We are celebrating wellbeing and mental health awareness by organising Open Door Wellbeing Day at ELREC on the 20th May as part of Edinburgh ThriveFest #4 (15 to 21 May 2023) – a week of arts and activities supporting the intent to making Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority.
We have put together a programme for you. Come and take part in wellbeing and creative activities on Saturday 20th of May.
Any form of art is an amazing way to look within ourselves and deal with stress and problems of everyday life.
Come and check yourself how great it can be for our wellbeing!
Community support for third year of fund to help more projects
Projects to support mental health and address social isolation and loneliness in adults will share a further £15 million this year.
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults, launched in 2021, has now provided around 3,300 grants to community organisations delivering mental health and wellbeing support, bringing total investment to £51 million.
Activities will target older people, areas of economic deprivation, people with long term health conditions or disability and LGBTI communities. The Fund has also had a particular focus on responding to the cost of living crisis, which remains a priority this year.
Improved mental health and wellbeing support is one of the commitments in the Scottish Government’s Policy Prospectus, which outlines firm actions to be achieved by 2026.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson visited Pause and Breathe, a social enterprise, in High Bonnybridge yesterday (Friday 21 April) where he announced the additional funding.
He said: “This investment reflects the importance we place on promoting good mental health and early intervention for those facing mental health challenges – ensuring that people can access a range of different types of help to match their needs.
“The Fund will continue to support a range of valuable community mental health and wellbeing projects, reflecting one of the priorities set out by the First Minister earlier this week.”
Pause and Breathe was awarded £10,000 from last year’s fund to offer a variety of wellbeing sessions and activities. Work is underway to change a building that has lain unused in High Bonnybridge for 20 years.
Managing Director Susie Hooper said: “This funding will enable us to hold free weekly wellbeing sessions throughout the whole year and means we can support people who wouldn’t otherwise attend due to financial constraints.”
Self-Harm Network Scotland (SHNS) has launched a new online self-harm support service for people aged 12+ across Scotland.
The new online service is in addition to its three existing locality-based services which recently opened up across Dundee, Glasgow and the Highlands and Islands. People can visit the online service here: selfharmnetworkscotland.org.uk
The SHNS service is operated by Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity providing dedicated services for people with mild to serious enduring mental ill health. SHNS is funded by the Scottish government.
People who experience self-harm will be able to access support via the portal and receive a response within 24 hours of the team receiving their details. From there, the team will provide and/or connect people to the most suitable ongoing support.
Furthermore, the portal was created to provide recovery-focussed support, tools and information that anyone can access to enable people to support themselves and others. This includes sections for those who self-harm, people supporting someone who self-harms, and professionals working with someone who self-harms.
The power of lived and living experience has helped to shape the portal from the beginning. An internal reference group was set up which consisted of people with lived experience, and practitioners and managers of self-harm services across Penumbra.
Supported people were either present on these calls or gave feedback through their practitioners throughout the process of creating the portal.
Penumbra Mental Health is the largest employer of mental health peer workers in Scotland with 29% of its teams in peer support roles.
At SHNS, all of our peer practitioners have lived experience of self-harm. They bring an understanding of what people who live with self-harm might be experiencing, and will work with each person to find out what matters in their life and offer support to find healthier coping strategies.
Shona McBain, Senior Practitioner for the new self-harm portal service, tells us a bit about her background and what working for this new service means to her: “I first found out about Penumbra Mental Health when I was 16 years old and received support from their Aberdeen self-harm support service.
“They helped me to understand where my self-harm was coming from, and that it was just my way of coping with other difficulties in my life. They gave me the space to work through what was going on in my life and I began to process a lot of what I hadn’t previously.
“I knew I wanted to help people in a similar way, and after going to college to study social sciences, I eventually ended up working for Penumbra at the same Aberdeen service I reached out to when I was just 16. Later on, I was invited to take part in the SHNS internal reference group for the portal and eventually landed the role as senior practitioner.
“I think one thing that has struck me throughout this process is just how much the portal has been designed for the people using it, from the look and feel to the content itself. People with lived experience, like myself, have been involved from the beginning to ensure that the portal is as accessible and functional for as many people as possible.
