Tag: health and welbeing

Engagement sessions support Forbes nursery staff health and wellbeing

Staff wellbeing is very important to the management of the Forbes nursery group in Edinburgh. 

The group has four nurseries across the city, and they wanted to introduce a positive way of bringing all of the staff together.  This was so that staff could engage with one another away from work and help them to reconnect after the pandemic.

They are very fortunate that the nurseries are close to a large park and with the help of a local fitness trainer, staff were invited to take part in weekly outdoor fitness classes. 

These classes have enabled staff to mix with one another, have fun and get fit together with a lot of laughter during their workouts.  These classes have been very successful with some staff attending regularly and others dropping in when they can.  On occasion, other family members and even a family pet has turned up and joined in with the fun.

The nursery management were keen to support staff to feel good about themselves and have made sure that the sessions were accessible to everyone.

There is no expectation on staff to have a certain level of fitness, and the atmosphere is very relaxed.  The exercises have been different each week and have included a silent disco, hula hooping, bootcamp and boxercise.  They also try to build in time at the end for relaxation.

These sessions have been a great success with staff engaging with each other and encouraging each other to come along.  Staff have said that it’s helped them to feel more motivated, pick-up old hobbies and sports and get moving a bit more.

Annabel Higgins, admin team said: “Having our weekly sessions with Kim is an incredible employee benefit at Forbes nursery. 

“Not only has it helped with my general energy and fitness levels it’s also a lovely hour to catch up with staff from across the nursery group.”

Abby Whigham, assistant manager said: “Not only have Kim’s classes helped with physical fitness, but it also has a positive impact on our general mental health.

“It’s great coming together each week and seeing team members who work at our other nurseries too. Kim’s positivity and energy is very motivating and inspirational, which is the perfect lift after a busy day at work.”

Recently, they have also returned to visiting the local care home where the residents and children have exercised together.  These activities have included parachute games and sensory balls with children’s songs and music from the 50s, 60s and 70s for the residents to enjoy.

Roll Your Sleeves Up: Scottish Government launches vaccination information campaign

A new campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible launches today.

The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will emphasise the importance of the vaccine and its safety, as well as the prioritisation list set out by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to ensure those most at risk are vaccinated first.

Vaccination will be offered to 4.5 million people in Scotland and is currently underway for residents of care homes for older people and their carers, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 80 years and over. Local delivery is being led by NHS boards, who will contact those eligible to arrange their vaccination.

Those aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable, including those on the shielding list will receive their first vaccine dose by mid-February, those aged over 65 will receive their first doses by the beginning of March, and vaccination of the wider adult population will commence once the remainder of the JCVI priority groups are complete by early May.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Vaccination offers us greater protection against COVID-19 and it offers us hope that this year will be a brighter one.

“It is another vital tool in our work to suppress the virus, but other measures including testing, and lockdown restrictions remain absolutely essential to suppress COVID to the lowest possible level in Scotland.

“These three critical actions will help us protect the NHS and save lives, towards a brighter year ahead. However, we don’t yet know how well vaccination stops people transmitting the virus to others – which is why it’s essential people protect the progress we’ve made, and continue to follow the restrictions currently in place, whether they have been vaccinated or not, while vaccine delivery is rolled out across the country.”

The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will run from today (21 January) to the end of March 2021 on TV, radio, press, outdoor and digital channels.

Interim Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Dave Caesar said: “No matter which vaccine you receive, each has passed a rigorous three-phase testing process, reviewed by independent regulatory and advisory bodies to ensure it is safe and effective. 

“Your local NHS health board will be in touch with you to arrange your vaccination appointment when you are eligible, and I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible to do so.

“However, vaccination on its own it won’t be enough to win the race against this virus. 

“Each one of us needs to do all we can – following the guidance, abiding closely to the restrictions, washing our hands, wearing face coverings, maintaining 2m distance from each other – everything we can to slow down the spread of the virus and suppress its prevalence as low as we can, so that increasing vaccination can do the job we need it to do. 

“Doing all of that will help you protect yourself, protect the NHS and save lives.”  

For more information visit nhsinform.scot/rollupyoursleeves or call 0800 030 8013.

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£250 million to tackle Scotland’s drug deaths emergency

An additional £50 million will be allocated every year for the next five years to improve and increase services for people affected by drug addiction.

Talks have been taking place with people with lived experience, a range of organisations and the Drug Deaths Taskforce following the publication in December of statistics which showed that in 2019 there were 1,264 drug related deaths in Scotland.

In a statement to Parliament, the First Minister said a national mission was needed to turn things around.

She outlined a number of areas where improvements will be made and a further £5 million is being allocated in this financial year to ensure work starts immediately.

