PLUSPointPLUSPoint MentalHealth

PERTH & KINROSS / EDITION 42 / Decemb er 2009

MEE TING PL ACE FOR SHARING NE WS AND VIE WS

24 Hour Christmas Helplines

PLUS77 Canal Street, Perth PH2 8JJ Tel.: 01738 626242 Email: plusperth@msn.com www.plusperth.co.ukScottish Charity SC040271 Company No. SC354220

Photography Competition WinnersThe Perth & Kinross leg of the see me photography competition organised through PLUS saw three local winners selected for the national finals with their depictions of this year’s theme ‘Be There- Be Yourself’.

The winner in the over 18 category was Agnes Scott with ‘I’m More Than This’, in the under 18’s, Holly Andrew with ‘The Hole In The Wood’ and the local ‘peoples choice’ went to Paul Langridge with his ‘ Light At The End of The Tunnel’.

Each of the winners received £50 vouchers for John Lewis and entry into the national final. The purpose of the annual competition is to get people thinking about mental health and wellbeing in a positive way- looking at the things in our lives that we can do to help ourselves feel good.

The national publics favourite can be voted for on the see me website until the 16th December. www.seemescotland.org.uk

FIRST WORDWelcome to PLUSPoint Christmas edition and last

newsletter of 2009. PLUS efforts this month are focused on helping people cope with what is often an unhappy and lonely time of year. Unfortunately for some, this time of year equates to two weeks solitary confinement and people feeling left out because they are not having a great time like the rest of us ... not exactly so. Recent statistics show that a growing number of people have a miserable time at Christmas and it is not such a joyous time as many would have us believe. Adverts on TV sell the idea of a ‘Perfect’ Christmas which right away sets us up to fail. In the countdown to Jesus’ birth people run ragged round the shops in what feels like a race to the finish. If I got a pound for every time someone asked me; ‘Have you done your Christmas shopping yet’ at least I wouldn’t have any festive financial worries!Our final poem of the year ‘A frozen Tear’ does a good job in reminding us of what this time of year is really about. It costs nothing to be nice, to be helpful and most of all to show human kindness. The great thing about Christmas time is that it gives us the chance to be all of these things, and when people ask why, we can answer by saying ‘Christmas is the season of goodwill to all men’ ( and women and children too!)

Merry Christmas To One And All xPS Why not drop in to PLUS for a coffee and catch up

during the week after Christmas –(Our extended opening times during the holiday period are shown on page 2 of the Newsletter.)

positively involving

positively involving

LIgHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 jo@samaritans.org.uk Saneline 0845 767 8000 Childline 0800 11 11 Drinkline 0800 917 8282 Mental Health Out of Hours 08454 242424 Emergency Accommodation 0800 917 0708 Emergency Flooding Hotline 01738 625411 Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87

(open 6pm-2am and 24 hours at weekend)

Your Call‘Your Call’ is a free telephone counselling service which is open to disabled people from all over Scotland.

The `Your Call’ counsellors are all disabled people themselves, providing them with an understanding of what it means to live as a disabled person in Scotland.

The service takes calls to its appointment line from 11am until 3 pm Mondays to Thursdays.

Calls are free from a home telephone, and from most mobile networks (including T-Mobile, Vodaphone, O2, 3, Orange and Virgin Mobile)

The number is withheld so it will not appear on the phone bill.The ‘Your Call’ number is 08088 01 03 62, and the service is open to all disabled people in Scotland who are over the age of 16, and their immediate family members.

Help Scheme to Switch to Digital TVAs you may be aware, TV’s in the UK are going digital in a phased regional basis between now and 2012. Converting your TV to receive digital is a relatively simple procedure, but some people may need help in making the switch. That’s why the BBC has set up the Switchover Help Scheme to help older and disabled people make the change to digital TV.Eligible people include those: 75 and over, registered blind or partially sighted and those on constant attendance allowance, mobility supplement, or disability living allowance or those who have lived in a care home for more than 6 months.What do I have to do to get help?Switchover will be happening region by region. You can check when your area is switching at www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker The Help Scheme becomes active in each region around seven months before switchover. So to discover more about the Help Scheme, find out if you qualify and have someone talkabout your options call this freephone number: 0800 40 85 900; or visit www.helpscheme.co.uk

Dear Plus“Words are never wasted” Heather Anderson, Angus Donald and I John Patterson, from Meadowell in Blairgowrie, heard about the theatre production of “Words are never wasted”, and decided because of the subject matter – Mental Health that we would like to go along to see what it was all about.

