Stroke really is such a cruel condition. Sadly we have all heard of someone who has been affected by stroke and many people like me have tragically lost someone too.
Almost five years ago my wonderful Mum, Diana, suffered a severe stroke. She died four weeks later. My Mum was the most active, ‘full of life’ person I knew. She LOVED life. She was my best friend and I miss her every day.
That’s why I want to ask your readers to take part in the Stroke Association’s, A Walk to Remember.
This wonderful event is a special way to celebrate the life of your loved one whilst raising money in their memory. Simply pick a special place that is filled with memories, create your route and on June 27th take part in your own walk to remember to raise funds for the Stroke Association
Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK, and there are around 128,000 survivors in Scotland living with its devastating effects who really need our help.
Like so many charities, the pandemic has drastically affected the Stroke Association’s income. However the charity has still been supporting stroke survivors as much as they can with support and advice, while continuing to fund vital research into the condition.
Please join me and do something amazing in your loved one’s memory by taking part in A Walk to Remember. It’s bound to be an emotional but amazing day for all of us that have lost someone to stroke.
Walk in their memory and raise funds to rebuild more lives after stroke.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK
With April Fool’s day upon us, sometimes it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction, so here are some common myth-busting tips surrounding heart health:
I need to avoid eating fat to be healthy
This is not true as fat provides the body with essential nutrients. Unsaturated fats slow down the build-up of plaque within the arteries and therefore reduce blood pressure. Examples of unsaturated fats are olives, avocados, salmon and nuts. Of course, eating too much of any fat would be unhealthy, therefore aim to consume fats in moderation.
Doing lots of cardio is the best way to lose weight
This is also false as weight loss is occurs when you burn more calories than you consume.
Having more lean muscle mass helps your body burn more calories at rest. Therefore, in addition to a smart nutrition plan, a combination of both high-intensity cardio and strength-training is the best method to lose weight.
UK physical activity guidelines suggest five 30-minute exercise sessions per week, with two of these focusing on resistance training (body weight exercises/lifting weights).
Drinking red wine will reduce my risk of heart disease
It is true that red wine contains some antioxidants that can help reduce blood pressure, simply because red wine is made from red grapes.
There is no evidence that drinking red wine directly reduces your blood pressure, whereas there is lots of evidence directly linking alcohol consumption with increased blood pressure.
My stress is not serious enough to get help with
Stress symptoms can move quickly from acute to chronic if they are not managed. Stress hormones will affect how well a person functions in everyday life.
They are shown to effect multiple physiological systems (the immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, the gastrointestinal system). No stress symptom is too small to ask for help with.
My smoking won’t affect those around me
This is false, and even if you think you are being careful second-hand smoke is a real danger. Non-smokers that are exposed to smoke over a long period of time have a 25% – 30% increased risk of coronary heart disease.
The continued need for The Fire Fighters Charity’s mental health support services has been highlighted today with the publication of research claiming that 65% of the UK’s fire and rescue service personnel have seen a deterioration in their mental health during the pandemic.
The study, conducted by Mind’s re-launched Blue Light Programme – of which The Fire Fighters Charity is a partner – found that mental health has worsened across all 999 services, with 20% of fire service personnel today rating their mental health as either poor or very poor.
Funded by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Blue Light Programme brings together The Fire Fighters Charity, The Ambulance Staff Charity, Police Care UK and Mind to further the mental health and wellbeing of the UK’s emergency responders.
Dr Jill Tolfrey, Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity said: “We commend Mind and the Blue Light Programme on the publication of this latest research, which once again highlights the incredible pressures faced by those who work across our fire and rescue services.
“Covid-19 has amplified these pressures for many on the frontline and brought new mental health challenges for others. As ever, our role at The Fire Fighters Charity is to ensure that we are always here for those in need.
“While we have had to move our mental health services online during the pandemic, we have supported thousands through virtual consultations over the past year and will continue to do so, while also bringing back our face-to-face services over the weeks to come.
“My message to anyone facing a challenge to their mental wellbeing today is therefore simple. We are here for you. Please pick up the phone or get in touch through our website and we will do whatever we can to help you.”
Members of the fire and rescue services in need of support with their mental wellbeing can call The Fire Fighters Charity’s Support Line on 0800 3898820 or visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/support
Over £3 million for money advice services in GP surgeries
GP practices in some of the most deprived communities will receive £3.17 million to fund dedicated welfare rights advisors to address growing mental health concerns caused by money and housing insecurity.
The national roll out has been a long time coming: Granton Information Centre led the very first partnership when they introduced a pioneering new service at Muirhouse Medical Group over ten years ago!
Dr John Budd of The Access Practice, a member of The Deep End network of GP surgeries in Scotland which cover the 100 most deprived patient populations, explained the benefits of the service when he addressed a Holyrood event held to celebrate Granton Information Centre’s pioneering work in 2018.
Dr. Budd told guests: “Around six years ago we became increasingly aware of the crippling nature of the welfare changes being introduced by the Westminster government. We produced a report about people’s experience of welfare change which received national media attention.
“What came out if that was a real sense of hopelessness – we felt our patients, often vulnerable, were increasingly being defeated by a system that was supposed to be there to help them. GPs felt helpless: patients were coming to see them with issues they couldn’t address. Poverty, increasing levels of homelessness, complex benefits issues – they couldn’t do the job they were trained to do.
“However the embedding of welfare rights workers into this bleak landscape has been such a bright spot. As members of our primary care team they have made such a fantastic difference, enabling people to navigate through the incredibly complex benefits system.
“Michelle (GIC’s Michelle Lee – Ed.) was with us at the Access Practice for four years, and she generated around £800,000 a year extra in due benefits – around £1000 per patient, which can make a huge difference to people who are often destitute.
“It’s been a fantastic development: it’s tragic that we still need this service, but it’s been a great benefit to our patients and we are so fortunate to have it. It’s a hugely effective way of enabling people to gain greater control of their lives through addressing poverty.”
Launching in September 2021, 150 GP Practices will be able to refer patients directly to an in-house welfare rights officer for advice on increasing income, social security eligibility, debt resolution, housing, and employability issues as well as helping with representation at tribunals.
The Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships will reduce pressure on GPs and primary care services – allowing them to focus on clinical care and treatment for patients while a dedicated advisor supports them to address their social and economic needs.
Since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic GP practices have reported an increase in the number of patients citing money and housing worries for mental health issues. This funding will enable Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships to be formed as part of COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience plans.
The work will be delivered in collaboration with Public Health Scotland, The Scottish Public Health Network and the Improvement Service.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone differently and further highlighted how vital it is to ensure support is in place for those who need it, including access to advice to help people overcome issues which are having a negative impact their mental health.
“Evidence has shown that money and welfare advisors in health centres reach people who do not engage with traditional advice services. This is the first time this approach will be delivered at a national scale, and I am sure it will make a difference to households as we focus on our recovery from this crisis.”
Deep End GP and former chair of the Royal College of Practitioners Scotland Dr Carey Lunan said: “This pandemic has shone a spotlight on health and social inequalities for some of our most vulnerable citizens, with the economic impacts being felt most by disadvantaged groups, who already live in precarious financial circumstances.
“Poverty is a fundamental cause of persisting health inequality and as we plan our recovery from COVID-19 we must ensure an appropriate focus on those with the greatest health and social needs, or these inequalities will simply worsen further. More financial security offers more choice, more control – and more hope.”
Funding of £20 million will deliver a range of activities for children and young people and their families over the summer, ensuring they are provided with opportunities to socialise, play and reconnect within their local communities and environments.
In particular this will provide support for those children and young people who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays.
Working with local authorities and partner organisations including sportscotland, Creative Scotland, Play Scotland, Education Scotland and others, the funding will support existing provision of community-based services while also widening access to other local facilities, such as school estates and local sports facilities.
Speaking before Holyrood broke up for May’s elections, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “We do not underestimate the physical and mental health impacts which children and young people have experienced throughout the pandemic, and that the impacts have fallen unequally across society.
“This enhanced range of summer experiences for children and young people will help address the impacts associated with extended periods of isolation and reduced participation in normal activities. This offer will have children’s rights and needs at its heart, and will provide opportunities to socialise across a range of activities, combined with broader support where needed.