These actions include:

  • substantially increasing the number of residential rehabilitation beds across the country
  • reducing stigma and increasing the number of people in treatment for their addiction  
  • allocating funding directly to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, third sector and grassroots organisations to improve  work in communities
  • widening the distribution of naloxone
  • implementing new standards for medicine-assisted treatment to ensure equitable services for all drug users
  • reassessing how overdose prevention facilities might be established despite legal barriers

The First Minister said: “Anyone who ends up losing their life as a result of drug addiction, is not just failed at the time of their death – in most cases, they will have been failed repeatedly throughout their whole life.

“I believe that if we have the will, we can and we will find the ways to stop this happening.

“Doing so requires a national mission to end what is currently a national disgrace.

“It is a reasonable criticism to say that this government should have done more earlier, and I accept that.

“But I am determined that we will provide this national mission with the leadership, focus, and resources that it needs.”

Full statement

Supporting Scotland’s mental health recovery

A new plan will help ensure mental health and wellbeing remains at the heart of the Scottish Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Children and young people, those facing redundancy, and people with long-term physical health conditions and disabilities are among key groups the plan focuses on.

It builds on innovations and new service designs that have emerged in response to the pandemic, such as the ‘Clear Your Head’ campaign, the expansion of digital services and the establishment of Mental Health Assessment Centres.

As well as promoting good mental health and wellbeing, the plan prioritises rapid and easily accessible support for those in distress and ensures safe, effective treatment and care of people living with mental illness. A tailored programme of work will help individual NHS Boards respond effectively to the anticipated increase in demand in the months ahead.

Announcing the plan to parliament, Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “If the past few weeks have told us anything, it is that the road to recovery from this pandemic will not be linear. However, one thing that has remained constant is the importance of looking after ourselves, and of keeping well.

“I doubt there is a single one of us who hasn’t thought about our mental wellbeing, or worried about that of others, at some point during 2020.

“Throughout this year, mental health has continued to be an absolute priority for this government, and we’ve invested £6 million of dedicated funding to support the whole population.

“Our Transition and Recovery Plan for Mental Health reflects how fundamental this issue is. It is comprehensive, containing over a hundred actions, and focusses on the specific mental health needs of everyone across Scotland.”

Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland at the Mental Health Foundation, Lee Knifton, commented: “We are pleased to see the Scottish Government embark on a mental health in all policies agenda and to have played a role in shaping this plan.

“We have consistently advocated for all policies approach and today’s plan feels like a breakthrough moment. Mental health is much more than mental illness, it must be considered in our schools, workplaces, our welfare system and our justice system. This plan is an important step in that direction.  

“It is encouraging to see that the Scottish Government has taken our recommendations on board and we look forward to working in partnership to implement the commitments laid out. This ambitious plan will need investment to achieve maximum impact, but any investment in mental health will realise social, health and economic benefits down the line.” 

Mental Health – Scotland’s Transition and Recovery is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

https://clearyourhead.scot/ contains a variety of resources and tips to help people take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

For those who need more support the Scottish Government has expanded the NHS24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and increased the capacity of the Breathing Space telephone helpline (0800 83 85 87) and web support service.

The Mental Health Foundation’s vision is good mental health for all. The Foundation works to prevent mental health problems and drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to lead mentally healthy lives with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health in Lockdown: The World From My Window

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (18 – 24th May) comes at an unprecedented time of global change.

As nations all across the planet slowly unfurl the restrictions of lockdown and societies begin to take small steps back to a version of ‘normal’ life, the lack of certainty over what will happen next continues to cause anxiety and distress to many.

During the lockdown, The World From My Window (TWFMW) has shone a spotlight on the stories of the individuals who are living through this difficult, shared experience. So far, hundreds of personal accounts and stories have been collected from 40 different countries across the globe; including, Pakistan, Uganda, North America, Sudan, the UK, Belarus, New Zealand and Palestine.

Everyone has a different story to tell. We have heard from patients in the throes of recovery, parents at home – struggling to balance demands of children and work and popstars – including Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne, who is finding hope in the opportunity to stay still.

What has been the common thread in all the submissions and stories received, is that making the time to write down your anxieties and emotions can bring comfort during a period of crisis.

You can add your voice to the growing digital anthology of stories told by all these global citizens by writing a short story or letter to describe what your world looks like right now. The goal is to gather stories from as many countries and societal perspectives as possible and to build a varied and holistic picture of this moment in our shared history.

