Mental Health Awareness Week – The NEN

Health Walks pave way for mental health conversations in Edinburgh

Scottish walking charity shines spotlight on walking and mental wellness

SCOTLAND’s walking charity is supporting the Scottish Health Walk Network (SHWN) to raise awareness of mental health and encourage open conversations during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Paths for All has been working closely with a group of SHWN members to design and deliver a mental health campaign.

The campaign will offer the network a range of useful tools and resources to acknowledge, celebrate and enable discussions around mental health during Health Walks in the East Renfrewshire area.

It is hoped that the campaign will inspire longer-term conversations beyond Mental Health Awareness Week to reduce stigma, and promote safe, welcoming and accessible opportunities to move more for wellbeing.

Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All, said: “Walking has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health, and these walks provide a supportive environment for open and honest conversations about mental wellbeing.”

“By equipping the network with resources and tools, we hope to encourage more discussions around mental health and further raise awareness of this important issue.

“With Mental Health Awareness week also happening during the National Walking Month of May, it’s relevant more than ever to encourage Scots to get out walking.”

The campaign is part of Paths for All’s ongoing collaboration with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) on raising awareness and engagement of SHWN members with the Scottish Mental Health Charter. The Charter aims to change attitudes around mental health and encourage more organizations to promote mental wellbeing.

For the Scottish Health Walk Network, the Charter will support members to design and deliver Health Walks which are even more inclusive of those living with mental health problems.

Robert Nesbitt, Head of Physical Activity and Sport at SAMH said: “We are proud to work collaboratively with Paths for All to reduce barriers to walking for people and communities.

“Recognising the power of walking, together we are creating accessible tools and resources with the Scottish Health Walk Network, so they can continue to play their part in supporting the physical, mental and social health of the people of Scotland.“

The Scottish Health Walk Network is a membership network designed by Paths for All, accrediting and supporting Health Walk provider throughout Scotland. It brings together over 400 organisations with the common goal of creating supportive environments to offer safe, welcoming, accessible walks that meet best practice standards.

Elaine McWilliams is a Group Development Worker at Stepping Stones, a mental health charity supporting people across the West Dunbartonshire area and has been part of the co-working groups supporting Paths for All in developing the campaign.

Elaine said: “We get over 800 referrals every year and currently have 600 active cases and we understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to providing support.

“Walking groups have been part of our services for over 10 years and we have seen it play a massive role in allowing people to be part of a social group and connect with others, allowing people to build confidence.

“This campaign is extremely important to help Health Walk organisers to understand how they can help and start open conversations about mental health and wellbeing up and down the country.”

Paths for All’s mission is to create opportunities for everyone in Scotland to stay active through walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling, contributing to a happier, healthier, and greener Scotland.

For more information about Paths for All’s work with the Scottish Health Walk Network and the Scottish Mental Health Charter, visit: www.pathsforall.org.uk

St James Quarter offers FREE therapy sessions to mark Mental Health Awareness Week

St James Quarter marks Mental Health Awareness Week with a host of wellbeing activities
A Listening Space will open in Quarter to make mental health support accessible
The activities will fundraise for St James Quarter’s two charity partners, Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, St James Quarter is hosting a programme of wellbeing activities in partnership with Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid to support the community in the capital.

Making mental health support and guidance more accessible for people living in Edinburgh, Listening Spaces will open in the Quarter from 16th May. Launched by Health in Mind, the space will offer guests one-to-one time with a trained expert to talk about their mental wellbeing and receive compassionate advice, support and resources.

The free, weekly sessions will initially run for a six week period and be delivered from 2pm to 4pm in the Guest Services Lounge.

On Wednesday 15 May, Everyman Cinema will transform into a calming haven with a free mindfulness experience. Hosted by Health and Mind, the session will explore the body and bodily sensations as a source of mindful awareness. This session will end with mood and energy-boosting tips from Neom Wellbeing, leaving guests feeling relaxed and in tune with their minds. There’s limited spots which can be booked at bit.ly/3JSVbor.

