VIRGIN Media has announced that their daily show Elaine will be "taking a break" this week.

Elaine which is hosted by Elaine Crowley is on Virgin Media One every weekday at 3pm.

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Usually, on the show, the host is joined by a number of guests where they speak about the entertainment stories of the day.

However, the show announced this week that they wouldn't be on air but that they would be back on air next week on October 19.

They didn't give an explanation as to why they will be off air in their statement.

Taking to Elaine's Twitter they said: "The Elaine Show is on a break this week!

"However, have no fear as the girls will be back on Monday 19th, from 3pm on Virgin Media One!"

This comes after Elaine recently revealed she is unable to see family members "yet again" due to Level 3 restrictions.

The presenter urged people to keep a positive mental attitude but admitted the pandemic is "not great".

Elaine spoke with guests Andrea Smith, Izzy Bartak-Healy and Sarah Jayne Tobin about the upcoming Christmas season.

The presenter asked whether it was too early to begin preparing for the holiday after a UK couple decided to dust off the decorations and light up early this year.

Elaine said she approved of the decorating in order to keep spirits high amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: "I was this close to wearing a Santy hat on air today. I'm all for [decorating] - anything that will cheer us up."

Journalist Andrea Smith replied: "It's getting dark and depressing at the moment so anything we can do to cheer ourselves up. Especially in this gloomy weather, we've nothing to look forward to, it's very depressing."

Elaine urged everyone to keep a positive mental attitude to avoid feeling too low ahead of the festivities.

She said: "We do have things to look forward to! Positive mental attitude -I'm forcing it all week because it's very easy to go down the rabbit hole and think everything is bleak and everything's terrible; it's not.

"It's not great but it's not too terrible either. The main thing for me is I can't go home and see any member of my family yet again."

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Continued here:
Virgin Media reveal their daily chat show Elaine will be taking a break this week - The Irish Sun

Whether youre a stay at home parent, student, or you lead a busy working lifestyle, making time for exercise can be a challenge for many.

Between long working days, studying for assignments and taking care of a family, it can often affect the time we have to spend on ourselves marry this with finding time for the gym and it leaves us with pretty much no time at all.

Making exercise a habitual process in life is extremely important as it can improve health, well-being and vitality - not to mention how much it reduces the risk of developing Chronic Heart Disease and obesity.

Exercise also has reverberations on mood through the release of endorphins, giving you that feel-good factor and brain creativity, which are both things which can help to improve mental health and physical well-being.

Fortunately, the experts at Total Fitness understand how hard it can be to remain motivated and find time for fitness and are here to help.

Below, Steven Virtue, Fitness Content and Programming Manager at Total Fitness, shares his five expert tips for maintaining a fit and active lifestyle.

Health clubs have great opportunities to get you moving in group exercise classes, which give you a community feel and comradery to help motivate you more than it would if you were exercising alone.

For those studying, I know from experience that there are plentiful opportunities to join certain sports team or functions.

If you are not a student or if your education establishment has limited opportunities, look to your wider community

Make exercise your priority

If youre not exercising currently, you need to ask the question, is it important to you?

Chances are, not as much as you think and you may procrastinate around the thought of a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Many successful athletes and fitness enthusiasts stick to their exercise routines by making it the first thing they do for the day.

If you do this before study or work, this is one less thing to cross off the to do list and will enable you to get on with your day guilt-free, with a positive mental attitude.

Schedule your exercise like you would your work or study life

Whether you are the type of person to train early morning, afternoon or evening, scheduling into your calendar helps keep you accountable and you will be more likely to stick to a routine.

By making this part of your lifestyle, it will help with organisation outside of the gym, which can permeate across multiple functions you have to contend with, such as work or family life.

Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England (2020) found the majority of UK adults surveyed were overweight or obese this figure stood at 67% for men and 60% for women.

Its clear that there are too many of us are living sedentary lifestyles, even if exercise is forming part of our weekly schedule.

Long periods of a sedentary state will cancel out the hard work we do exercising but there are easy steps you can take to avoid this:

Avoid standing still for too long and aim to move throughout the day, starting with at least five minutes at the start of every hour.

Choose to walk or cycle to your destination when possible, whether that be work, the shops or an afternoon at the park.

Take the stairs instead of the lift so you can increase your step count.

If you must take the car, try to park further away from your destination so you can walk the rest of the way.

Take walks instead of snacks when you need a break from work or studying.

Exercise doesnt have to be boring

Its not uncommon to dread doing exercise sometimes but this should be a happy place you can de-stress, rejuvenate and energise yourself.

Making time for exercise which you enjoy will make it more sustainable and motivate you to pursue that happier, healthier lifestyle.

Here are some additional ways to help you look forward to exercise rather than fearing it:

*Exercise with a friend. Regardless of the activity, this will help motivate you and the time will always go faster.

*Create a music playlist with all your favourite songs before working out. Positive vibes will lead to a positive workout.

*Take part in group exercise classes at your local gym. Total Fitness offers a wide range of classes to suit different levels and needs.

*Hiring a personal trainer can help to keep you motivated. Trainers are specialists in their field and results are tailored specifically around your goals and lifestyle. This is a great step to making fitness a habit and helps to keep you accountable.

*Get yourself a fitness tracker. Giving yourself a move, stand and exercise goal to work with on a daily basis helps to keep you on track whilst also letting you to see the progess pulled from the data these devices house.

Total Fitness has 17 health clubs across the North of England and Wales and provide a full-service fitness offering. For more information visit http://www.totalfitness.co.uk.

Original post:
Expert tips to keep you motivated with fitness - Doncaster Free Press

The half-time team talk seemed to have made the difference as Amakhosi fought back with two goals to win the Cup tie

Following a game of two halves in which there were positives and negatives, new Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt got his tenure off to a winning start as his side edged out Maritzburg United 2-1 in an MTN8 quarter-final clash at the FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It should be noted, before too much is read into this result, that Hunt was without a half a team of potential first-choice players (due to injury and suspension), including influential forwards Samir Nurkovic, Lebogang Manyama, Dumisani Zuma, as well as Eric Mathoho and Willard Katsande.

Leonardo Castro, meanwhile, was not fully fit and started on the bench. The former Bidvest Wits mentor also only had two-and-a-half weeks of preparation with his new players.

Nevertheless, there were several noteworthy take-outs from the game.

Poor start

"I think first half we were still in the bus," Hunt told SuperSport after the match, in what was a great summation of Chiefs' performance in the first 45 minutes.

It certainly was a nervy-looking Amakhosi side which took part in the opening stanza.

And the opening half couldn't have gone much worse, although Chiefs were lucky to only be 1-0 down after the KwaZulu-Natal side had struck the bar through Bongokuhle Hlongwane not long after Thabiso Kutumela had notched the opening goal.

Going forward in attack, Chiefs looked disjointed and lacked purpose, while at the back, the home defence regularly found themselves being pulled out of shape and exposed by Maritzburg's attackers.

Positive signs

It all changed after the interval, and Hunt's two substitutes, Njabulo Blom and Castro, made a significant impact as he demonstrated his tactical nous.

There was also a substantial increase in focus and intensity from the Soweto side, likely a result of a stinging team talk at the break.

That Hunt was able to get such a reaction from his men was probably the most important point of the day. The character, fighting spirit and unity bode well for the season.

It was also crucial in terms of putting to bed last season's bitter disappointment of losing out on the league title on the final day. Just imagine how the morale may have sunk had Amakhosi started the new season by being knocked out of the cup.

For Hunt, it was the mental fortitude his men showed which was most satisfying and he'll be hoping that with time and more training, his side will gel and go from strength to strength as systems are implemented.

"I take mentality, attitude [from the game]," Hunt concluded. "Nothing to write home about [in terms of] prettiness. I will try instill that attitude into the team."

More:
Hunt's experience shines through as Kaizer Chiefs get the start they so badly needed - Goal.com

LONDON, Oct. 15, 2020, A survey of 135 NHS CCGs in England carried out by BfB Labs, a pioneer in the development of evidence-based digital therapeutics for CYP shows that almost 4 out of 10 NHS CCGs have not implemented any new digital therapeutics to support childrens mental health since the onset of COVID-19. A limited knowledge of available digital interventions, cost, and a lack of clinical evidence are the top three barriers for integrating new digital therapeutics.

The latest modelling by the Centre for Mental Health forecasts that as many as 1.5 million young people in England will need help with psychological difficulties as a direct consequence of COVID-19. This surge will leave hundreds of thousands of children without any mental health support as many CCGs were already struggling to provide support before COVID-19. Some of these children will already have existing mental health difficulties and may have been on a waiting list, but others will be seeking help for the first time.

We need more to tackle the current status quo where postcode lotteries, high thresholds for care, and significant capacity issues are preventing timely access to support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The unique value of a regulated digital therapeutic is its scalability, location-agnostic accessibility, and anytime, anywhere availability via a mobile device. says Manjul Rathee, CEO of BfB Labs.

BfB Labs is an award-winning pioneer using emergent technology for early intervention in young peoples mental health. The company recently announced it had received regulatory approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for Lumi Nova the first mobile game for paediatric anxiety disorders that provides ongoing evidence. Lumi Nova has been funded by NHS England via the NHS Improvements SBRI Healthcare programme and developed in partnership with the University of Reading, and MindTech UK.

The NHS Long Term Plan emphasises the role of digital transformation in helping to enable CYP to access the care they need quickly and easily. However, the reality is very different and NHS fragmentation remains a significant factor limiting adoption and diffusion as survey highlights.

According to Manjul Rathee, CEO of BfB Labs Even if a digital therapeutic has been approved by the Medicines Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), is CE marked, has demonstrated high levels of safety, efficacy, and has good economic data, this still does not guarantee widespread adoption. Multiple barriers still remain, including an individual organisations attitude to risk and difficulties identifying and evaluating appropriate interventions.

With 75 per cent of CYP experiencing a mental health problem are unable to access any treatment at all. (Mental Health Foundation), BfB Labs survey also showed that 45.4% of NHS CCGs believe digital therapeutics have a role to play in early intervention support. Mobile technology can be integrated into community health care where a child does not meet the threshold required for treatment.

Early intervention really matters in young peoples mental health. Untreated mental health issues can lead to life-long consequences. says Manjul Rathee We have a window now to prepare for what lies ahead. That means putting in place digital interventions that can scale access to evidence-based supports to enable those young people who need support to receive care quickly.

See the rest here:
Digital literacy is hindering the adoption of digital interventions to support children's mental health amid pandemic. - PharmiWeb.com

Stigma is a big thing, said Cicely Alvis, who is a Division Director at Frontier Healths Turning Point in Johnson City.

Misunderstanding and stigma surrounding mental ill health are widespread, reads the World Health Organizations 10 facts on mental health. Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that they are untreatable, or that people with mental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, or incapable of making decisions. This stigma can lead to abuse, rejection and isolation and exclude people from health care or support

I think there are a lot of troubled people out there who keep it to themselves, and theyre afraid theyre the only ones who feel the way that they do, said Dr. Dan Jones, who is the director of the counseling center at ETSU. Once they start talkingespecially like you do in group therapythey find out theyre not the only ones that struggle with those issues.

He also noted that many people struggling with mental illness keep the issue to themselves for fear of burdening others.

Theres also a stigma about seeking mental health assistance, he said. Theres a lot of words that come along with stigma, like I dont want to see a counselor because Im not crazy. Crazy is not a clinical term, but its an embarrassing term.

He also noted that a lot of the stigma comes from unhealthy cultural attitudes.

A lot of families, a lot of parents and a lot of cultures feel like you need to keep a stiff upper lip, dont talk about your problems, dont cry, be strong and pick yourself up by your bootstraps, he said. If youre not doing that, then thats where the stigma comes in. Its not healthy to have that kind of attitude about life where you cant ask for help, you cant cry and you cant get people involved in your life.

People often feel that seeking help is a sign of weakness, but Jones likened counseling to seeking a regular business consultant.

I see it as a sign of strength that youre getting the help that you need, he said. If you are a business person, and you cant figure out how to solve some of your business problems, you might hire a consultant. Getting counseling is just like hiring a consultant on yourself or taking a class on yourself. Then, you can get the help that you need.

He also advocated for changing the culture surrounding mental illness and exercising compassion towards those who might be suffering.

We need to work to try and change [our culture] so that people dont feel embarrassed about going to counseling or embarrassed about taking psychiatric medications, he said. We need to change the culture of that. Whenever we feel like someone is not doing well, we can reach out to them. The suicide rates are increasing nationally, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among college studentssecond only to car accidents.

Preventing suicide begins with ending the stigma

Alvis also noted that Frontier Health has been a huge advocate for ending the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance abuse through hosting public events, providing education and training and partnering with other agencies that do the same.

For example, Frontier Health partners with TSPN (Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network), which is broken into regions in the state and holds monthly meetings in addition to providing education and training initiatives.

Alvis explained that, part of reducing and preventing suicide begins with eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health and asking for help.

More information on TSPN can be found at http://tspn.org/. Check out the article entitled Saving a life in this special publication for more information on how you can spot suicidal behavior and get help for those in need.

The Frontier Health Foundation also puts on an annual event they call Stigma Stops Now where a well-known person is brought in to share their own experience regarding mental illness or substance abuse.

The 2019 program featured country music singer Trace Adkins who spoke about his journey with alcoholism and his time in rehab.

In the past, both musicians ICE T and Ashley Judd have served as keynote speakers.

Stigma is a big piece of what goes on in our community, Alvis said. Theres a lot of education going on in the community, and theres a lot of anti-drug coalitions just trying to make it more well known that there are people who have mental illness and substance abuse disorders in our community, and its okay.

Beginning in August, Frontier Health also began a podcast series called Impact Stigma, which discusses topics ranging from mental health crises, suicide prevention, body image and weight, and addiction.

A new special guest is interviewed in each episode to share personal experiences and make the podcase lighthearted as well as informative.

We are the voice for the voiceless, and our guests bring their experiences and wisdom to our listeners with a new spin on how stigma affects all of us, reads the podcast description.

The podcast is free and can be found on almost any podcast platform.

Stigma and substance abuse disorder

Frontier Health also provides numerous resources for people who are suffering from substance abuse disorders, which carry their own stigma.

In response to the age-old question of whether or not substance abuse truly constitutes a mental illness, Alvis explained that, Substance abuse disorder and mental health often go hand in hand.

When you are putting a substance in your body, there is a physiological reaction happening, and its changing your brain chemistry. Your body begins to crave [the substance], and it creates a lot of pain. Theres a lot of science and research that goes into exactly how our body responds to drugs, and then, when the drug is leaving our body, the physiological symptoms that come with that.

She noted that the same is true of alcoholism or the abuse of any illicit substance.

So, there is a reaction, and it does change your brain chemistry, she said. It takes a long time for your brain to get back to its original state that it was in before you started using alcohol or drugs.

So, join us at the Rogersville Review in changing the stigma surrounding mental health. Reach out and check on your neighbor today, exercise compassion and make sure that people know that help is available.

See the original post here:
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL SECTION: The elephant in the room: stigma surrounding mental illness - Therogersvillereview

If one reads and studies the Psalms, they will develop a deeper appreciation of Gods care and love for mankind. The Psalmist shows reverence, and awe, in his attitude of thanksgiving to God.

His inspired words written in his style show an understanding of the one whom he loved and served.

In Psalm 92:1 he wrote, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:. The psalmist was showing that it should be a right and pleasant experience to praise God. It should be something that one desires to do at every opportunity.

Worship is a time when the creation can give back to the Creator.

The time of worship should be longed for as one realizes the opportunity to come into the throne room of all-mighty God. Worship should be an uplifting experience, one that allows the worshiper to express awe and thanksgiving to God for all God has done for them. For this to happen one needs to have the proper mindset. When a person takes worship for granted, they fail in seeing a true blessing God has given. The things of theworld fill ones mind with all kinds of things, good and bad. A person needs a time to put the cares and burdens of the world aside for a time. Worship gives one a time to forget about those things and to lift their spirit in praise to God.

Singing praises to the Most- High God, offering up petitions and thanksgiving for all blessings. Giving back a part of what God has blessed one with, an opportunity to sacrifice to God. The worship service gives the Christian the opportunity to partake of the Lords Supper recalling the great sacrifice Jesus made for each person. What an opportunity! This is a time to truly thank God for all He has done. It is a time to get recharged to face the world while giving of ones heart to God in worship and praise.

God deserves praise and thanksgiving. His love for man was shown in sending Jesus to earth.

God could have just destroyed man when man sinned, but His love and mercy provided a way for man to be justified again. For one of the God Head to leave heaven and come to live on the earth, knowing why they were coming seems almost unimaginable, but Jesus was willing to sacrifice Himself for man. Jesus suffered mental anguish in being deserted by those whom He had chosen to stand by His side. To have had one of His closest followers deny Him three times. God allowed Jesus to suffer as He did with each swipe of the whip when He was scourged, tearing the flesh, all for man. The crown of thorns ripping into his head, making a mockery of the King of Kings. There was the humiliation of having the clothes being removed from His body, feeling the pain as each nail penetrated His skin, down through His hands and feet then hanging on the cross for all to see, having His garments gambled for by the soldiers. The trinity planned and carried out the plan to save mankind, making it fitting to praise and worship God.

See the rest here:
t is good to give thanks to the Lord, part 2 - Bryan County News

With the coronavirus mounting a resurgence in areas across the U.S., schools not already using a hybrid schedule to teach students may look to begin virtual learning in their districts. But by moving lessons online, teachers will lose the in-person connection they have with some students, which could make it difficult to pick up on cues regarding mental health.

Teachers are translators of emotion, Dr. Isaiah Pickens, a clinical psychologist who works with teachers and educators to identify and address racial inequality issues and mental health problems in students, told Fox News. They are able to see students as an individual and in the context of the classroom.

HEALTHY YOUNG PEOPLE MAY WAIT FOR CORONAVIRUS VACCINE UNTIL 2022, WHO OFFICIAL SAYS

Losing the physical classroom, however, doesnt mean teachers have to lose the connection with their students. Pickens said teachers will still have plenty of information coming their way from students that could signal a larger issue is going on.

If theres a change in mood, theres less engagement, hearing things as the student learns from home like arguments, etc., these allow educators to perk their ears up, he said.

And while the safety of the physical classroom may be gone, there are many ways educators can provide support to their students virtually that might even be more helpful than before.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CAUSES RISE IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS, PRELIMINARY CDC DATA SHOWS

The virtual world gives multiple modes for communicating, so there are multiple ways you can communicate something that you are experiencing, Pickens said, adding that a chatroom, an email, or a video chat might actually make it easier for a student to approach a teacher with an issue rather than doing so in-person.

Others, however, may feel at a disadvantage to teaching their students remotely, especially those who never had the chance to meet their students in person to establish a baseline for their mood, demeanor or work habits. For those teachers, Pickens recommends looking for the universal signs that could mean emotional distress such as feelings of hopeless, incomplete assignments, low levels of engagement, or not participating in class activities online, or being a disruption like arguing with students in online chats.

Teachers dont need to be social workers, but what [recognizing these emotions] does is it normalizes that one, were all going through something right now and two, its OK to share parts of ourselves in virtual space to use that foundation to continue to connect and open up in many ways, he said.

BYU-IDAHO STUDENTS CAUGHT CONTRACTING CORONAVIRUS TO DONATE PLASMA FOR CASH WILL 'BE SUSPENDED,' SCHOOL SAYS

Being direct whencommunicating with the student can help bolster their emotional being or let them know there is help available. Teachers should reach out directly to the student to let them know they notice a change in attitude, Pickens said.

Being direct allows students to feel seen, Pickens said. Communicating that they are not a burden, whether virtual or in a private chat, saying Im wondering what it is that has you feeling whatever feeling they are feeling, it helps the kids have language to communicate. Think about who is the best ongoing support for the child, it might be a parent, or it might be a peer who can help make the kid feel less lonely and sometimes it might be professional support.

On the flip side, Pickens said virtual learning has helped teachers notice students who may have previously slipped through the cracks due to shyness or lack of confidence in the classroom, and those students are starting to blossom through online platforms. Its also helping to identify students who might need more academic support.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

One of the things teachers have been really praising is multiple ways to engage in class students are engaging a lot more and its very easy to be a student by just participating in the chat, he said.

Original post:
Coronavirus pushes classroom online leaving teachers to find new ways to connect with students - Fox News

Anti-bullying expert Dr Cara Swit is delighted to see University of Canterbury (UC) students supporting the annual Pink Shirt Day tomorrow, but would like people to feel empowered to confront bullying every day.

Days like Pink Shirt Day put bullying in the spotlight. The day brings awareness to the issue of bullying and an opportunity to advocate for stamping out bullying. Targets of bullying often have their voice quietened or dont have the opportunity to speak out about their experiences, so Pink Shirt Day is an opportunity for all of us to yell from the rooftops that bullying is NOT OK.

The event reminds people of the behaviour that is required all year round, Dr Swit says.

Acknowledging the importance of bullying and its impacts on society cant be achieved in one day a year bullying prevention is important every day. But Pink Shirt Day is an opportunity to bring people together, to start important conversations and connections and promote up-stander behaviour that communicates a unified message that bullying is not OK, she says.

Pink Shirt Day is also fabulous and necessary because it brings people together and encourages kindness. Inclusion, acceptance and kindness must out-power exclusion and bullying behaviours if we want to see change in our society.

The nationwide event led by the Mental Health Foundation, on 16 October, encourages all New Zealanders to help create schools, workplaces, communities and whnau where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.

I am excited about all the events that the UCSA [University of Canterbury Students Association] have organised this year. Students really are our future and are leading the way for change, Dr Swit says.

UCs rainbow community will celebrate diversity together with an afternoon tea in the universitys Community Hub, in the Rehua building on Pink Shirt Day all rainbow staff, students and allies are welcome.

Pink Shirt Day coincides with the UCSAs Coffee Party this year, so organisers are encouraging staff/students to wear pink with the Exec Team leading by example and giving away some pink sweet treats, at Haere-roa.

Go here to read the rest:
Anti-bullying attitude important every day NZ education expert - India Education Diary

Slowly but surely men's tennis is heading towards a change of guard, from its evergreen 'Holy Triad' to the consistently blooming NextGen. Yes, the Majors are still being dominated by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer could well pull off another miracle (circa 2017) when he comes back. But the younger guys are knocking on the door louder than ever.

Most recently, men's tennis got a first Grand Slam champion born in the 1990s in Dominic Thiem. Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev have also been just a hair's breadth away from tasting gold. And Stefanos Tsitsipas once again made a solid impression at Roland Garros, with a spirited fight against Djokovic.

But among these high-profile, flashy names, there is one that has quietly flown under the radar. That name is Andrey Rublev, the most consistent player of the year next to a certain Novak Djokovic.