“There are local self-harm support services dotted throughout Scotland, but the portal itself has been designed to fill the gap around self-harm support. Whatever area of Scotland you are based in, you can access support via the portal. Whether that be 1:1 support, or you’re just looking for some information and resources that you can undertake in your own time.
“We want to break the stigma around self-harm. By offering this online resource to both family/friends and professional’s working with someone who self-harms, we hope to give people the confidence to start talking about it. Self-harm isn’t something we should fear, but something we can better understand in order to support ourselves, loved ones and co workers.”
Young adults (aged 18-24) are struggling with their mental health with 95 per cent feeling anxious in the last 12 months, and a fifth (21 per cent) experiencing these feelings all the time
● Generation dislocation – 70 per cent of young adults feel lonely even when around peers, friends, classmates, work colleagues
● 65% of young adults say musicians who have been open about their own emotional struggles are helping to destigmatise mental health – Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi and Selena Gomez are the most inspirational
A NEW survey shows a staggering 95 per cent of young people are struggling with their mental health.
The UK faces a mental health catastrophe as only 10 per cent of young adults love themselves completely, reveals blistering new research from Direct Line Insurance and mental health charity Mind.
Young adults are struggling with their mental health with 95 per cent feeling anxious in the last 12 months and over a fifth (21 per cent) experiencing these feelings all the time.
Almost half of young adults (46 per cent) have felt low often or all the time over this time period. Despite support services being readily available, more than one in twenty young people said that they feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health with anyone, 10 per cent of 18-year-olds not willing to speak about the topic at all.
Young people are experiencing a sense of dislocation, with almost three quarters (70 per cent) of young adults feeling lonely even when around peers, friends, classmates, work colleagues. They also have less energy than they did previously, 83 per cent saying this is true in the last 12 months.
When they do need a mental lift, 59 per cent of young adults turn to music to improve their mood and for a quarter (25 per cent) of this generation it makes them feel less lonely. Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of young adults say musicians are a force for good in opening discussions about mental health, with Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi seen as inspirations. Music can be a vital outlet, as half (50 per cent) of young people experiencing poor mental health find it difficult discussing this with others.
The survey was carried out by Opinium across 2,000 18-24 year olds.
To highlight the link between music and a positive uplift in mood, Direct Line and Mind have worked with mental health advocate and London-based rapper Marc Jones, who has over five million music streams, to produce a new track, Day by Day, which encourages young people to be open about their mental health. It is free to download across all major streaming platforms for the month of April.
The track, developed by Marc Jones, 30, is an inspirational track to encourage young people to love themselves and to highlight there are support networks when they are struggling. The track is produced by London-based producer, RP9, whose notable collaborations include Ed Sheeran and Big Narstie.
Sam Taylor, Marketing Director, at Direct Line said:“The mental health of young adults is incredibly important and many are struggling to navigate these complex times.
“Understanding the issues faced by a generation of young adults we partnered with Marc Jones an inspirational musician to develop a track encouraging young people to open up about their mental health, whether that’s in the car when the song plays on the radio or at home, with friends streaming the track.”
Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at Mind said: “We are deeply concerned by the findings of this research – the fact that only 10% of young adults love themselves highlights the urgent need for support and resources to help this young generation navigate the complex challenges they face.
“We are excited to be part of the efforts of Direct Line and Marc Jones in producing the track ‘Day by Day’ to encourage young people to open up about their mental health and seek the support when needed.”
Niamh O’Connor, 23, from Worcester, said:“From a young age music has always been a part of my life so when I was diagnosed with anorexia over six years ago and was hospitalised for the first time, I found a lot of comfort in music.
“Whenever I felt upset or anxious, I would sit down at the piano in the hospital and play. Music became the only thing that helped take my mind off everything that was going on in my life.
“I was never one to talk openly about my feelings, but my therapist helped me to open up by asking me to play a piece of music that reflected my inner thoughts.
“Now I am able to use my experiences to create conversations with friends and we discuss how song melodies and lyrics resonate with us. This gives us the opportunity to talk openly about our mental health and support one another through music.”
Marc Jones added: “The purpose of my music has always been to lift spirits and encourage young people. This new track I released with Mind and Direct Line does just this.
“I personally have always turned to music when I am feeling low, it really helps and so does having charities like Mind, for expert support.”