“This will build on local summer offers, recognising the need for flexibility to deliver using local assets and connecting with wider offers from partners.
“Over the next few months we will continue to develop further all aspects of our education recovery strategy with our partners and stakeholders. Following periods of disruption to in-school learning, this will include how we can intensify and deepen support for children and young people’s progress in learning, including in key areas such as literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing.”
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has launched its first-ever manifesto, ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections 2021, calling on politicians to support men’s health and wellbeing through Scottish Men’s Sheds.
The Association, which is trailblazing the Men’s Sheds Movement in Scotland, recommends five key actions for politicians, invested groups and the general public as a whole to support Men’s Sheds and fully recognise the wealth of health and wellbeing benefits for men over the age of 18.
SMSA’s vision is that every man in Scotland will, one day, have access to—and the opportunity to attend—their local Men’s Shed if they choose to do so.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “SMSA is launching this manifesto at just the right time. Sheds will be needed more than ever in post-COVID-19 recovery and it is vital to expand the SMSA and its support mechanism in line with the growth of the Movement to support Sheds across Scotland now and in the years to come.
“Investment and support to lead change is required to underpin the ongoing creation of this health by stealth and voluntary social wellbeing pathway for men. SMSA is also recommending that localised support across the Shed network is embedded; a start-up and development fund for Sheds is implemented; a focused national awareness campaign is delivered; and the reach to the Armed Forces and Veterans community and Blue Light services is improved on.”
SMSA pledges to continue making a real difference by empowering thousands of men (our sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers) and their communities – over the coming years – to play their part in a system change towards a wellbeing economy.
42% of people with epilepsy in Scotland want you to know this one thing … (Purple Day, 26 March)
New research shows that public understanding of epilepsy doesn’t always match with the reality faced by those living with the condition. Friday 26 March is Purple Day, the global day for epilepsy, and a chance to redress the balance. There are over 55,000 people living with epilepsy in Scotland.
In Epilepsy Action’s new poll, nearly 1,000 people affected by epilepsy were asked for the one thing they wished the public knew about the condition.
42% of those surveyed in Scotland said they wished people knew that the impact of living with epilepsy goes far beyond seizures. Side-effects of medication, memory problems and impacted mental health are just some of the things that can affect people.
A quarter (24%) of people said their biggest wish was for better awareness of the many different seizure types. Other hopes included more understanding that not all seizures are triggered by flashing lights and that epilepsy is a fluctuating condition.
However, new figures suggest much of the general public remains unaware of the ripple effect of the condition and are dismissive of how it affects people long-term.
One in four people (23%) thought that epilepsy has no impact on a person’s life, aside from having seizures. A third said that the condition does not impact on a person’s mental health.
In one revealing statement, two thirds agreed with the suggestion that people ‘just need to be more positive when living with health conditions’.
Yet, with a similar number of people (68%) saying they would be afraid to even witness someone having a seizure, the charity says this exposes a stark disconnect in understanding and compassion towards people with the condition.
Louise Cousins, director of external affairs at Epilepsy Action, said: “These new insights are stark but not surprising. The impact of living with epilepsy can take a huge toll on people’s lives, their happiness and wellbeing.
“Everyone’s experience of epilepsy is different, but it can’t be overcome just by ‘being more positive’. This attitude needs to change. Lack of knowledge and empathy feeds into fearful, harmful assumptions and people with epilepsy feeling further misunderstood and dismissed.
“By giving them a voice and encouraging conversations on Purple Day, we can really improve society’s knowledge and compassion and close the gap on this chasm of understanding.”
Yorkshire comedian Maisie Adam was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 14. She is backing the campaign: “It’s totally normal for people to have those misconceptions about epilepsy, because of the information that’s out there at the moment. So much is frustratingly simplified, Hollywood-ified, it’s very bite-sized.
“It’s just the understanding that’s important and I think that comes from both sides. It’s about us being understanding of why people have those misconceptions but just hoping that people don’t assume – that they can hold back on any assumptions until the facts have been given. Epilepsy is so different for every single person.
