Tag: NHSGGC

NHSGGC marks Mental Health Awareness Week with relaunch of MyApp: My Mental Health

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is marking Mental Health Awareness Week by encouraging people to download its supported self-management resources.

My App: My Mental Health was created by NHSGGC to offer resources which support people to manage their mental health and wellbeing. 

It is contained within the NHS Scotland Health Improvement Scotland Right Decisions: Health and Care app, which can be downloaded for free through the App Store on Apple and Android devices, or accessed via the website: 

https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/myapp-my-mental-health/

It provides self-management resources, information and advice on mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, eating disorders and self-harm, and highlights organisations offering further support.

There are also sections specifically developed for children and young people, and for carers. 

NHSGGC is encouraging people to get the app as it uses Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight the resources available. 

One in six adults in the UK has a mental health condition, with mixed anxiety and depression being the most common. 

The app includes a library of information on mental health symptoms, and allows people to develop coping strategies and ways to manage their conditions. 
Consultant Psychiatrist Nagore Penades, clinical lead for mental health at the NHSGGC-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub, encouraged people to download the app. She said: “Mental health and wellbeing are important to all of us, much as our physical health and we know that they can change quickly throughout our lives.

“We would like people to be more knowledgeable and support them in understanding their mental health by offering direct access to reliable self-management resources.

“Having this app on your phone means you have a vital resource available whenever you or someone you know might need it. 

“We also know that many people turn to online resources to help with their mental health and wellbeing, but finding reliable, trustworthy up to date advice can be difficult online. 

“This app provides a way for people who are experiencing difficulties to take a first step in dealing with them. 

“All the resources available through the app have been reviewed by a multidisciplinary group of senior mental health practitioners in NHSGGC, so users can be assured that the advice being offered is evidence-based and appropriate.

“And, as we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we would encourage everyone to download and take a look at the app to see how it could help them.”

To access the app, follow these steps: 

= Download the Right Decisions: Health & Care app
= Select Public/Patient optionSelect My App: My Mental Health and add it to your toolkits 
= You can now access the resources directly under My Toolkits 

The resources can also be accessed here: https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/myapp-my-mental-health/

Born during Spanish Flu pandemic – now vaccinated against COVID-19

A 101 year old born during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic has received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Emily Lawson, from Kirkintilloch, was one of the first in line as part of the rollout of the vaccination programme to vaccinate people over the age of 80 in the community.
 
Mrs Lawson, born in 1919 as the pandemic spread across the globe, was found at one month old lying next to her mother who had caught the deadly strain of influenza and was too ill to look after her new baby.
 
Now, more than a century later and living through another pandemic, she has been vaccinated by Samantha Wheadon, a Practice Nurse from Turret Medical Centre in Kirkintilloch. 
 
When asked how she felt about receiving the vaccine she took it in her stride, commenting: “it was normal, just another vaccine”.
 
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) currently has more than 450 vaccinators working across hospital and community settings to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations in a swift and safe manner. Currently the health board is vaccinating around 20,000 people every week and in February, this number is expected to rise to 80,000.
 
GPs are leading on the vaccination roll-out for their patients aged 80 years and over, and are scheduling appointments locally once they receive supplies of the vaccine.
 
Dr Linda De Caestecker, Director for Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We have had a very high uptake of the vaccine so far with thousands of eligible staff and care home residents vaccinated already and it’s fantastic to see the community rollout begin. 
 
“Our teams are working extremely hard to get as many people possible vaccinated as quickly as possible during this time.
 
“However, the rollout does not mean we can let our guard down. Our hospitals are extremely busy with COVID-19 admissions and our staff are working tirelessly to look after both COVID and non-COVID patients.  
 
“We would urge everyone to continue following the rules to help minimise the spread of the virus.” 


 The FACTS guidance:

  • Face coverings in enclosed spaces, 
  • Avoid crowded places, 
  • Clean your hands regularly, 
  • Two metre distancing 
  • Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms.