Bits & pieces

Scotland launches a campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illness: A campaign that aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health problems was launched this week in Scotland. The "See Me" campaign features a programme of national advertising and a series of events designed to raise awareness of the problem. It is being run by an alliance of five organisations, including the Scottish Association for Mental Health and the Scottish Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Further information is available at www.seemescotland.org

Doctors may take blood samples from unconscious drivers: For the first time UK doctors will no longer need consent before taking blood samples from unconscious or incapacitated drivers. Under provisions of the 2002 Police Reform Act, police can now ask doctors to carry out forensic tests on incapacitated drivers who have not agreed to the procedures. The BMA has issued guidelines for doctors on this issue.

Government launches strategy to reduce suicide: The Department of Health plans to promote safer prescribing of antidepressants and analgesics and wants to tackle known suicide hotspots, such as railway bridges, in an attempt to cut down the number of suicides in England by at least a fifth by 2010. Suicide is the commonest cause of death among young men aged under 35 in the United Kingdom. There are about 5000 suicides a year, of which 1300 are in young men. The strategy can be accessed at: www.doh.gov.uk /mentalhealth/index.htm

University College London and Imperial College London consider merger: They will embark on negotiations in response to opportunities in the globalisation of education and research, potentially leading to the decision to merge the two institutions into a new university.