In a bid to brighten guests’ days during Mental Health Awareness Week, local magician, Grant Mitchell, will be sprinkling some magic in the Quarter with mood-boosting tricks that are guaranteed to put a smile on faces on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May. Talented musician, Dan Collins, will also entertain guests with feel-good tracks on Thursday 16th May.

The team at St James Quarter continues to show its commitment to its charity partners. On Friday, 16 members of the team will put on their walking boots to climb Ben Chonzie in support of Mental Health Awareness Week, and to raise funds to support its two charity partners, Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

Kerry Girdwood, Senior Services Manager (North) at Health in Mind, who will be managing the new drop-in Listening Space, said: “Around 1 in 3 people in Scotland are struggling with their mental health, and with added pressures like the cost-of-living crisis, the fallout from the Covid pandemic, pressure on public services, and conflict around the world, that number is only climbing.

“We’ve run Listening Spaces in communities around Scotland, where people can chat through their mental health difficulties, access resources, and get connected to services. Thanks to this new pilot with St James Quarter, we’ll be doing all that in one of Edinburgh’s busiest community hubs.”

Jennifer Laseen, Hospitality Director and CSR Committee Chair said, “We know how hard it can be to make the first step and reach out for support, and sometimes you just don’t know where to start.

“At St James Quarter, we’re perfectly positioned to make mental wellbeing support more accessible in the city centre and we’re really excited about this opportunity to offer a Listening Space with Health in Mind.

“The Quarter is a welcoming and supporting place for all our guests and however you’re feeling this Mental Health Awareness Week, I encourage you to join us for a mindfulness session, enjoy some feel-good entertainment, or meet the team from Health in Mind.

“It is a privilege to have two brilliant partner charities and every donation to Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind supports them to provide valuable services in the city.”

To keep up to date with events happening throughout the Quarter, visit the St James Quarter website or download the St James Quarter App.

Activities taking place during Mental Health Awareness Week:

Monday 13 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell

Tuesday 14 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell

Wednesday 15 May – Mindfulness Session with Health in Mind

Thursday 16 May – Listening Spaces with Health in Mind & Music from Dan Collins

Friday 17 May – Team SJQ Munro Climb

For more information, please email: stjamesquarter@johndoehub.com

Healthy Heart Tip: Keep on top of your mental health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Keep on top of your mental health

The 15^th-21^st of May is mental health awareness week in the UK. We know that each year in England, one in four people will experience some sort of mental health problem.

Long-term mental health problems can increase our risk of developing heart disease, which is one of the reasons why it is important that we look after our mental health by combating stress, maximising our ability to cope, and seeking support.

Here are some tips to keep our mental health in check:

Create balance

When we are busy and have lots of responsibilities such as work, family commitments and looking after a house we can be more susceptible to suffering from mental health conditions.

Often, in times of overwhelm, the first things to suffer are our nutrition, exercise and sleep. These three things are important for optimal mental health. Try to balance your day-to-day demands with some exercise, me-time, time to prepare meals and implement a good sleep routine.

Use your support network

If the above point sounds like too much to manage on your own, ask for help. Having someone you can talk to about your mental health can help you to better deal with any challenges you are experiencing.

People are often more than happy to offer support but may not realise you are struggling if you don’t let them know. This could be a friend, family member, or mental health professional.

Check in

Checking in with ourselves and noticing trends in our behaviour and the way we feel can help us to know when we may need to seek help or put something in place to support our mental health.

Apps such as Thought Diary or Daylio offer an easy way to track our wellbeing over time.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at:

www.heartresearch.org.uk/health-tips.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Doctor’s advice on combatting loneliness and social isolation

Loneliness affects more than 25 million people in England, disproportionally affecting older people
Psychologist Dr Cecilia Radecka shares what it means to be socially isolated, how it affects our brains and the steps you can take to overcome its effects

For Loneliness Awareness Week (13^th-17^th June), a psychologist has shared her top advice on how to overcome the effects of social isolation.