Here are some extracts from the stories we have received so far:

“Loneliness is nothing to do with distance. It can happen anywhere, because it’s something we carry inside us, like a pain in our heart. We can be alone in a crowded room, even when people we love are right beside us.” – Paul, London

“Could you ever imagine, even in your wildest dreams, that a pandemic will bring the entire world to a halt? The world so preoccupied that it whooshes by those who take a moment to catch a breath.” – Atif, Islamabad.

“I hear cars and trucks, delivering important things, I hear possums and birds, wandering around, I hear neighbors and pets, living their lives, I hear silence most often and that’s a lovely sound.” – Rebecca, Australia

“I’m grateful for this moment of calm. The pressures of having to be the smartest, the most successful, the prettiest, the thinnest have disappeared and I am now free.” Sophie, West Sussex.

“…what I miss the most? It’s the ritual we were doing to increase our neurotransmitters – oxycontin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. The simple ritual of a Hug. – Subhan, Baku.

‘They remind me that outside my little mansion there are other stories, other entities and matter, and everything in our little world will pass, one day at a time. It’s a strange comfort’ – Aurora, Barcelona

During Mental Health Awareness Week, TWFMW is encouraging more submissions through a partnership with Centrepoint and a series of interactive Instagram live workshops and discussions.

Isolation is especially hard on vulnerable young people and TWFMW is feeding into the Centrepoint, #ChallengeAccepted, arts initiative by giving young people an opportunity to share their story via social channels in a series of different tasks and focuses to keep active and engaged during the lockdown.

To tell your story visit http://theworldfrommywindow / Instagram @the.world.from.my.window to find out more about this week’s activities and to share your view from isolation in less than 300 words.

All stories will be read with as many as possible being shared across our The World From My Window platforms.

New road named after ‘brilliant’ emergency doctor

Staff at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh have paid tribute to a “brilliant” former colleague by naming a road on the hospital campus after him.

Colleagues have honoured the late Dr Robin Gordon Mitchell by naming the new road “Robin Mitchell Way”. Continue reading New road named after ‘brilliant’ emergency doctor

Scottish Government announces investment in social media support

New steps to support young people’s mental health.

Steps to improve the mental health of young people, and directly target the impact of social media and body image on mental wellbeing, are to be supported through a new package of measures.

This includes £90,000 of funding to produce advice on the healthy use of social media and screen time, which will be created in partnership with young people.

In addition, a review of evidence on the effects of screen use on sleep and the implications of this for mental health will be commissioned.

The announcement follows the publication of new research from the Scottish Government which identifies social media, sleep disruption, body image and school pressures as potential factors in the reported worsening of mental wellbeing among adolescent girls in Scotland (see report below).

Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey returned to her former school, Trinity High School in Rutherglen, to meet with pupils and discuss the research.

Ms Haughey said: “We know that many young people in Scotland, particularly girls, are unsatisfied with their physical appearance, and that high levels of social media use may be detrimental to mental wellbeing. We also know that adolescent girls in Scotland report higher levels of social media use than boys.

“Social media does have the potential to be used in a hugely positive way, but we want to ensure young people are properly informed on how social media promotes unrealistic expectations.

“During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week we announced that we will be producing advice, specific to Scotland, on the healthy use of social media and screen time. We are now committing £90,000 to carry out this work as part of a package of measures to give young people the support they need. We want all young people to be able to grow up in a modern Scotland with good mental wellbeing.”

Exploring the reported worsening of mental wellbeing among adolescent girls in Scotland report:

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Fostering Relations reflects on first decade

By working with local authorities across Scotland, Fostering Relations aim to provide the best care plans for children and young people and to ensure safe and supported placements until plans have been achieved.

Lyndsay Johnston, Carer Recruitment Officer, said: “We believe that every child has the right to feel safe, healthy and happy and so are committed to provide this for children and young people who have experienced abuse, disruption and trauma in their lives”.

Since opening their doors in 2007, Fostering Relations have supported over 270 children and young people by giving them quality, supported and stable family placements. There are currently 45 carer households and 49 children within Fostering Relations’ care.

Having recently been inspected by The Care Inspectorate, Fostering Relations received Very Good for both their Care & Support and Management and Leadership. Testament to this is, fifty percent of care leavers so far in 2017 have gone onto undertake degree courses.

Bryan Ritchie, Registered Manager, said: “Our carers often say that they humbled by the strength and courage of the children and young people within our care. Many of the carers tell us that what attracted them to fostering Relations was the close relations and ‘family feel’ makes them feel like they’re part of something special.

“We’ve had an amazing first ten years and are excited to see what the future holds for us. We aim to continue our journey looking after Scotland’s most vulnerable children. ”

For more information on Fostering Relations and what opportunities are available to you, visit www.fosteringrelations.org.uk or call a member of our team on 01383 661630.