mental health – Page 12 – The NEN

Expert reveals benefits of mind and brain training games

The benefits of keeping physically fit and healthy are a given when it comes to receiving advice on how to always stay on top of our physical performance. Still, experts have revealed that playing certain games and completing challenges that test our cognitive skills can stimulate our mental fitness, giving us ample ways of improving brain health.

Experts at SolitaireBliss have revealed how playing fun mind games and performing stimulating brain challenges can have huge benefits when trying to remain mentally fit.

Improving memory

One of the most beneficial effects of brain training games is their ability to improve memory, and with neurodegeneration commonly being disregarded as something only to worry about at an old age, many are unaware that deterioration can start as early as their 30s.

There are many ways to improve brain health and keep a sharp memory, and factors such as maintaining a varied diet along with good nutrition, having a healthy sleeping pattern, regular exercise and interacting with people you can keep your cognitive skills tested. These factors are all vital to sustaining a healthy brain but adding brain training games into your day can be a fun way to increase and add to your brain’s daily exercises.

Speeding up reaction time

Another perk of downloading a brain training app is its ability to help increase reaction times which depends on the central nervous system’s speed. High cognitive functioning reaction times can be highly beneficial, especially to those who excel in sports requiring fast hand-eye coordination and medical roles requiring swift and precise reactions.

Overall, higher cognitive functions stem from a healthy nervous system which proves how vital visual awareness and reaction times are, all of which can be exercised and improved with brain training apps.

Improving attention span

Having a short attention span can be a real annoyance when performing day-to-day tasks as it can lead to poor focus at work as well as cause problems in communication similarly, it can also lead to anxiety and stress due to the inability to finish complex tasks.

A major advantage of brain training games which get harder as you level up is that they can improve your attention span by being able to keep the gamer engaged and solely focused on the game at hand; this can be very beneficial to those who suffer easily from distraction and find it difficult to focus on one thing at a time.

Helps to assist those after suffering severe head injuries

There can be many causes for concern when a patient has suffered from brain trauma. Such injuries can lead to an alteration in mental state, whether difficulty concentrating or disorientation, and also fears of focal neurological problems. This could be anything from distorted or loss of vision, weakness in building back muscle and struggles with speech.

Many patients who have suffered severe head injuries will use brain training and memory games to rehabilitate and recover from such traumatic events. By stretching your brain muscles and exercising your cognitive skills, you are actively accelerating all elements of the brain, which can speed up improvement in strength, coordination, and balance.

Mental Health staffing boost

More than 950 additional frontline workers recruited

A commitment to recruit an additional 800 mental health staff to frontline roles across Scotland has been exceeded.

Figures published yesterday show that 958 whole time equivalent mental health workers have been recruited for deployment to hospitals, GP practices, police station custody suites and prisons. This exceeds the target of 800 set in the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy 2017-27.

The staff will ensure people have access to appropriate mental health care in a variety of settings, recognising the life-changing benefits of fast, effective treatment.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Improving mental health is a priority for the Scottish Government and these figures show how seriously we are taking this. I am pleased that we have exceeded our commitment and recruited almost 1,000 additional mental health professionals across these key settings.

“Mental illness is one of the major public health challenges in Scotland. Around one-in-three people are estimated to be affected by mental illness in any one year. We want a Scotland where we act on the knowledge that failing to recognise, prioritise and treat mental health problems costs not only our economy, but also harms individuals and communities.

“We have allocated nearly £84 million to enable recruitment to these posts and this has been achieved in spite of the unprecedented impacts of the pandemic on our health and social care services.”

Scottish charity for families affected by alcohol and drug use wins top national health award

National charity Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs has won a major UK award for its work supporting anyone concerned about someone else’s alcohol or drug use in Scotland.

Their innovative ‘click-and-deliver’ service, providing the drug naloxone, which can reverse an opioid-related overdose, was just one of its services praised by the award judges.

Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, Scottish Families was chosen from more than 350 charities across the UK as one of the 10 winners of the 2022 GSK IMPACT Awards.

