality and/as memory thepolyphony.org/2025/07/02/q...
Looking Again: The Quilt, the Gaze, and Queer Remembering
David Woodhead reflects on the memories, legacies, and queer histories provoked by viewing- gazing upon- the AIDS memorial quilt in 1994 and in June this year.
thepolyphony.org
July 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
@centreformh.bsky.social @aldersonday.bsky.social @durhamimh.bsky.social @literarti.bsky.social @andybell-centremh.bsky.social
davidwoodhead.bsky.social David Woodhead PhD (he/him) @davidwoodhead.bsky.social · Jul 5
Stood before the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at Tate Modern and felt fury and sorrow coil together. Grief for those lost.
Rage at the silence that let it happen

My blog on remembering—not passively, but defiantly.
Grieving loudly. Loving fiercely. Refusing erasure.
thepolyphony.org/2025/07/02/q...
Looking Again: The Quilt, the Gaze, and Queer Remembering
David Woodhead reflects on the memories, legacies, and queer histories provoked by viewing- gazing upon- the AIDS memorial quilt in 1994 and in June this year.
thepolyphony.org
July 5, 2025 at 11:13 AM
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
Stood before the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at Tate Modern and felt fury and sorrow coil together. Grief for those lost.
Rage at the silence that let it happen

My blog on remembering—not passively, but defiantly.
Grieving loudly. Loving fiercely. Refusing erasure.
thepolyphony.org/2025/07/02/q...
Looking Again: The Quilt, the Gaze, and Queer Remembering
David Woodhead reflects on the memories, legacies, and queer histories provoked by viewing- gazing upon- the AIDS memorial quilt in 1994 and in June this year.
thepolyphony.org
July 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
The fight for LGBTQ+ rights can take its toll, yet solidarity strengthens us. We build resilience together, honouring the past while forging a future of compassion and justice. In our communities, we find healing, courage, and the power to keep going. @centreformh.bsky.social @durhamimh.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · Jun 2
🗣️ "Every beat, every shout, every flash of colour was a declaration of identity – a promise that our existence, in all its boldness, would not be silenced."

As #Pride month kicks off, @davidwoodhead.bsky.social reflects on the bonds he's forged through LGBTQ+ activism 👇 tinyurl.com/4vx5bx56
Marching through time: Intersections of queer activism and mental wellbeing   - Centre for Mental Health
David reflects on the bonds he has forged through LGBTQ+ activism and the importance of caring communities in confronting mental health injustice.
www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk
June 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
Marching through time: Intersections of queer activism and mental wellbeing 

To kick off #Pride month, @davidwoodhead.bsky.social thinks back to his first Pride march, and considers the importance of caring communities in confronting mental health injustice 👇 tinyurl.com/4vx5bx56 #Pride2025
Image of a young person with short red hair draped in a LGBTQ+ Pride flag in the crowd at a Pride march. Quote from David Woodhead: "Every beat, every shout, every flash of colour was a declaration of identity – a promise that our existence, in all its boldness, would not be silenced."
June 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
As @davidwoodhead.bsky.social marks a decade of sobriety, he reflects on the support that enabled his recovery from #SubstanceUse - including family and friends, therapy, writing, physical health services & support like @londonfriend.bsky.social 👇 www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/waterloo-sun...
Waterloo sunrise: A ten-year journey from shadows to light - Centre for Mental Health
David marks a decade of sobriety with reflections on how substance use impacted his life and the support that enabled his recovery.
tinyurl.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
durhamimh.bsky.social
An incredibly powerful post by our fabulous colleague @davidwoodhead.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · May 20
🗣️ "Drugs made me feel connected to the world and to people in ways I had never experienced, easing the sadness I had always known."

@davidwoodhead.bsky.social shares his reflections on a decade of sobriety, the impact of substance use, and the support that enabled his recovery: tinyurl.com/5n8erfjr
Quote from David Woodhead: "Drugs made me feel connected to the world and to people in ways I had never experienced, easing the sadness I had always known. Stopping drugs was entirely different. There was no relief or certainty in my decision. During early recovery, I slept in my friend’s spare room, screaming in my sleep...  Progress was slow, but by day 99, I began to feel human again. " Quote from David Woodhead: "A decade of sobriety. With love and support, a combination of services and opportunities, and a dogged and open-minded determination, a new life can be found, one of learning and self-discovery, and better mental health, proving that sometimes things don’t turn out as badly as we might once have feared."
May 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
Writing about addiction invites judgement and stigma. Yet I hope my blog reminds us that even in the darkest days, there is always hope #LGBTQ+ #mentalhealthequity #recovery @centreformh.bsky.social @durhamimh.bsky.social @andybell-centremh.bsky.social @aldersonday.bsky.social @literarti.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · May 20
🗣️ "Drugs made me feel connected to the world and to people in ways I had never experienced, easing the sadness I had always known."