We had a great time at the play and all three of us had an excellent afternoon, and thoroughly enjoyed the play.

When the plays started they covered a lot of different topics – The first play was about various different mental health illnesses and treatment from E.C.T to Schizophrenia to Bi-polar. And was executed very well, the performances were all first class and it was very enlightening.

The second play was a short story about a woman with mental health problems; it was conveyed very well – what it was like for her and also her experiences. There was a twist in the ending of this play.

Over all it was a good afternoon out for Angus Heather and myself, and we enjoyed the plays thoroughly.

Meadowell Blairgowrie

PLUS Office Hours During Festive PeriodChristmas Eve 24 December 8.30 - 2.45Christmas Day closed Boxing Day closedSunday 27 December closedMonday 28 December 10- 4Tuesday 29 December 10-12 & (Christmas Gathering @ Concert Hall 12.30-4.30)Wednesday 30 December 8.30- 2.45Thursday 31 December closedNew Years Day closedSaturday 2 January closedSunday 3 January closedMonday 4 January 10- 4Tuesday 5 January 8.30 - 2.45 then as normal.

Wholesome Vegetable SoupAs a follow on from last months article ‘Depression Linked to Processed Food’ PLUSpoint will be featuring wholesome recipes and tips on improving your diet over the next few months. With cost often being an issue especially following Christmas time, this soup recipe shouldn’t break the bank.6-8 portions1 tablespoon of butter1 parsnip, chopped1 onion, choppedbunch of celery, chopped1 leek, sliced2 litres of vegetable stock2 potatoes, choppedSalt and pepper to taste2 carrots, choppedPlace the butter in a large pot and place over a medium high heat.When butter is melted and foamy, add the onion, potato, and leek.Fry for 2 minutes, then cover and sweat for 8 minutes.Add the stock, carrots, parsnip, celery, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender when you insert a fork.Season with a little salt and pepper to taste and then either serve as a chunky vegetable broth or blitz with a hand blender to form a silky smooth soup.

Up and Coming ConferenceCommunities, Inequality and Health ImprovementMonday 1 February 2010 Perth Concert HallThe main theme of the conference will be inequality, social capital and community-led health – understanding the connections and why and how to engage communities. For enquiries, please contact Lee goundry at SCDC by email, lee@scdc.org.uk, or by telephone on 0141 248 1924.

CONTACT PLUS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 01738 626242

Training dates 2010Mental Health Awareness 2 February 2010Personality Disorder Awareness 25 February 20104 Day Recovery Training 11/12/18/19 February 2010All held at Blackfriars Council offices, Perth Telephone 01738 477828

First Aid Training Saturday 27th February 2010 The Gateway 9.30- 4.30Community Wing, Perth grammar Telephone 01738 472350

CONTACT PLUS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 01738 626242

Positive NewsPositive News is a quarterly international newspaper, founded in 1993. The publication focuses on issues rarely covered by the mainstream media and promotes the many individuals and enterprises that are working to create a more healthy, humane and environmentally sustainable world. If you would like to join us and be part of a growing network of hope for a changing world, visit us at www.positivenews.org.uk, email office@positivenews.org.uk or write to Positive News Publishing Ltd, 5 Bicton Enterprise Centre, Clun, Shropshire, SY7 8NF, UK or contact us on +44 (0)1588 640022

My Head HurtsYoung Minds have launched a new website ‘My Head Hurts’, for young people with mental health problems. It provides information to young people diagnosed with anxiety, conduct disorder, depression, ADHD, eating disorders or who self harm. The idea for the site came from young people themselves and they have been central in its creation and content. Visit the site at:http://www.youngminds.org.uk/myhead-hurts

Mental Welfare Commission to Launch User and Carer SurveyIn January 2010 the Mental Welfare Commission will be launching its first ever national survey of the views of service-users and carers. They are looking to gather the views of people who have had contact with the Commission over the past few years. The survey will be mostly delivered on-line and an e-mail link will be sent out through organisations that work with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities and their carers early in the New Year. A hard copy easy-read version and limited number of hard copy standard questionnaires will be available for people who would like to use them. Questionnaires will need to be completed and returned by Friday 26th February. Call Hannah Biggs on 0131 555 5959 for more information or visit www.sdcmh.org.uk. More information about the Mental Welfare Commission can be found at www.mwcscot.org.uk

NATIONAL NEWSNew Drugs Recovery Consortium Appoints its DirectorThe SDRC have recently announced the appointment of Dougie Paterson as its Director. For the last 5 years he has led implementation of ‘Choose Life’ – the Scottish government’s national suicide prevention strategy and action plan. Dougie will start in post on 5th January 2010.