Now in their 25th year, the awards are designed to recognise the outstanding work of small and medium-sized charities working to improve people’s health and wellbeing in the UK.

This year winners will receive £40,000 in unrestricted funding as well as expert support and leadership development provided by leading health and care charity The King’s Fund.

Substance use remains a major issue in Scotland, with 2,529 people losing their lives to alcohol and drugs in 2020. The number of drug-related deaths was 5 per cent more than in 2019 and 2020 saw the highest increase of alcohol-specific deaths registered since 2008.

Scottish Families offers support to people whose loved ones are living with an alcohol or drug issue. The charity works across Scotland to increase awareness of the impact drug and alcohol use has on family members, who can experience psychological distress, mental and physical ill health, domestic violence, and financial issues.

Their work is not limited to close family, Scottish Families also offers support to anyone directly affected by the harm caused by an individual’s alcohol or drug use.

Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity has continued to provide a range of services, including an advice helpline, one-to-one bereavement support, and local family services.

From April 2020 to March 2021 Scottish Families supported almost 2,000 family members across its services, from all 32 council areas in Scotland. This included more than 2,350 helpline contacts, a 66 per cent increase on the previous year.

The award judges praised Scottish Families for its range of flexible support service for families, as well as its ability to influence and shape alcohol and drug policy. This includes the innovative ‘click-and-deliver’ service, which provides potentially life-saving naloxone free of charge to any adult in Scotland who may come across an opioid-related overdose.

Naloxone reverses opioid overdose, providing vital time to call an ambulance. Training, information and helpline support is provided with the kits.

The judging panel were also impressed by Scottish Families’ work to reach those most in need. Its ‘Holding On’ service offers support where there are concerns about the risk of drug-related death and the charity is a member of the LGBTQI Substance Use Partnership.

Scottish Families also launched a ‘Family Support Is For Men Too’ initiative and runs the Routes programme for young people aged 12–26 years old affected by someone else’s alcohol and drug use.

Katie Pinnock, Director of UK Charitable Partnerships at GSK, said: “The devastating impact of alcohol or drug use on someone’s family and loved ones is often overlooked.

“Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs works to improve the visibility of families and give a voice to their experiences. It is a small charity which works effectively to build strong partnerships at local and national levels to influence strategic system change.

“We were particularly impressed by Scottish Families’ engagement at government level, while its ‘click-and-deliver’ service to make the life-saving drug naloxone more easily available during the pandemic stood out as a major innovation.”

The 2022 GSK IMPACT Award recognises Scottish Families’ significant impact on improving the wellbeing and mental health of families across Scotland affected by alcohol and drug use.

Developing leaders in the charity sector is a key aim of the GSK IMPACT Awards programme and all winners are invited to build on their success and take part in a tailored leadership development programme run by The King’s Fund.

Scottish Families will also be invited to join the GSK IMPACT Awards Network, a UK-wide network of more than 110 previous award winners who work together to develop leaders, find new ways of working and provide mutual support.

Commenting on the award, Justina Murray, Chief Executive of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, said: “We are overwhelmed and so delighted to have won this UK award for outstanding work in the field of health and wellbeing.

“Innovation, flexibility and assertive outreach are everyday ways of working in the third sector, so being recognised for this means a huge amount to us and to the families we support.

“We know that most families harmed by substance use remain hidden from sight and are unsupported. We have so much more to do to reach every family, and to make sure they are supported, recognised and included.

“The funding and development programme which are part of this award will help us to do this. Families affected by alcohol and drugs are always at the margins, they are overlooked and ignored, so achieving this recognition at UK level shows that families really do matter, and that change will come.”

For more information on Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, visit: www.sfad.org.uk

Surviving Suicidal Thoughts – sharing personal stories for support

“‘I’m struggling’. Those two words were all it took.“

NHS 24 and the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) are offering new support to people living with thoughts of suicide or plans to end their own life.

Short video clips are hosted on NHS inform, where people from across Scotland tell their individual stories. The people featured generously share the ways they have found to live past their suicidal thoughts or intentions. The aim is to offer people in this situation support to better manage these thoughts and to find hope..

The videos are presented alongside information on how to listen and talk about suicidal feelings. There is advice on ways to cope when it feels as though you can’t, and what warning signs to look for as well as how to reach urgent help via 999, the Samaritans or 111.

NHS 24 Director of Service Delivery, Janice Houston said: “Our first priority is offering a compassionate service to everyone that contacts us about their mental health, and we know that some people would prefer to listen than to talk – at least at first.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this option to people experiencing thoughts of suicide and our thanks go to those who have shared their journeys so generously.

“For anyone who is concerned for themselves or anyone else, we encourage you to listen to these stories and to find someone who can listen to you – whether that is a friend, colleague or family member, or one of the specialist helplines available 24/7.”

NSPLG chair Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM said: “We are committed to exploring innovations in digital technology to help save lives from the tragedy of suicide. The creation of the new Surviving Suicidal Thoughts resource on the NHS Inform website represents a significant step towards better supporting those who are having suicidal thoughts and their loved ones.

“This new resource, developed with our partners at NHS 24, is intended to help those thinking about suicide and those who are supporting someone who may be suicidal. It features people who have themselves known these tough times describing what they experienced and what has helped each of them get through.

“We hope these compelling personal stories will encourage people experiencing suicidal thoughts to know that they can get through such dark moments and will also provide information for others on how to support someone who may be suicidal. We believe that suicide prevention can be everyone’s business.”

NSPLG Lived Experience Panel member Neil Renton features in one of the videos and is urging people to seek help by talking about their mental health.

Recalling his own story, he said: “Currently I feel really good mentally, but it’s not always been like that.

“I think the thing that caught me out was I wasn’t expecting to feel as bad as I did. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what made me feel depressed and low and took me to feel suicidal.

He added: “I think I was in denial because there wasn’t anything that set it off or triggered it, I came from a loving family, I’m well-supported, life and soul of the party. I felt I didn’t have an excuse so I found it really difficult to appreciate that I could have been suffering mentally.

“It was a struggle to be open and honest with others, be it my wife, family, medical people, friends and colleagues as well. You were always worried you were going to be judged, people would look at you differently.

“I remember what it was like when I was suicidal and just felt like there was nothing else I could do.

“I’d hate for anybody to be in the position I was in. I could see it like an edge I was running towards and no obstacle could stop me.

“My family would be like a wall I would smash through, my friends barbed wire I could jump over and there was nothing stopping me getting to that edge.

“And I just remember thinking: ‘I really need to say something at this point or that’s me gone’.

“I was dreaming up this big speech to my wife that I wanted to be poignant and memorable, but I simply said: ‘I’m struggling’. Those two words were all it took.

“We talked for hours, I gained confidence, felt supported and from there I got the help I needed and continue to work on my mental health to this day.

“Please talk about it.”

The content is for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide. It is for those around them, family, friends, work mates and others too. The full stories are also on the NHS 24 YouTube channel.

Men’s Sheds to pop up in Scotmid stores during Men’s Health Week!

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has teamed up with Scotmid, for Men’s Health Week (13^th – 19^th June 2022).

The leading community retailer invited Shedders into their stores to help raise awareness of Men’s Sheds at a community level and to broaden awareness of the wealth of benefits Sheds bring to men’s overall health and wellbeing.

In the UK, men aged 40-49 have the highest rates of suicide*. The Men’s Shed aims to encourage men to have open and honest conversations around mental health, to help tackle loneliness and wider challenges they face and feel unable to talk about.

Carluke Men’s Shed popped up in Scotmid’s Law store and recruited three new members before lunch! Shedders were on hand to chat to customers and answer any questions they had about the charity and the products they produce.

Shirley MacGillivray, Head of Communities and Membership at Scotmid, said: “We are delighted to team up with the SMSA to raise awareness of Men’s Sheds during this important week.

“We recognise the part we can play to improve the health and wellbeing of our employees and the communities that we serve, and this is the perfect way to mark and support Men’s Health Week in our Scottish stores.”

Scotmid has previously been a SMSA award sponsor, supports many sheds across Scotland and welcomes Community Grant applications from individual Sheds.

Jason Schroeder, SMSA Chief Executive Officer, said: “The SMSA is working in partnership with Scotmid to offer this excellent opportunity for Sheds to showcase the services and facilities that they have to offer men aged 18 and over.

“It’s important that we encourage men to get together within their local community and connect with each other. After all, conversation is hugely important for our health and wellbeing.”

The SMSA now has over 129 sheds open across Scotland, with 72 further sheds proposed or in development.

One of the charity’s core objectives is to put an emphasis on how important it is for men to connect with their local community.

Mental health emergency as child referrals increase by more than 22%

Over 1,300 children waiting more than a year for treatment

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist children’s services, has warned of a mental health emergency and called for greatly increased investment as the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the young become clearer.

It notes that the mental health of children and young people is set to further worsen given the cost-of-living crisis, as more people are driven into poverty.

The SCSC has also warned of the devastating impact of cuts in public services on those with mental health issues, as outlined in the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review, with an estimated £3.5 billion spending shortfall by 2026/27.

The call comes as new figures published by Public Health Scotland yesterday (7^th June 2022), indicate that over the quarter covering January to March 2022, 9,672 children and young people were referred to specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for treatment.

This includes issues such as anxiety and depression and represents a staggering 22.4% increase in numbers from the same quarter of the previous year when the equivalent figure was 7,902.

With already under-resourced and overstretched services facing overwhelming pressure due to increased demand, the SCSC has raised concerns over a potential “lost generation” of vulnerable children and young people whose mental health is being impacted by Covid-19.

Even before the pandemic, cases of poor mental health were at unprecedented levels with services in crisis, and there are a growing number of vulnerable children who cannot access adequate support. The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated this, with more children and young people driven into poverty, with the resulting impact on their mental health. This has led to unprecedented demand and backlogs, with services struggling to keep up.

In total, 5, 016 children and young people started treatment at CAMHS during the period January to March 2022, an increase of 7.7% from the previous quarter (4,659). Just over a quarter (26.8%) were not seen within the Scottish Government’s maximum waiting time for the NHS of 18 weeks from referral to treatment (to be met by at least 90% of patients).

A total of 1,322 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment at the end of March 2022.

In addition to increased investment in specialist CAMHS, the SCSC has called for greater workforce planning and a renewed focus on expanded prevention and early intervention services, reducing the need for referral to costly specialist mental health services. It has also called for greater partnership working between the public, private and third sectors as well as greater awareness of the services on offer, especially those at a community level.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “We have been warning for some time that we are facing a potential lost generation of vulnerable children and young people, whose mental health is being impacted even further by the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Adding to this are cuts in public services, which will impact especially on local government and the third sector, responsible for many of the preventative and early intervention services supporting those with mental health problems.

“Faced by such a devastating series of factors, there must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, investing in specialist services and with a renewed focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place through intervening early.

“This is a crisis we can overcome, but as the country comes to terms with the biggest hit to its mental health in generations, it will require a similar energy and commitment to that demonstrated for Covid-19 if we are to achieve this and prevent many young people giving up on their futures.”

Mind to Mind launches to help people deal with life’s challenges

NHS Lothian has backed a new campaign designed to help people in the area look after their mental wellbeing.

The Mind to Mind, campaign features over 30 online videos of people talking about their own mental wellbeing challenges in a bid to help others who may be going through the same.

Covering topics including dealing with anxiety and panic, handling stress, improving sleep, lifting mood and moving through grief, each contributor shares practical advice on what has worked for them.

It also features commentary from a range of professionals and signposts where people can access further help and support.

The campaign also features a new advert across digital and radio to promote the help available.

Dr Belinda Hacking, Director of Psychology NHS Lothian and Consultant Clinical Psychologist said: “This new resource is a valuable addition to the wide range of mental health and wellbeing resources publicly available.

“Alongside our own Wellbeing Lothian website, we hope it goes a long way in helping people know they are not alone and know who to turn to for guidance and advice.