The 22-year-old Rublev has won a whopping four titles this year, the latest of which came on Sunday at St. Petersburg. But he didn't just burst on to the scene out of the blue in 2020; the Russian was actually one of the hottest properties in the world as a junior, winning the 2014 French Open boys' singles title.

In fact, Andrey Rublev was the earliest among his peers to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, doing so at the 2017 US Open aged just 19. But things started going south for the young lad soon after that, as a back injury forced him to skip the French Open and Wimbledon in 2018.

When he returned, his peers had left him far behind. Alexander Zverev had added a couple more Masters titles to his kitty, Daniil Medvedev had won three titles and was about to have a Texas-sized 2019, and Stefanos Tsitsipas had reached a Masters final (beating Novak Djokovic) and registered a path-breaking win over Roger Federer at the Australian Open.

Among all those stellar achievements, Rublev was quickly forgotten. A couple of opening round exits at the Slams, and another missed French Open, didn't help his cause either. But the soft-spoken Russian quietly kept working on his game throughout 2019.

His efforts started paying dividends in the latter half of last year. He had his biggest career win over Roger Federer in Cincinnati, before going on to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios at the US Open.

Rublev ended his year on a high by winning the ATP Kremlin Cup. And that was a sign of things to come.

Since last October Andrey Rublev has won five ATP Titles, with his last two coming at ATP 500 events. He has registered some statement wins in the process too, over the likes of Tsitsipas, Roberto Bautista Agut, Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov and Borna Coric.

The Russian has reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals in that span and made his debut in the top 10, while also gaining a strong foothold in the Race to London ranking.

But more than his results, it is the improvement in his game that is earning him praise from all corners. The big-hitting Russian has seemingly been improving with every match he has been playing; he is showing a penchant for hard work and dedication that is rare to find among most from his generation.

Andrey Rublev's forehand has always been seen as a big weapon. His ability to consistently hit deep off that wing and finish points with the huge inside-out bullet always seemed destined to keep him somewhere near the top.

But the other parts of his game seemed to lack substance. And those ancillary aspects are usually the difference between being one of the top players and the cream of the crop.

The Russian has, however, worked relentlessly towards adding those missing elements to his game. Rublev is no more clueless the moment you hit to his backhand side. He is now hitting much deeper and heavier off that wing, especially down the line; the Rublev backhand is not just a rally shot anymore.

Rublev has also started getting a lot more cheap points when he needs them. His first serve is now one of his biggest weapons, helping him coast through service games almost like a bot. And the second serve weakness, while still a concern, seems to be gradually fading too.

During his recent title run in St. Petersburg, Rublev also showed immense confidence at taking the ball out of the air and finishing points with big drive volleys. The net game is a work in progress, but at least he's showing an inclination to move forward now.

That's not all. Andrey Rublev has also largely improved the physical aspects of his game along with his technical ability. The 22-year-old now has much better footwork and a stronger overall physique; he has rarely shown signs of fatigue despite playing almost non-stop since the end of the COVID break.

The young Russian is still suspect to mental lapses, often getting frustrated when he misses makeable shots. But even in that area he has taken a big leap from his junior days.

However, the evolution isn't complete yet. Andrey Rublev now needs to concentrate on developing a stronger big-match mentality, as well as adding more variety to his game. The serve and groundstrokes can help him dominate the players at or below his level, but against higher-ranked opponents on the biggest of stages, he will need more.

The Russian resorts to the backhand slice only when forced to, and almost never uses it aggressively to work his way out of a long rally. He also struggles while defending against the opponent's slice, as seen during both the US Open and the Roland Garros quarterfinals.

In those two beatdowns at the hands of his NextGen colleagues, it was clear just how much Rublev lets even a minor blip affect him mentally.

Against compatriot Daniil Medvedev in New York, Rublev was never the same player after missing three set points in the first set. And against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Paris, the Russian dominated the first set before being broken while serving for the lead and then collapsing in straight sets.