Below, Dr Cecilia Radecka, psychologist at Livi, explains the difference between loneliness and social isolation and looks at how social isolation affects our brains.

How to overcome the effects of social isolation

Make social connections a priority

“Although it may seem impossible, making small steps to connect with others is important. There are many forms of friendships – but the key here is quality, not quantity,” explains Dr Radecka. “Arrange to chat to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or set up a weekly phone call.”

Engage in the community

Being part of a community gives us a strong sense of belonging. Join a class based on your interests. “Doing activities that we enjoy is good for our mental wellbeing and a way to meet new people,” says Dr Radecka. Try taking part in a book club, dog-walking group or choir or volunteering at a community garden. One study found that group singing significantly boosts psychological wellbeing.

Get moving

“If you’re struggling with social anxiety, keeping physically active can improve your mood and decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety,” says Dr Radecka. “It boosts the feel-good chemicals in the brain and decreases stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.”

Ask for help

Dr Radecka said: “If you feel that social isolation and loneliness are affecting your health, don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends or a health professional. A Livi doctor or therapist can evaluate your symptoms and talk you through treatment options available.”

The difference between social isolation and loneliness

“The main difference between social isolation and loneliness is in how people experience them,” says Dr Cecilia Radecka, a Livi psychologist.

“Social isolation is a state where you have few people to interact with regularly. Loneliness is a feeling, where you can be surrounded by people yet still feel lonely.

“Studies show that it isn’t the quantity but the quality of social interactions that matters. For example, while social media can help us stay connected, it can lead to lower quality interactions. One study found that spending too much time on social media can increase feelings of loneliness.”

It’s not just the elderly who feel lonely

Social isolation disproportionally affects older people, and in some countries, up to 1 in 3 older people are lonely.

“Older adults are at increased risk of loneliness and social isolation due to living alone, the loss of friends or family and poor health,” says Dr Radecka.

However, social isolation can affect us all at some point. For some, being socially isolated comes and goes – perhaps as a consequence of life events, like a death of a loved one, a relationship break-up or moving somewhere new. For others, it’s more long term.

How social isolation affects our mental health

Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems like anxiety and depression – and mental health issues can also increase your chances of feeling lonely. There’s even evidence that social isolation can shorten life span. A study found that people who are socially isolated are more likely to die prematurely, regardless of underlying health issues.

However, while social isolation and loneliness can impair our cognitive function, there’s also evidence that re-socialising and making new connections can reverse the negative effects of isolation. In a recent study conducted during the pandemic, residents who suffered cognitive decline during lockdown quickly recovered when restrictions eased.

To improve access to mental health treatment, Livi, the UK’s largest digital healthcare company, has this week launched an Online Therapy service, offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with qualified and accredited mental health practitioners. Appointments can be booked online, and people can see a therapist by video in their own home, at a time that suits them.

George Jones, Director of Mental Health at Livi, said: “England saw a record 4.3 million referrals to mental health services last year, and every month our GPs help thousands of patients with mental health concerns.

“Livi’s new Online Therapy service will improve access to mental health treatment for patients and ease the pressure on NHS services.

“Everyone should have access to the help they need, when they need it, and outstanding digital healthcare can play a vital part in meeting increased demand by improving access and reducing waiting times.”

Livi partners with the NHS to provide video appointments with GPs and other health professionals, covering eight million patients under NHS contract.

Performing arts union Equity launches Mental Health Charter

EQUITY has published a global scoping review of 111 academic studies related to mental health and wellbeing in students and professionals within the performing arts. This landmark study was commissioned by Equity and was launched alongside a new Mental Health Charter at a panel event to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.

What’s a scoping review?

A scoping review is a type of research that aims to map the existing literature on a particular topic or research area and identify key concepts; gaps in the research; and types and sources of evidence to inform practice, policymaking, and research.

The review by Dr Lucie Clements found a clear trend for increased mental health concerns across the performing arts, although findings regarding the prevalence of mental health concern vary greatly.

Two academic papers showed depression to be twice as likely in performers than the general population – one in actors (Maxwell et al., 2015) and one in ballet dancers (Ravaldi et al., 2003).
Six percent of individuals are thought to be experiencing anxiety in any given week (McManus et al., 2016). In comparison, data for reporting anxiety symptoms includes 24% in dancers, 32% in opera singers (Thomson & Jaque, 2016b), 52% in acting students (Searl et al., 2019) 60% in actors (Brodsky, 2001), 90% of rock musicians (Raeburn, 1987).
54% of musical theatre students report a level of depression or anxiety that met the rate for diagnosis of mental disorder (Curtis, 2019).

The review identified a range of contributing factors:

A culture of unstable work, antisocial working hours, time away from home, and financial fears were the most discussed causes of stress and mental health concern in performing artists.
Many studies cited job precarity, including erratic and short employment, low pay, work over and underload, and time away from loved ones as having a significant impact.
Studies also identified that negative relationships with others in positions of power in the workplace, who were undemanding, unsupportive or authoritarian also created stress.
Many papers argued that education providers rarely provide sufficient support and students are predominantly underprepared in education for how to look after their psychological wellbeing once in the industry.
This is exacerbated by a lack of industry regulation of working conditions and mental health.

Another stark finding is that there is currently no research explicitly exploring mental health in relation to ethnically diverse performers, disabled performers, and social class.

In response to this study, our new Mental Health Charter has five key demands to improve mental health across the performing arts industry by bringing about deep-rooted structural reform.

This includes producers and engagers addressing the harmful impacts of precarious work by improving pay and work-life balance, and adopting relevant safeguards in the workplace, such as mental health risk assessments, safe spaces policies and consultation on organisational change.

Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming says: “This landmark study confirms in concrete terms what Equity members have known for years – those working in the entertainment and performing arts industries are more likely to experience poor mental health.

“There are a range of contributing factors, but it is abundantly clear that the harmful impacts of precarious work, low pay and poor working conditions are fuelling this collective crisis.

“Equity’s new Mental Health Charter puts the responsibility back on the bosses who control the creative industries. They show that our demands for improvements in pay, condition and access to the industry aren’t just about our members’ material wellbeing, but their mental health too.”

Alice Brockway, Director of Playing Sane and Equity Member says: “Equity’s new Mental Health Charter places its demands squarely on government, education providers, producers and engagers and, aligned with current collective bargaining aims, makes it clear that decent pay, safe, secure, inclusive work are vital for maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing.

“These demands are non-negotiable, as are the rights of Equity members, and all workers, to live with freedom from economic and social instability.”

About the research and launch

The research written by Dr Lucie Clements commenced on 21 January 2022 and was completed on 05 April 2022.

Read the full report.

The research and charter was launched at a panel event chaired by Actor, writer, and well-being coach Abiola Ogunbiyi. Speakers include Dr. Lucie Clements and Juliette Burton, Comedian and Ambassador for Rethink Mental Health Illness.

More information about the event.

The World Health Organization (2004) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

In 2015, ArtsMinds, in collaboration with The Stage, Equity and Spotlight found that 46% of performing artists self-reported poor or average mental health. One in five of the 5,000 survey respondents was seeking help for their mental health.

The review identified a number of other factors related to mental health in the performing arts sectors. This includes:

Exposure to regular performance can exacerbate stress. This may stem from others’ opinions as well as from competition with and comparison to clothes.
Expectations to portray a range of emotions on stage may contribute to poor mental health (Pecen et al., 2018).
Actors are chronically exposed to topics such as suicide, grief, murder, and rape, which they are likely to take home after work (Burgoyne et al., 1999: Robb et al., 2018). The same may also be cause for concern in comedians (Hargrave, 2020).
COVID-19 and the associated changes in work, negative impact on finances and loss of performance opportunities have also impacted on mental health.

