Tag: video

Mental health charity offers practical advice on supporting others

Samaritans Scotland has partnered with the Scottish Government’s Clear Your Head campaign to offer advice on being there for others during these challenging times.

A new video created by volunteers of the charity encourages people to continue checking in on each other and shares practical tips on supporting friends and family who may be struggling with their mental health.

The tips include:

  • Ask how someone is doing and let them talk openly and honestly
  • When talking, put away your phone and other distractions to show that you’re focused on them
  • Ask open questions, rather than questions that can be answered with a yes or no
  • Repeat back what someone has told you to make sure you’ve understood what they’re saying
  • If you can’t be there in person, you can send a message or talk by phone or video chat
  • Supporting someone can be tough on you too – so make sure you look after yourself and ask for help if you need it

Recognising that these times remain challenging for everyone, Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey is encouraging people to look after themselves and each other.

Ms Haughey commented: “These have been challenging times for all of us, however this year we have seen people talking more openly and honestly about their mental health than ever before, and I really hope that is a lasting legacy of the pandemic.

“Feelings of stress and worry are understandable as things continue to change, and it’s so important we continue to be kind to ourselves and look out for each other. Remember that help and support is available if you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling.”

The Clear Your Head campaign was launched by the Scottish Government to encourage people to take simple steps to take better care of their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.

As well as looking out for each other and keeping in touch with friends and family, this includes keeping to a routine, staying active, taking a break, making time to do something you enjoy, and asking for help if you need it.

The campaign website – clearyourhead.scot – also signposts sources of help and advice including NHS Inform, and helplines including Samaritans, NHS24, Breathing Space and SAMH.

Rachel Cackett, Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, said: “Since the coronavirus pandemic began we’ve all become more aware of the importance of staying connected with family and friends.

“At Samaritans we know how powerful making time to listen and talk can be. For someone who is going through a difficult time, a simple conversation can remind them that they are not alone and encourage them to share what they’re feeling. 

“We know that people can sometimes feel unsure of how to check in on someone they care about, especially at this time when meeting in person if more difficult. But this video shows that – whether it’s face to face, over the phone, messenger or video – there are simple steps we can all take to be there for one another.”

For information and advice visit clearyourhead.scot.

You can view the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoeJu5zr7tc

Don’t neglect your eyes – it’s safe to attend your optometry practice

Optometrists in Scotland have collaborated with the charity RNIB Scotland to produce a video [https://bit.ly/2AZ55VO] explaining what blind and partially sighted people can expect when visiting their local optometry practice.

The video seeks to emphasise that new procedures in place will ensure the safety of anyone who needs to attend for examinations or treatment.

At present, visits to optometric practices (also known as opticians) are for emergency treatment only and must be pre-arranged. Otherwise people are asked to phone their local practice which will decide if cases can be dealt with over the phone or via tablet or laptop.

In the video, Alastair Duff, an executive committee independent member of the professional body Optometry Scotland, explains that those who do need to attend in person will first be asked some questions to ensure they and the staff in the practice won’t be put at risk.

“The measures that are in place in practices include social distancing and requesting patients not to speak when an optometrist is in close proximity,” he says. “All staff will have personal protective equipment and consultation rooms will be disinfected after each visit.

“Spectacles and any other low vision aids will be delivered so patients won’t have to come back into the practice.”

Blind or partially sighted patients will be allowed to take a guide-dog or sighted guide with them as long as they let the practice know in advance. All other patients are asked to attend by themselves.

James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted health care across the board, so it’s very reassuring that people, especially those with a visual impairment, can still access treatment in a safe environment.

“Maintaining eye-health remains as important as ever to detect any problems early enough to arrest or hopefully reverse any sight-threatening symptoms. Left untreated, some conditions could eventually result in permanent deterioration in sight, so we don’t want anyone to neglect eye-health.”

It is expected that optometric practices will reopen to the general public in August depending on the advice given by the Scottish Government.

Sick Kids Hospital staff virtual choir performs ‘Lean on Me’

Doctors, nurses and frontline workers from Edinburgh’s Sick Kids hospital have recorded an uplifting video as a virtual choir to boost morale and show the health benefits of singing during the pandemic.

The moving performance of ‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers was created and coordinated by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) – which supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children – with the aim of bringing the hospital community together and raising people’s spirits at a difficult time.

Over 80 doctors, nurses, radiologists, physio and occupational therapists and ECHC team members, including sopranos, altos, basses and tenors, recorded videos of themselves singing their individual pieces at home, which the charity then edited together.

Dr Kirsty Hogg, Paediatric Doctor at the Sick Kids who appears in the virtual choir video, said: “Taking part in the virtual choir was a fantastic experience and the final product is a beautiful example of what we can achieve when we all work together, even in these unusual times.

“This was a lovely idea by the charity and I’m delighted to have been involved. It is a message of hope and solidarity to show that we are all in this together and are helping each other through.”

ECHC usually runs the Sick Kids Community Choir for hospital staff on a weekly basis. The choir performs for patients in the hospital and at fundraising and community events.

Fiona O’Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager at ECHC, said: “From our work with children and families at the hospital, we know how beneficial singing can be as a way to bring people together and as a distraction during times of stress.

“The power of music is amazing and it is at times like this when it can have the biggest impact. When we put the initial call out about the virtual choir, we didn’t expect to get the response that we did. It has been absolutely incredible.

“We chose the song ‘Lean on Me’ because it has such a strong message of support. We wanted to give people a sense of closeness and community at a time when many are missing their family and friends.

“We also wanted to help people to relax and have fun. Singing lifts your spirits and makes you feel good, so is hugely beneficial to our mental health. We hope the video will help to spread a little positivity during this difficult time.”

The video can be downloaded from ECHC’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFWkifyjLTU

ECHC is running a COVID-19 Emergency Appeal to support children, families and staff at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and other healthcare settings across the Lothians through the pandemic.

Donations can be made at https://echcharity.org/support-us/covid-19-appeal

It’s Meadowbank … but not as you know it!

The city council has released a computer-generated journey through its soon-to-be-built Meadowbank Sports Centre. The flythrough video, produced by Holmes Miller and Visual Lane, has been created to give future users an impression of how the new cutting-edge complex will look when it opens in 2020. Continue reading It’s Meadowbank … but not as you know it!