“Hearing about the experiences of others who have dealt with their own wellbeing challenges can really help, as can talking to others about how you’re feeling. Support is available to help you deal with life’s challenges.”

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Kevin Stewart, said: “Mind to Mind has been created by people who have experienced mental wellbeing challenges for people who may be going through the same thing.

“If you’re finding things difficult, it’s important to remember support is available. Hearing about the experiences of others can help to navigate life’s daily stresses, and alongside practical advice, the website signposts where people can access further help.

“We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has contributed their advice on what has worked for them. Being so open about the challenges they’ve faced will hopefully help many others look after and improve their own mental wellbeing.”

Stephanie Phillips, Director of Service Delivery at NHS 24, said: “Mind to Mind and the video stories that have been so generously shared with us are a valuable addition to our online mental health resources at NHS Inform.

“If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or low, or having problems sleeping or dealing with grief this site can help you by hearing from others. You can also explore a range of guides, podcasts and organisations that can help.

“We are committed to offering a range of services to support people in the ways they find best for them when mental wellbeing challenges come along, as they do for everyone. Your GP, our phone lines and the emergency services are available for anyone that needs urgent help.”

Bob, a 68-year-old from Edinburgh has shared the mental health challenges he’s experienced on the Mind to Mind platform, and what he has found helpful, following a diagnosis of PTSD.

Encouraging people to reach out and speak to someone if they need help, Bob said: “To be honest, support group therapy was probably one of the best and most positive experiences for me.

“I found it tremendously helpful, to be able to talk to people who shared the same sort of experiences. It makes you listen and makes it easier for you to relate to things that you think only you go through.

“I would urge anyone if they can find someone or a group of people, they can trust to speak to them. I learned that most people have at some stage gone through some sort of mental health issue, whether that be to a greater or lesser degree.

“This is why I emphasise the idea of trying to speak to someone because you just don’t know. Hearing from other people is what can help you, essentially. It’s what helped help me.’’

To access help and advice on looking after your mental wellbeing visit:

wellbeinglothian.scot and www.nhsinform.scot/mindtomind

Expert reveals how puzzles and games can increase our mental wellbeing

Whilst playing games, whether it’s a board game or a video game or team sport can be a great way to spend your time, there are numerous benefits that games can have on our mental health.

Neal from SudokuCraze outlines five of the biggest benefits that playing games can have on our mental health:

Reduces stress

Games have been shown to slow our breathing, our heart rate and our blood pressure and can result in giving us a calming effect, therefore reducing stress. By engaging in a gaming activity, whether it be a physical sport, a board game or an online game on a regular basis, can leave us feeling more relaxed and better able to cope with stressors around us from work and home.

Keeps your brain active and healthy

Games and activities that require problem solving and critical thinking are fantastic ways of stimulating our brain to keep it healthy. Grey matter in the brain decreases as we age – a part that is directly responsible for memory, emotions, and cognitive ability. Studies have shown that the more mentally active we are throughout life and into our later years, the more grey matter that we retain and therefore the more healthy and active our brains are as we age. Board games, video games and puzzles are all excellent ways to stimulate our minds and stay sharp, whether we are young or old.

Boosts your mood

Not only are playing games fun, they also work wonders in boosting our mood. When we engage in an enjoyable group activity, our body begins releasing feel-good hormones, such as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, boost our mood, increasing feelings of happiness.

Increases self-esteem

Often when faced with a new challenge or situation, we may question if we are capable of pushing through and succeeding but through regular games, teamwork activities or sports, we are better able to build our trust in ourselves. Although it may feel scary, or place us out of our comfort zone, consistently working with others on a team can help us to feel more confident both in and out of the team environment.

Increases attention span

Having a longer attention span means that we are able to focus on a single task, for a longer period of time, without becoming distracted. Attention span and focus is a skill that can be improved upon and can benefit us in all areas of our life, from focusing on lectures and schoolwork to sitting through meetings and staying focused on a project at work.

Playing any type of game that requires concentration, whether it be a board game like monopoly or chess, or a video game, can help to increase our attention span and therefore improve both the length of time and the quality of our focus.

Over a third of adults say they’re unable to afford adult education

The biggest barrier to British adults continuing their education is cost, with more than a third (35%) saying they’re unable to afford to study, while almost a fifth (19%) say they don’t have time.

A YouGov survey of 2,109 GB adults commissioned by distance learning provider Oxford Opening Learning found that, although 69% of respondents said they could be motivated to learn for any type of new qualification – from GCSEs to PHDs and industry certificates – only just over a quarter of Brits (27%) are likely to actually do so.

The five most common issues that stop adults continuing with education in the future are:

Lack of affordability (35%)
Time constraints (19%)
Not needing any further qualifications (18%)
Lack of motivation (17%)
Lack of energy (17%)

Almost half of millennials (25–34-year-olds) say they are likely to consider studying for a new qualification in the future.

The other barriers that Brits said most commonly stop them studying are that they don’t have the time to devote to it (19%) and feeling that another qualification would be unnecessary because they feel they are educated enough (18%).

As well as respondents also saying that they lack the motivation to study (17%), the same number also said they lack the energy. Many Brits also commented that they deem themselves too old.

The research also revealed that many British adults would be happy to continue learning if they felt they could. Receiving a boost to their pay packet is only the third most common incentive, agreed by three in ten (30%) of Brits , whereas 42% would be more likely to take a course simply out of their own general interest in the subject.

Greg Smith, Head of Operations at The Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “The fact that so many would like to study further but don’t feel they can points to a lot of misconceptions that people have about adult education.

“For those who think they’re too old, adult learning isn’t only about furthering a career – it’s also extremely beneficial in terms of mental health. There’s evidence to show that, not only does keeping the brain active combat depression and anxiety, but also helps prevent dementia in later life and boosts confidence.

“Studying for a new qualification with a distance learning course is also vastly different to a classroom and can be spread over a longer period to fit in with your current work or lifestyle.

“The initial cost is often far outweighed by the benefits of gaining a new qualification, through an increase in pay, a promotion or a career change.”

Oxford Open Learning’s Top Tips for Adult Learners:

Make the learning experience as relevant and useful as possible. Draw on your personal experiences and link the subject matter to real world benefits for your work and personal life
Make learning as engaging as possible to boost motivation. Use a variety of learning stimuli, such as images, activities, videos, lectures and podcasts to find what works for you
Breaking down information into bite-sized chunks can also help to make it easier to process, and don’t forget to take regular breaks to help you maintain concentration
Master your skills by playing an active role in your learning experience. Exploring the subject matter through self-study and active participation can help you to learn in a way that is meaningful to you
Let learning occur through mistakes. Trial and error can make the learning experience more effective, while the sense of overcoming a challenge can help to boost confidence

More advice on how to overcome perceived barriers to adult education can be read here:

Successful Studying – It’s all about time

Brighter Journeys:Waverley flower installation to boost mental health

A sensory flower installation is to be unveiled at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station in a bid to make the station feel ‘lighter and happier’ for passengers returning to rail travel following the lifting of Covid restrictions.

From tomorrow, passengers are being encouraged to take a moment to view the installation situated on the station’s concourse. It has been organised by Network Rail and the charity, Chasing the Stigma.

The unveiling of the installation coincides with data from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which revealed that nearly three quarters of UK adults (70%) say their mental health has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Patrick Henry, station manager at Edinburgh Waverley, said, “Life since the pandemic is difficult for many people, with many challenges yet to be overcome and Mental Health Awareness Week is a timely reminder of the need to take care of ourselves and each other.

“That’s why we’re supporting Brighter Journeys and encouraging passengers who may be struggling, to share and download the Hub of Hope app.”

Jake Mills, founder of Chasing the Stigma and Hub of Hope app, added, “It is great to be working with Network Rail on the Brighter Journey’s campaign. Nature is really important for mental health, so we hope commuters enjoy seeing these floral installations and they puts a smile on people’s faces.

“We also hope that this acts as a reminder that no one is ever alone, and mental health support is available at any time, you don’t have to be in crisis to get help. If anyone is struggling or knows someone who needs help, please download the Hub of Hope app.”