Mental Health Charter

Equity’s new Mental Health Charter includes the following five demands:

Producers and engagers must address the harmful impacts of precarious work by improving pay and improving work-life balance. This is central for enabling good mental health and maintaining healthy, safe workplaces.
Producers and engagers must adopt relevant safeguards in the workplace, such as mental health risk assessments, safe spaces policies and consultation on organisational change. Equal attention should be paid to the mental health needs of all performers and creative workers.
Producers and engagers must not exclude historically marginalized groups, such as ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ communities, from policies and practices designed for promoting safe, inclusive workplaces. These workers face multiplier effects of low pay, precarious work and discrimination upon their mental health and their welfare and rights should be championed.
Education providers must ensure that every young person undertaking education or training is inspired to expect dignity and respect in work. Young workers preparing to enter the industry should be encouraged to reject any form of abusive or discriminatory behaviour, and understand that doing so is intrinsic to maintaining good mental health.
The Government must invest in our mental health services to reverse a decade of underfunding and reform the outdated Mental Health Act.

In response to this study, Equity has announced that it will continue to fund access to counselling services for its members through its longstanding relationship with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).

UK trade suicides visualised in Lunch atop a Skyscraper recreation

For Mental Health Awareness Week (9th-15th May), the iconic ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ image has been recreated with 11 mannequins to represent the number of tradespeople who die from suicide each week.

The display was organised by IronmongeryDirect as part of its annual campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst the UK trades.

Its 2022 report found that more than four in five (82%) UK tradespeople deal with some form of mental health problem due to work, and sadly, many take their own lives as a result.

Government data shows that there are 589 suicides in the industry each year, which works out at 11 per week, on average.

To visualise this tragic statistic, IronmongeryDirect positioned 11 mannequins on a platform, which was then lifted 30m into the air by a crane that was kindly donated by the excellent team at Bandshire Crane Hire.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the original skyscraper photo being taken, and the number of ironworkers in the scene matches the weekly suicide figure.

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The original Lunch atop a Skyscraper photo from 1932

As part of its campaign, the Essex-based ironmongery supplier has partnered with the mental health charity, Basildon Mind, and is donating over £3,000 to support its crucial services.

Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support.

“This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.

“We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”

Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “The Lunch atop a Skyscraper image is famous for its message of hope for the industry and camaraderie between workers, so it’s heart-breaking to think that the same number of tradespeople seen in the photo die from suicide every single week.

“Unfortunately, our research found that almost nine in ten individuals don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health, yet this is one of the most positive steps people can take to start addressing any issues.

“We hope that by raising awareness of mental health in the trades, this stigma can be removed and the situation can start to improve.”

To read IronmongeryDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2022 report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/

The Health and Safety Executive’s Working Minds campaign aims to raise awareness of the legal obligations that employers have to protect employees from work-related stress and its impact on mental health.

Take the Working Minds quiz to find out more preventing work-related stress Working Minds Quiz – Work Right to keep Britain safe (campaign.gov.uk)

Healthy Heart Tip: Mental Health and our Hearts

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

This week is mental health awareness week. We know that each year one in four of us will experience some sort of mental health problem.

Here are some tips to keep our mental health in check:

Create Balance

Aim to balance your day-to-day demands with regular exercise, me-time and a good sleep routine to increase your resilience levels

Use your Support Network

Having someone you can talk to about your mental health can help you to better deal with any problems you are experiencing. This could be a friend, family member, or mental health professional.

Check-In

Checking in with ourselves and noticing trends in our behaviour and the way we feel can help us to know when we may need to seek help or put something in place to support our mental health. Apps such as Formscore, Thought Diary or Daylio offer an easy way to track our wellbeing over time.

Ask for Help

If we feel any of the signs and symptoms of a mental health problem, it is important to ask for help. You can speak with your GP or use a mental health charity support line such as Samaritans.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Four in five UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work

· 85% don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health

· Finances are the most common cause of stress

· IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Basildon Mind, to raise awareness of the issue

More than four in five (82%) UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study has found.

The research was commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (9^th-15^th May) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, and the results have been published in its annual industry report.

It found that almost two-thirds (64%) of tradespeople experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, every month, and sadly, one in eight (13%) feel symptoms every single day.

