Welcome to Humanists in Berkshire Discussion Group

“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.” Joseph Joubert

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Upcoming Meetings
The British Mental Health Crisis

The British Mental Health Crisis

In April we’ll be discussing The British Mental Health Crisis.

Britain has a major health problem that hasn’t yet reached the top of the political agenda, but it has all the hallmarks of a national crisis. It’s manifested in a stalling growth in life expectancy, a surge in chronic illness, and a significant mental health problem among young people. It has resulted in many more people off work, further overstretched the NHS and has given the government the problem of financing a burgeoning welfare budget.

We’ll be discussing what is behind Britain’s growing mental health crisis. Are we medicalising the normal problems of life? Is job insecurity a factor? Or could it be the after effects of Covid? Could the use of social media be contributing? Is there a lack of NHS support? What impact did 2010s austerity play? Should the government be more pro-active?

Meetup: Lunchtime Discussion Group - The British Mental Health Crisis - Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 12.30 pm

Briefing Materials

The British Mental Health Crisis

by | 11th April 2026 | 0 Comments

In April we’ll be discussing The British Mental Health Crisis.

Britain has a major health problem that hasn’t yet reached the top of the political agenda, but it has all the hallmarks of a national crisis. It’s manifested in a stalling growth in life expectancy, a surge in chronic illness, and a significant mental health problem among young people. It has resulted in many more people off work, further overstretched the NHS and has given the government the problem of financing a burgeoning welfare budget.

We’ll be discussing what is behind Britain’s growing mental health crisis. Are we medicalising the normal problems of life? Is job insecurity a factor? Or could it be the after effects of Covid? Could the use of social media be contributing? Is there a lack of NHS support? What impact did 2010s austerity play? Should the government be more pro-active?

Previous Topics

The Implications of Artificial Intelligence

by | 25th March 2026 | 0 Comments

Artificial intelligence is already making decisions that affect who receives bail, which cancer scans get flagged, and how children are taught. Some of us are using these tools every day without fully understanding what they are or how they work.

Will they make our lives easier? Or quietly steer us in directions we haven’t chosen? Can we trust what they tell us? Where have they already caused real harm, and where have they produced genuine breakthroughs?

Science Ethics and Humanism

by | 25th February 2026 | 0 Comments

What role does ethics play in science? How does this relate to the humanist advocacy of science? Does science provide a model of ethical enterprise? Is it wise to imply that scientists must be good role models? Should being a good humanist require a strong belief in science?

How Did Human Culture Evolve?

by | 26th November 2025 | 0 Comments

In recent years, evolutionary biologists have proposed theories that explain human culture as an essentially evolutionary adaption. This is a departure from the past that emphasises the natural and evolutionary origins of human culture.

What Happened to Progress?

by | 22nd October 2025 | 2 Comments

In much of the Western world, a curious paradox has emerged: despite living in an age of extraordinary global economic progress, public sentiment is increasingly marked by pessimism. Billions have been lifted out of poverty, life expectancy has risen, and technological breakthroughs – from AI to renewable energy – promise transformative change. But many in affluent societies feel disillusioned.

Processed Foods and Weight Loss Drugs

by | 27th August 2025 | 0 Comments

How are weight loss drugs set to change the way we think about weight loss? Who should be taking these drugs? What are the benefits and the risks? How does our reliance on processed foods have serious negative consequences on physical and mental health?

Evolution and Religion

by | 23rd July 2025 | 0 Comments

When did humans develop spiritual thought? Is there an evolutionary basis for religion? What role has religion played in human social history? And in our increasingly secular world, why has it endured?

Tribalism: Is it Good or Bad?

by | 25th June 2025 | 0 Comments

Tribalism is often blamed for creating division and conflict in society. Drawing from cultural psychologist Michael Morris’s book Tribal, we’ll explore its origins — where it comes from, what our tribal instincts truly are, and how they’ve shaped human history. In today’s fast-changing world, we’ll examine both the challenges posed by our tribal inheritance and the unique opportunities it offers to drive positive change.