@davidwoodhead.bsky.social shares his reflections on a decade of sobriety, the impact of substance use, and the support that enabled his recovery: tinyurl.com/5n8erfjr
Quote from David Woodhead: "Drugs made me feel connected to the world and to people in ways I had never experienced, easing the sadness I had always known. Stopping drugs was entirely different. There was no relief or certainty in my decision. During early recovery, I slept in my friend’s spare room, screaming in my sleep...  Progress was slow, but by day 99, I began to feel human again. " Quote from David Woodhead: "A decade of sobriety. With love and support, a combination of services and opportunities, and a dogged and open-minded determination, a new life can be found, one of learning and self-discovery, and better mental health, proving that sometimes things don’t turn out as badly as we might once have feared."
May 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
We also need to see:
🎯 ICBs developing a plan that addresses the care pathways between both services
🎯 ICBs funding voluntary orgs that meet the needs of marginalised communities
🎯 Strengthening & training of the workforce
🎯 Investment in testing innovative approaches to meeting co-occurring needs
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
andybell-centremh.bsky.social
Today at @centreformh.bsky.social we’re sharing our new briefing on the urgent need to improve support for people with both mental health and substance use difficulties. For too long, doors have been closed and people have been let down. It’s time to plan services with people’s real needs in mind.
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · May 20
🧵 People with both mental health and substance use difficulties are fighting a battle on two fronts. But they often face closed doors to care, unable to access services for one until they've dealt with the other. This has to change.
tinyurl.com/yeynkxba #SubstanceUse #MentalHealth
Illustration of a figure walking away from two closed doors. One door is labelled 'substance use services' and the other is labelled 'mental health services'. Text reads: People with both substance use and mental health difficulties too often face closed doors to care. This has to change
May 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
Writing about addiction invites judgement and stigma. Yet I hope my blog reminds us that even in the darkest days, there is always hope #LGBTQ+ #mentalhealthequity #recovery @centreformh.bsky.social @durhamimh.bsky.social @andybell-centremh.bsky.social @aldersonday.bsky.social @literarti.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · May 20
🗣️ "Drugs made me feel connected to the world and to people in ways I had never experienced, easing the sadness I had always known."

@davidwoodhead.bsky.social shares his reflections on a decade of sobriety, the impact of substance use, and the support that enabled his recovery: tinyurl.com/5n8erfjr
Quote from David Woodhead: "Drugs made me feel connected to the world and to people in ways I had never experienced, easing the sadness I had always known. Stopping drugs was entirely different. There was no relief or certainty in my decision. During early recovery, I slept in my friend’s spare room, screaming in my sleep...  Progress was slow, but by day 99, I began to feel human again. " Quote from David Woodhead: "A decade of sobriety. With love and support, a combination of services and opportunities, and a dogged and open-minded determination, a new life can be found, one of learning and self-discovery, and better mental health, proving that sometimes things don’t turn out as badly as we might once have feared."
May 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
Integrate drug and mental health services. Prioritise compassion over criminalisation, acceptance over stigma. A system rooted in care recognises that addiction is a health issue, not a crime—ensuring people receive support, not punishment. Change begins with humanity. @centreformh.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · May 20
🧵 People with both mental health and substance use difficulties are fighting a battle on two fronts. But they often face closed doors to care, unable to access services for one until they've dealt with the other. This has to change.
tinyurl.com/yeynkxba #SubstanceUse #MentalHealth
Illustration of a figure walking away from two closed doors. One door is labelled 'substance use services' and the other is labelled 'mental health services'. Text reads: People with both substance use and mental health difficulties too often face closed doors to care. This has to change
May 20, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
Having both mental health and substance use difficulties shouldn’t stop you from accessing care. But this is too many people’s reality. We’re calling for more integrated, compassionate care so that everyone can get the support they need.
www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...
Having both mental health and substance use difficulties shouldn’t stop you from accessing care. But this is too many people’s reality. We’re calling for more integrated & compassionate care.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
This gap in provision has been recognised, but not effectively closed, for decades. Now we need action.