“Be open to that huge variation. You’ll have your misconceptions, but don’t assume.”
Epilepsy Action has released a new awareness video on YouTube to coincide with Purple Day and to promote understanding of the condition. The charity is also urging supporters to take part in virtual fundraisers and to celebrate #purpleday on social media.
Support and information for anyone affected by epilepsy are available at epilepsy.org.uk or by calling the Epilepsy Action helpline on 0808 800 5050.
To support Epilepsy Action’s Purple Day appeal and help people affected by epilepsy, visit epilepsy.org.uk/purple
Scottish organ donation law changes to an opt out system today (26 March 2021). This means that if you die in circumstances where you can donate, you will be considered to be a donor when you die, unless you have chosen to opt out or are in an excluded group.
Your loved ones will still be consulted about your views to ensure that donation does not proceed if you would not have wanted it to. Organ and tissue donation remains a personal decision and you have a choice.
NHS 24 is reminding people who take regular medication to make sure their repeat prescriptions are ordered in plenty of time for the Easter Weekend.
The reminder is part of the ongoing health campaign ‘Show you care. Prepare’ which encourages people to take care of themselves, their loved ones and the NHS by being prepared for minor ailments.
The Easter Weekend impacts on many local GP and pharmacy opening times, so it’s important that people check their prescription, order only what they need and in plenty of time.
NHS 24’s Head of Pharmacy, John McAnaw said: “This can be a really busy time of the year but it’s important that we all take time to think about our health, do what we can to stay well and be prepared for illness. That way we’ll also be doing our bit to support the NHS through the busy Easter period.
“Things like paracetamol, ibuprofen and indigestion remedies are useful to have and you can ask your pharmacist for advice about helpful medicines for your household. It’s also a good idea to keep a few child friendly remedies if you have any wee ones.
“We’re all looking forward to spending time in the spring sunshine (should it appear!), so it’s a good idea to think ahead to what you might need to support you and your family’s health.
“Check what you have, and order only what you need and collect it in plenty of time – you should order by Friday the 26th March at the latest to be sure of having your medicines ready before Easter weekend.”
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey has written to health boards setting out priority areas of investment from the Scottish Government’s recently announced £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund.
Ms Haughey said: “The lockdown has been difficult for us all, not least young people – affecting their work, social and family lives and job and learning opportunities. That is why we intend to make around £40 million available to take forward dedicated work to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
“This will include capacity building to meet expected increases in demand, specialist neurodevelopmental assessments, and ensuring young people have access to intensive psychiatric inpatient care when they need it.
“An essential part of this investment will be funding for a clinical director for each CAMH service to drive forward change.
“Further to this, we will invest up to £15 million to help clear backlogs in CAMHS and Psychological Therapies waiting lists.
“However we recognise that not all children and young people need specialist services like CAMHS, and so we will also continue to support the expansion of community services at a local level.
“Our £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund is the single largest investment in mental health in the history of devolution, and shows the priority we are placing on mental health. The Fund will be used to deliver our full agenda for mental health and wellbeing, as set out in our Transition and Recovery Plan.
“This will help to improve access to services across Scotland as well as ensuring good mental wellbeing at a population level, a comprehensive distress response, and the right help and support in our communities. We are carefully considering the potential for other investments over the course of 2021-22, and we will make further announcements in due course.”
Joanna Barrett, Associate head of Policy for the Devolved Nations, NSPCC Scotland, said: “The events of the last year have profoundly impacted the lives of children and young people in Scotland, with some suffering traumatic experiences including bereavement and abuse.
“Following the start of the pandemic last year, we saw a rise in referrals from our adult helpline about child abuse and an increase in contacts to Childline about emotional and mental health. Our counsellors heard from children struggling with loneliness and isolation, worries about education, increased parental stress and abusive home environments. Some young people talked about feeling suicidal.
“So this investment by the Scottish Government to address children and young people’s mental health is crucial for the recovery of our younger generation. But it is important we also remember and support our very youngest and most vulnerable members of society, those under five, whose wellbeing is closely attuned to that of their carers, and who cannot voice the harm they have experienced.”
