Bullying impacts on mental health

Dear Editor, Regarding the recent subject of mental health issues being tackled in schools, perhaps we should look to the actual cause in the first place.

A lot of youngsters are depressed and suicidal because they are being bullied all day every day, not only at school but on all forms of social media too.

As for having a word with teachers, all this does is have the victim removed from school while the bully is allowed to stay and carry on.

Too many youngsters are killing themselves because of bullying. Maybe when this is eradicated from all schools, there won’t be any need for counselling.

M Houston, Coatbridge Fluvaccineforasthma

Dear Editor, New analysis by Asthma UK reveals that around a million Brits with asthma are at risk because they’re not planning to get the flu vaccine – even though eight in 10 people with asthma say flu is a top trigger for life-threatening attacks.

We’re urging people with asthma to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible to reduce their risk of catching the virus and prevent asthma attacks.

The virus can increase inflammation in the airways so they can become narrow, leaving people coughing, wheezing and gasping for breath.

This increased inflammation also means people are more likely to react to other triggers, such as pollen or pollution, increasing the chance of an asthma attack.

Each is potentially life-threatening with around three people dying from an asthma attack in the UK every day.

Unfortunately, there are lots of myths about the flu jab not working, causing side effects or causing flu, and our research shows this is preventing people from getting it.

But the vaccine can’t give you flu, the potential side effects are minimal and it could save people’s lives.

Ourwebsite provides all the info you need about flu – visit asthma.org.uk

The flu vaccine is available free of charge to anyone with asthma who has been using preventer medicine, has needed a course of oral or systemic steroids or has had a previous hospital admission because of their asthma.

It can take up to two weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective, so we are urging people to get it as soon as possible so they’re protected during the peak flu season in December and January.

People with asthma should also make sure they keep taking their regular preventer medicines for their best chance of staying well with their asthma. We are urging people to get the facts about flu so that they can make an informed decision, by visiting asthma. org.uk/flu.

Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical lead, Asthma UK