📢 We're calling for investment in both substance use & mental health services - and more integration between the two - as part of the upcoming ten-year health plan.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
The pervasive stigma around both substance use and mental ill health acts as a significant barrier to getting help. And the lack of culturally competent, faith-sensitive, gender-informed can compound the barriers for people from racialised and LGBTQ+ communities.
Two quotes from participants: “We might have a ‘no wrong door’ approach, but people may not even get to the door.” “There needs to be greater acceptance of the strength that it takes someone to disclose that they want support for a drug or alcohol problem, as people have told us this is not always taken seriously and often the issue is dismissed as not being a major problem.”
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
A key barrier to support is the lack of integration between mental health and substance use services. Despite the complex links between the two problems, people are routinely refused mental health support until they stop using substances.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
We hosted a roundtable with Professor Dame Carol Black and participants from charities, service providers, grassroots organisations, and professional bodies, to explore how we can move from fragmentation to more integrated, effective services.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
Hate and its impacts on LGBTQ+ mental health. 🌈 How to combat the negativity and foster wellbeing. My latest blog post #LGBTQ #MentalHealth #Wellbeing @centreformh.bsky.social @literarti.bsky.social @durhamimh.bsky.social @andybell-centremh.bsky.social @aldersonday.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · Apr 24
Rainbows in the storm: Navigating hostility and hope in LGBTQ+ lives

Following last week's Supreme Court ruling & new data on suicide deaths, @davidwoodhead.bsky.social explores how mental health inequalities are impacting LGBTQ+ people, and how we can tackle these injustices👇 tinyurl.com/mpu2a7px
Rainbows in the storm: Navigating hostility and hope in LGBTQ+ lives David Woodhead Quote: “What are the long-term impacts of enduring hate, not just on us as individuals but on the many LGBTQ+ communities we belong to?” “And perhaps more fundamentally, how do we survive, let alone thrive, in a world that questions our existence?”
April 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
Rainbows in the storm: Navigating hostility and hope in LGBTQ+ lives

Following last week's Supreme Court ruling & new data on suicide deaths, @davidwoodhead.bsky.social explores how mental health inequalities are impacting LGBTQ+ people, and how we can tackle these injustices👇 tinyurl.com/mpu2a7px
Rainbows in the storm: Navigating hostility and hope in LGBTQ+ lives David Woodhead Quote: “What are the long-term impacts of enduring hate, not just on us as individuals but on the many LGBTQ+ communities we belong to?” “And perhaps more fundamentally, how do we survive, let alone thrive, in a world that questions our existence?”
April 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
davidwoodhead.bsky.social
Facing up to the reality of being HIV positive is, without doubt, a challenge. But in the midst of the fear, uncertainty, and stigma, I found hope and friendship. And purpose. @centreformh.bsky.social #UequalsU #HIV #Hope #Stigma #HIVTestingWeek #LGBTQIA @durhamimh.bsky.social
centreformh.bsky.social Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · Feb 10
"Knowing that we are well & not infectious can help smash the stigma... It can disrupt the narratives of hatred and fear and relieve us of the anxiety and depression that anti LGBTQ+ sentiment creates."
@davidwoodhead.bsky.social on HIV stigma & mental health: tinyurl.com/yxz3bbv9 #HIVTestingWeek
Stigma and mental health: reflections for World AIDS Day - Centre for Mental Health
This World AIDS Day, David Woodhead reflects on the stigma, discrimination and isolation of HIV, and the impact on mental health
tinyurl.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
kmunday.bsky.social
Here's Autism!

#AutismAwareness
#AutismAcceptance
My giant head smashed through the door in the Shinning. My eyes are wide and wild. "Here's autism!"
April 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
centreformh.bsky.social
⚠️ Rates of mental health problems among children have risen significantly in recent years, and now cost the UK £1 trillion in lost lifetime earnings.
How do we reverse the rise and reduce the risks?

Keep a look out for our new report tomorrow, where we'll be exploring this in more detail 👀
Infographic: 1 in 5 children and young people in England has a mental health problem. Only a third were able to access treatment in 2023. (Children’s Commissioner for England, 2024) Infographic: 75% of young people experiencing a mental health problem wait so long that their condition gets worse, or they are unable to access any treatment at all. (Local Government Association, 2023)
April 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by David Woodhead PhD (he/him)
mhscincubator.bsky.social
Join us for our next webinar on 1st May, 10 - 11 a.m

Presenters Jess Carlisle from LSE and Tamsin Fisher from Keele University

More details can be found sites.manchester.ac.uk/mhsci/2025/0...

To register: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Upcoming Webinar: 1st May 2025
sites.manchester.ac.uk
April 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM