Health Matters: Could you help others cope?

Violent behaviour, anxiety and emotional disorders are the major symptoms of the failure of many people to cope with life in general, says mental health specialist Mark Haith of the Professional Counselling Organisation (PCO).

The PCO is launching a nationwide training programme to give people a practical workshop- style introduction to the technique, which will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Leeds, from April 17-18.

Leeds is one of nine cities across the UK chosen for the two-day specialist courses, which are aimed at tackling the shortage of Cognitive Behaviour Therapists.

Details of the course are available on www.trainingincounselling.co.uk

Climb for life

A group of businessmen from Hull are climbing Scafell Pike to raise money for a little boy suffering from childhood cancer. Richard Oakes and his fellow directors from Mer-Tech Automotive Services, Brighton Street, Hull, were inspired to do something after the death of Sophie

Atay, two, from neuroblastoma, who had 36,000 followers on Facebook before she died. "From that Facebook page I have come to realise that this is not such a rare disease in young children," says Richard. "Around 100 children a year develop this type of cancer with little hope of a cure in this country. Families are having to raise upwards of 250,000 to take their children to America for treatment which will massively increase their chance of survival.

"We have therefore decided to do something to help another family in this situation and raise awareness of this disease and have found a little (one-year-old) boy called Joshua Deller who has the same type of cancer."

Anyone who would like to sponsor Richard and his team should visit www.justgiving. com/Richard-Oakes1 and have a look at Joshua's mum's story.

Lice and easy

A new pill could be the answer for tackling head lice. In a trial, more than 800 people infected with head lice were either given an insecticide lotion or Ivermectin in tablet form.

After 15 days, 95 per cent of those treated with the pill were free of head lice compared to 85 per cent of those treated with the lotion.

It is hoped the pill will become available in a few years.