Finances remain the number one cause of stress, with over a third (34%) saying that money worries play on their mind. In fact, the top five reasons are the same as last year, with customer tensions (24%) taking second spot once again.

The most significant change from 2021 is the impact of customer abuse, with almost a fifth (18%) saying they struggle with insults or threats, which is treble the figure from the previous report (6%).

The top 10 most common causes of stress for tradespeople are:

#	Issue	%
1	Finances	34%
2	Tensions with customers	24%
3	High workload	23%
4	Tensions with business partners	21%
5	Tensions with suppliers	20%
6	Job security	19%
7	Making mistakes at work	19%
8	Abuse from customers	18%
9	Risk of catching Covid-19	18%
10	Doing the best job you can for customers	15%

Unfortunately, despite the benefits of doing so, more than four in five (85%) tradespeople don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their feelings. Just one in six (16%) have spoken to friends or family about their mental health, which is considerably fewer than last year (42%).

Furthermore, one in six (16%) worry what their colleagues would think if they told them what they were going through, and more than a quarter (28%) feel they can’t take time off work for mental health reasons.

Plumbers are the most likely tradespeople to feel stressed or anxious on a daily basis (27%), but overall, mental health problems are most common amongst plasterers. More than nine in ten (92%) say they experience issues at least once a year.

The trades most and least likely to experience mental health issues are:

#	Trade	%
1	Plasterer	92%
2	Carpenter	90%
3	Builder	89%
4	Joiner	89%
5	Bricklayer	87%
6	Building surveyor	84%
7	Plumber	81%
8	Electrician	81%
9	Landscaper	75%
10	Painter and decorator	68%

As part of its campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Basildon Mind, the mental health charity, and is donating over £3,000 to support with its vital services.

“This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.

“We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”

Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “It’s an unfortunate truth that mental health issues are common across our industry, and it’s awful to see that so many tradespeople experience problems on a regular basis.

“It’s particularly worrying to see that the number of people talking to others about their mental health has dropped significantly from last year. As difficult as it can be to discuss your feelings, talking about them with someone else, whether that’s a colleague or family member, can really help to begin addressing the issues.”

To read IronmongeryDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2022 Report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/

RNIB highlights flagship Sight Loss Advice Service during Mental Health Awareness Week

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) continues to support blind and partially sighted people in Scotland with a range of wellbeing services during Mental Health Awareness Week, which starts today [May 9th].

Since Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, the charity’s counselling team has experienced an increasing number of calls for emotional support. Referrals to its Mental Wellbeing Check-ins are also continuing to rise and the surge is expected to continue throughout the year.

These provide support within 72 hours of contacting RNIB with an hour-long call with a counsellor, allowing people a space to share their feelings, and explore coping strategies and any other support needs.

Mental Health Awareness Week is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and RNIB is highlighting numerous resources and services available for the estimated 178,000 people living with sight loss in Scotland.

RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service also provides practical and emotional support to help reduce isolation and loneliness for blind and partially sighted people; services include peer-to-peer support such as Talk and Support, Living Well with Sight Loss courses and community Facebook groups.

These initiatives are made possible thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Funds raised will also be used to develop further projects to bring people together.

Amanda Hawkins, Strategic Lead for Counselling and Mental Health at RNIB, said: “Although lockdown restrictions have been eased for a while, we’re all still adjusting to the new way of living and it’s crucial we continue to look after our mental health in the process.

“Whether you’re experiencing feelings of isolation, interested in a listening ear, or seeking some advice, our sight loss advice line is here to support you. The mental health hub on our website also has several downloadable guides to help with loneliness, sleep difficulties, mindfulness and much more.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from speaking to someone, or for tips on how to maintain your mental health, please visit rnib.org.uk/advice/sight-loss-and-wellbeing or call our Sight Loss Advice Service on 0303 123 9999.

Mental Health: Let’s Get Listening

Mental Health Awareness Week – highlighting our #NorthEdinburgh Community Listening training offer for local people and volunteers, find out more about the power of listening and its connection to mental health and wellbeing.

High impact @ListenWellScot online training course