The track Day By Day is available to stream on all major streaming platforms. Please find it on Spotify here.
Table One: Top ten inspirational artists for young people
Rank
Music Artist
1
Billie Eilish
2
Lewis Capaldi
3
Selena Gomez
4
Eminem
5
Ed Sheeran
6
Taylor Swift
7
Adele
8
Juice World
9
Dave
10
Demi Lovato
About Direct Line
Starting in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover directly to customers by phone or online.
Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Direct Line and U K Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Mind, the mental health charity, provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. mind.org.uk
Mind has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am – 6pm, Monday – Friday)
Mind’s online mental health community Side by Side is a safe space where anyone aged 18 and over with experience of a mental health problem can share their story, connect with others, access Mind’s wider information and resources, and give support in return. Find out more at www.sidebyside.mind.org.uk
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Get your spring clean on!
Spring is the season of fresh starts. This week, we wanted to shine a light on good old-fashioned spring cleaning and the potential health benefits it offers.
Cleaning counts towards our daily movement goals, lighter tasks like dusting can burn around 160 calories an hour, and more heavy-duty tasks like washing windows or scrubbing can burn around 350 calories an hour!
In addition, having a clean and tidy home can improve our mental health, and making sure our kitchen is clean and organised can have a positive impact on our motivation to eat healthy foods and cook from scratch.
Get prepared
To ensure you have a successful and stress-free spring clean make sure you have everything you need before starting.
Set up a ‘cleaning station’ at a central point in your house with all the things you will need and only take one thing at a time. Doing it this way rather than using a cleaning caddy or bucket to carry things from room to room means you will end up moving more which will get your heart pumping.
Turn up the volume
Whether its jazz, pop, hip hop or rock, having upbeat music playing while cleaning can improve our mood, energy, and motivation.
You could take the time to listen to a podcast or audiobook on a subject you want to learn more about, or enjoy the silence, anything that helps make the task more enjoyable.
Declutter
Set aside some time to declutter your house too, donating or selling things you no longer need or use. Having less clutter makes it easier to keep your house and possessions clean and organised.
Spring is also a good time to think about your mental health and assess things like your work-life balance and how much time you spend doing the things you enjoy. Embrace this season of new beginnings by starting a new activity or hobby and saying goodbye to habits that no longer serve you.
From April 2021 to March 2022, Childline counsellors delivered 1,345 counselling sessions with children in Scotland who were experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings
NSPCC Scotland has released new data from its Childline service to mark Children’s Mental Health Week and raise awareness of how we can help and support children when they are experiencing poor mental health and suicidal thoughts.
Children’s Mental Health Week (6-12 February) is an annual event in the UK that aims to raise awareness of children’s mental health. It is co-ordinated by the children’s charity Place2Be, and this year’s theme is Let’s Connect, encouraging children and young people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding, and meaningful ways.
This new data from the NSPCC reveals that Childline counsellors delivered 1,345 counselling sessions with children in Scotland who were experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings last year from April 2021 to March 2022.
Adeniyi Alade, service head of Childline in Scotland, said: “At Childline, we know that hundreds of children across Scotland are struggling with their mental health, and it remains the number one concern that our counsellors speak to children about every day.
“Whilst some are grappling with anxiety, others are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts and feelings. Many of these children tell our counsellors they are the first person they have spoken to and that they’ve not known who else to turn to.
“No matter what a child’s experience is, if they are struggling with their mental health, we believe it is essential they get the support they need to help them cope quickly. That’s why this children’s mental health awareness week we want to remind all young people that Childline is here for them 24/7, whether that be on the phone or via an email or 121 chat.
“As well as speaking with one of our counsellors, we also have lots of resources and advice available online like our monitored message boards which allow young people to speak with their peers and connect and share their experiences.”
Sandra Gordon, a Childline counsellor at NSPCC’s Glasgow call centre, said: “Over the last few years mental health has been a huge issue.For some young people things can be so tough at home and sometimes they think about taking their own life.
“They may feel anxious and be struggling on a lot of levels. Young people feel isolated when they have fallen out with friends, they are arguing with parents and finding their schoolwork difficult.
“We are there to listen, we’d never judge any young person, and we try to build their confidence and self-esteem. We allow them to explore other options and try to make them feel valued. For many young people it can be easier to talk to someone you don’t know and it helps to know they can remain anonymous.”
