Take a closer look at the complex relationship between mental health and addictive behaviours in this new episode of Perspectives.

Host Colin Quick is joined by:

• Senior therapist Dee Johnston
• Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Victoria Chamorro
• Private clinical pathways director Debbie Longsdale

Together, they explore why so many people turn to substances or behaviours to cope, how addiction and emotional distress can feed each other, and what happens when someone tries to stop using something that once felt like a lifeline.

You will hear honest insights from our experts on self-medicating, the impact of long-term substance use, why behavioural addictions can be just as powerful as drugs or alcohol, and how conditions such as ADHD or autism can affect vulnerability to addiction. The panel also share practical guidance on spotting red flags, reaching out for help, and supporting someone who becomes defensive or withdrawn.

Whether you are curious about why addiction and mental health often overlap, looking for ways to understand a loved one, or seeking reassurance for yourself, this conversation offers clarity, compassion and hope.

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You can also watch Perspectives as a video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEizM40pda33JnYm75YJITH42lWCAAkYL

Sign up to our free wellbeing newsletter, The Reset 👇

https://www.priorygroup.com/newsletter-subscription-form

Follow Priory on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory

Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog

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This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you.

If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support

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Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities.

Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible.

For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:

https://www.priorygroup.com/

0330 056 6023

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to our newsletter - The Reset

The Reset is a free monthly email newsletter designed to help you look after your mental wellbeing with clear, practical guidance you can use straight away. Each edition focuses on a key topic, offering simple steps to support healthier habits and a calmer mind. Subscribe for free today at priorygroup.com/newsletter

In this episode of Perspectives, we explore the complex experience of loneliness, and how it's growing and shifting in a modern landscape of digital platforms, working from home and a decline in our sense of community.

Host Colin Quick is joined by Priory experts Dee Johnson (Senior Therapist), Dr Victoria Chamorro (Consultant Psychiatrist), and Debbie Longsdale (Clinical Pathways Director) to discuss why we feel lonely, how modern life has changed our ability to connect, and what loneliness really means for our mental health.

Together, they explore:

• The difference between loneliness and isolation
• Why parasocial and online connections don’t replace in-person contact
• How loneliness affects different groups, including men, neurodivergent people, and older adults
• The impact of remote working, imposter syndrome and social media
• Practical steps for reconnecting – for yourself or someone you care about

This is an unfiltered conversation about a growing epidemic. The panel dig into the realities of modern life – how we’ve lost the art of connection, why community spaces are vanishing, and answers audience questions on how this relates to neurodiversity.

LINKS TO SOURCES:

ONS data on loneliness: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics

WHO declares loneliness a global health threat: WHO declares loneliness a ‘global public health concern’ | Global development | The Guardian

Onward report into young people's loneliness: Age of Alienation: Young people are facing a loneliness epidemic | Onward

State of American Men 2023: equimundo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/STATE-OF-AMERICAN-MEN-2023.pdf

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You can also watch Perspectives as a video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEizM40pda33JnYm75YJITH42lWCAAkYL

Sign up to our free wellbeing newsletter, The Reset 👇

https://www.priorygroup.com/newsletter-subscription-form

Follow Priory on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory

Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog

__

This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you.

If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support

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Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which...

Why are more people than ever being diagnosed with ADHD and autism? Is it better awareness, or are we over-pathologising natural differences in how people think and behave?

In this episode of Perspectives, Priory’s expert panel explores ADHD and autism—two conditions that have seen a dramatic rise in diagnoses in recent years, while discussing the evolving understanding of neurodiversity, the role of diagnosis, and the impact on mental health.

On this episode:

🔵 Why women with ADHD are often underdiagnosed – and how it presents differently

🔵 Social media’s role in ADHD and autism awareness (and misinformation risks)

🔵 Should ADHD and autism be considered ‘superpowers’ – or does this minimise real struggles?

On the panel:

▶️ Dr Samir Shah, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director

▶️ Dr David McLaughlan, Consultant Psychiatrist and Co-Founder of Curb

▶️ Debbie Longsdale, Priory's Therapy Director

LINKS TO SOURCES:

In 2021, a study found a 787% rise in the number of diagnoses between 1998 and 2018 in the UK:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/04/uk-increase-autism-diagnoses-neurodiversity

In 2023, ADHD was the second-most viewed condition on the NHS website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ejky0dy47o

TikTok and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study of Social Media Content Quality

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/07067437221082854

__

You can also watch Perspectives as a video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEizM40pda33JnYm75YJITH42lWCAAkYL

Sign up to our free wellbeing newsletter, The Reset 👇

https://www.priorygroup.com/newsletter-subscription-form

Follow Priory on social media:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory

Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog

__

This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you.

If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support

__

Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities.

Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible.

For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:

https://www.priorygroup.com/

0330 056 6023

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to our newsletter - The Reset

The Reset is a free monthly email newsletter designed to help you look after your mental wellbeing with clear, practical guidance you can use straight away. Each edition focuses on a key topic, offering simple steps to support healthier habits and a calmer mind. Subscribe for free today...