Rublev still runs out of options when a rally against a shot-tolerant opponent is stretched beyond 7-8 shots. And that is because, even with everything he has added to his game, he still lacks options in comparison to the rest of the Next Gen players.

It is absolutely essential for Andrey Rublev to develop a slice, and also to learn to play against the slice. Rublev could also take a leaf out of his idol Rafael Nadal's book and recognize that it's not necessary to always hit the ball hard; sometimes, it is alright to just loop it back in the court.

Once Andrey Rublev does add these elements to his game, he can dream of bigger things and pose more of a challenge in the deeper stages of Grand Slams. He's made at least the fourth round at all the Majors this year, and the quarterfinals of the last two; he should now be looking to take the logical next step and make a semifinal soon.

Despite having a stunning win-loss ratio of 84.44% in 2020 (second only to Novak Djokovic), Andrey Rublev still doesn't seem to have got out of the shadows. In fact, Rublev is the only player in the current top 15 without a racket sponsor; he plays with a blacked-out racket.

That could be down to the fact that the Russian is yet to produce an iconic performance at the Grand Slams against the Big 3, something that most of his peers have done. It could also perhaps be due to the lack of variety in the Russian's seemingly limited game, which has made pundits wonder whether he has a ceiling.

Or it could simply be because Rublev lacks the flashy personality of a superstar.

Andrey Rublev always sports a no-nonsense demeanor; one look at him either on the court or off it, and you know he means business. The Russian doesn't try to be cute with drop shots or fancy tricks, and he seemingly has no time for niceties.

Like Dominic Thiem, Rublev will perhaps always be chided for being a 'ball-basher'. But that didn't stop Thiem from achieving success, so why should it stop Rublev?

The Austrian gradually added variety to his game over the years, and he is now a Grand Slam champion. There's no reason why Rublev can't emulate or even surpass Thiem's success.

Andrey Rublev doesn't have as much of an 'ooh-aah' factor to his game as Denis Shapovalov or Stefanos Tsitsipas. He lacks the solidity of the much younger Jannik Sinner, and the explosiveness of the (admittedly erratic) Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Russian also cuts a shy figure off the court, and doesn't possess the charisma of Alexander Zverev or the outspoken charm of Daniil Medvedev.

But the one thing that Andrey Rublev has, perhaps more than any other young player, is the right attitude. His desire to always keep improving, to keep working hard, to keep trying to live up to his own sky-high expectations, has helped him go from a sometimes-forgotten Next Gen talent to the most consistent Next Gen player of all.

As they say, sometimes the right attitude is all you need.

Originally posted here:
Andrey Rublev's stunning turnaround: Is the Russian punching above his weight, or is he the real deal? - Sportskeeda

The Covid crisis has put people under immense pressure, adversely impacting their mental health. A positive attitude and regular exercise can help one keep calm, said Dr Manoj Sahu of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College in Raipur on Thursday.

Students are unable to go to schools and colleges, people cannot move out, meet their friends or relatives and the fear of disease is making a serious negative impact on peoples mental health, Dr Sahu said in a press release.

The symptoms of mental trouble caused by Covid-19 include irregular sleep, urge to cry, irritation, problem in taking rest, worry, feeling physically exhausted, weakness, guilt, problem in smiling or being happy and trouble in following a daily routine, Dr Sahu said.

He said that some cases physical symptoms like stomach ache, dysentery, headache, body pain, decreased appetite or excessive eating, sweating or cold, shock or muscle cramps and increased heartbeat have been noted.

In some cases, the patient has trouble focusing, has excessive negative thoughts and in a few cases they even lose interest in life, Dr Sahu said.

In these conditions, people should adopt a positive mental attitude and focus on solving problems with available resources, he said, adding people should take care of their food habits and do not hesitate to consult a psychologist if needed.

Read more:
Be positive to keep good mental health amid Covid - Daily Pioneer