A boy aged 15 from Scotland who called Childline said: “I’m going to kill myself tonight. Every day is so hard; everyone is upsetting me all the time.
“I’m just so stressed. I’ve been feeling like this all week but today things happened which are the last straw for me.”
Another 15-year-old boy who called Childline said:“For the past few months, I’ve been feeling lonely and like I’m nothing. Most recently I’ve had really dark thoughts about suicide.
“I’ve been self-harming as a distraction as wherever I go it’s always on mind – it seems to just follow me and it’s really overwhelming. I act as happy when I’m around my mum – she seems to think I’m fine but I’m really dying inside.
“I feel like nobody understands and I don’t know who to tell. I’m worried they’ll laugh and won’t believe me or say, ‘you out of all people can’t be feeling that!’.”
A boy aged 17 who called Childline said: “I keep getting these suicidal thoughts and I don’t know what to do about them. I try to distract myself or I ride them out, but the thoughts always end up coming back.
“You’re the first person I’ve told this to. I don’t really want my mam to know cos it will only worry her and probably make me feel even worse.”
Advice for children:
Talk to a trusted adult about how you are feeling and what is worrying you. This could be a parent, guardian, sibling over the age of 18, grandparent, teacher or a Childline counsellor. Sharing how you feel with someone you trust means that they can support you and give you ideas on how to cope. It will also help you feel less alone with your worries, and they can let you know that they will be here for you.
Be kind to yourself. Speak to yourself like you would a friend and take the time to check in on your basic needs such as eating, drinking and resting.
Take a break if you feel overwhelmed or are struggling to cope you could go for a walk or listen to some music to give yourself some headspace. Taking some deep breaths will also help you feel calmer and less panicked and you can visit Childline ‘s Calm Zone to find some activities that can help relax you.
Try and build a healthy routine to give yourself some structure to your day. For example, you could set reminders on your phone to take regular breaks where you may read a book, go for a walk or ring a friend. Or you could get up earlier than normal and start your day with some deep breaths, some gentle exercise and have a healthy breakfast.
Helping others or doing a random act of kindness can help you feel good about yourself and can distract you from your worries. This doesn’t have to be anything extravagant; it could be as simple as offering to do a house chore like the washing up or making someone a cup of tea.
Contact Childline if you feel you have no-where else to turn or would like some extra support.
Our counsellors are available 24/7 and you can get in touch online at childline.org.uk by email or 1-2-1 chat or on the phone on 0800 111 or. Our trained counsellors are here for you and no worry is ever too small.
For Adults:
Let them know you’re there for them, this will reassure them that you are on their side and it will remind them that they can come to you about anything.
Try talking to them over text or on the phone, if they don’t feel able to talk in person.
Be patient and staying calm and approachable, even if their behaviour upsets you recognising that their feelings are valid and letting them know it’s okay for them to be honest about what it’s like for them to feel this way.
Think of things you could do together to help them cope, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness.
Encourage them to talk to adult they trust like their GP, someone at their school or Childline. Especially if they’re finding it hard to talk at home.
Take care of yourself and get support if you need to. Try not to blame yourself for what’s happening and stay hopeful.
Mental health and chronic pain are having the most significant impact on economic inactivity rates in Scotland, according to a new report from the Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee.
The report considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Scotland’s labour market, looking specifically at long-term illness and early retirement as drivers of economic inactivity.
The Committee found that although the pandemic has not significantly impacted economic inactivity in Scotland, it has clearly highlighted the extent to which a healthy working-age population is required to sustain a healthy economy.
The Committee heard that implementing remote and/or flexible working practices may improve employees’ wellbeing, bring more people into the labour market, including disabled people and people with chronic or mental illness, and support older workers to remain in the labour market for longer.
This morning, the COVID-19 Recovery Committee published a new report into the impact of the pandemic on Scotland's labour market.
However, evidence from employers highlighted that many employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, require additional support to implement flexible working and improve reasonable adjustment policies.
The report expresses disappointment that due to budgetary pressures, the Scottish Government’s plans for a ‘Centre for Workplace Transformation’, which would seek to embed some of the learning gained from the pandemic, was not delivered on target in 2022.
Additionally, the Committee noted that best practice from wrap-around employability services, like the Fair Start Scotland programme, which provides tailored support to get working-aged people who are disengaged from the labour market back into employment, should be shared across all of Scotland’s local authorities.
Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee, Siobhian Brown MSP, said: “Whilst our report found the pandemic has not had a significant impact on economic inactivity levels, issues such as poor mental health and chronic illnesses, are part of the complex challenges to Scotland’s economic and social recovery from COVID-19.
“Increased partnership working between the Scottish Government and employers to support investment in employees’ wellbeing and embedding post-pandemic opportunities for flexible working is crucial to supporting more people into the labour market.
“Remote and flexible working practices could also support more disabled people and those living with chronic health or mental health conditions into the workforce, whilst also enabling older people to stay in the labour market for longer.
“It’s important that as a priority, the Scottish Government sets out what additional support it is providing for employers to develop practical resources to support the adoption of flexible working policies and share best practice, which are vital to improving Scotland’s economic activity levels.”
Responding to the recently published report by the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill 2022, Foysol Choudhury MSP said:“It is simply unacceptable when those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds are treated unequally. It is also unacceptable when this unequal treatment is enacted against vulnerable members of our society who need protection and care.
“It has been five years since Professor Wessely’s landmark review of the Mental Health Act which exposed racial and ethnic inequalities in treatment of patients in England, yet these problems of racial bias in the treatment of mental health are shockingly getting “rapidly worse”.
“In England in 2021-22, Black people were four times more likely than white people to be detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA), and more than 11 times more likely to be given a community treatment order.
“I am glad to see the Joint Committee on the Mental Health Bill is working to ensure these failures are addressed, however, Scotland needs to learn lessons from these shocking revelations and ensure that Scotland’s mental health legislation contains appropriate safeguards which allow patients to have more choice.
“Following the introduction of this Bill in England, I am calling on the Scottish Government to review its own practices in relation to Mental Health to ensure that the services we provide in Scotland prioritise racial equity and treat all of our citizens with the dignity and equality they deserve.
“It is unacceptable that some from minority communities in England are more likely to experience detentions in the face of the Mental Health Act, when instead we should be offering everyone support and choice equally.
“The Scottish Government should prioritise a review into mental health provision in Scotland to ensure that this shocking case of mental health treatment disparity is not also happening in Scotland. Let’s be a Scotland which truly cares for all.”
Scottish Conservative & Unionist MSP for Lothian, Miles Briggs, encourages estimated 8108 constituents living with epilepsy to make their voices heard
MILES Briggs is calling on people living with epilepsy in Lothian and across the local authority to take part in a new national survey to understand the affect epilepsy can have on mental health, launched this week by Epilepsy Scotland.
Epilepsy is defined as the tendency to have repeated seizures which start in the brain and there are an estimated 58,000 people in Scotland living with epilepsy, which is the most common neurological condition.
This new national survey looks to understand the experiences of people of all ages living with epilepsy across Scotland and seeks to identify which specific support measures should be highlighted.
Miles Briggs said:“I am delighted to support Epilepsy Scotland in promoting this vitally important national survey to understand the specific mental health needs of people living with epilepsy in Scotland.
“There are an estimated 8108 people living with epilepsy in my region in Lothian, which can have a serious and detrimental impact on their mental wellbeing and general day-to-day activities.
“Depression and anxiety are just some of the mental health issues that epileptic people are more likely to develop as a result of the condition.
“I would encourage all my constituents and people across Scotland with epilepsy to make their voices heard through this vital survey.”
Lesslie Young, Chief Executive of Epilepsy Scotland, added: “We are pleased to have the support of Miles Briggs in promoting our ‘It’s Time to Talk about Epilepsy’ mental health survey to people living in Lothian and across Scotland.
“Epilepsy can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health and almost every person we support through our national helpline is affected by mental health struggles.
“To someone living with uncontrolled seizures, there is a significant psychological impact of never knowing when the next seizure is going to happen. For some who have controlled seizures, the medication can have side effects which affect mood and mental health.
“I would encourage anyone living with epilepsy to share your experiences through our survey, to ensure your voice is heard.”
The survey will run for six weeks and will close on Monday 13 March 2023.
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