The consortium will play a critical role in ensuring that recovery becomes embedded into policy, services and practice – and promote the message that people can and do recover from drug misuse.

Breathing Space Day - 1st February, 2010 A quartet of Scotland’s top writers has agreed to pen short stories to mark Breathing Space Day 2010. Booker prize winner James Kelman, novelist and screenwriter William Boyd, poet Jackie Kay and crime writer Denise Mina will write a story for a Breathing Space book to be published in The Herald newspaper. The theme of Breathing Space Day on February 1 is ‘Open a book when you’re feeling down’.

Local MSP Promotes ‘grow Your Own Food’Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham visited the Bridgend Community Allotment Health Project in Edinburgh in November to see the positive impact growing your own food has on health and wellbeing.

Bridgend Allotment Community Health Project is in Craigmillar Castle Country Park in Edinburgh, Scotland’s first wholly organic allotment. The project is open to anyone who wants to get fitter, meet other people, learn about growing fruit and vegetables, or who may be recovering from illness, thinking about getting back to work or simply just wanting to sit and watch the garden grow.. The project offers a drop-in facility, training packages and outreach services. (PLUS staff and volunteers are planning a trip to the allotments to inform the work we have been doing on the MRH Surplus Land group)

LOCAL NEWSMOREDUN B UPDATE-MOVINg FORWARD ON RECOVERYThe Mental Welfare Commission made a planned visit to MRH on 18th November and had some positive comments about the nursing care in Moredun B. The commissioner spoke of an evident ‘Recovery’ focus and endorsed the inclusion of ‘person centred care plans’ for all patients. From January 2010 Moredun B is commencing a pilot utilising Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) under the expertise and supervision of a Clinical Psychologist, Thomas Hacker appointed to the North Perthshire team. Additionally there are plans to extend the recovery work in the ward by allocating one staff member to the role for a period of 2 months initially. The views and recommendations of the patients were sought as a prelude to this.

CATH OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAYCath Day Centre, Ladeside, Perth will be open for Christmas Day dinner from 10-2pm.

Telephone 01738 633077 for more info.

SOUTAR HOUSE CREATIVE WRITINg gROUPThe Soutar House Creative Writing group facilitated by local writer Ajay Close will continue after the New year, picking up again on February 2, 2010. The sessions (10.30-12 ) are held at Soutar House, Wilson St, Perth. All welcome. Free.

SURPLUS LAND AT MRHPlus staff and volunteers continue to represent PLUS on MRH surplus land group with the aim of ensuring a future use which provides green and tranquil spaces for the use of the patients in the new hospital and initiatives/enterprises promoting community benefit and addressing inequality issues.

In some parts of the country social enterprise – like the Big Issue or Divine chocolate fulfil a social mission and plough back profits into the core business rather than shareholders pockets. PLUS is advocating on the group for social enterprises which employ people who have experienced mental illness.

AT THE END OF THE DAY

A lovely poem filled with Christmas imagery and a message of goodwill to end the year on.

A Frozen Tear By William Thomas

Winter in Kodiak, a time of little light.The snow brightens the ground and the stars light up the night.A cluster of Spruce sag deep, a drift in front of my car.My heart weighs heavy. Thoughts of relatives afar.A blustery wind blows, north then south.A cold winter thirst, warm java for my mouth.A homeless man sleeps, all bundled in clothes.His heart deep with thoughts of past Christmas woes.A handshake, a smile, a sip of my coffee.A friend in waiting, I became to he.Some food from the shelter, a warm place to rest.His life for the moment, felt happy and blessed.He told me the stories of days long ago.My full attention, he required, to him I happily bestowed.A veteran of the war, a father of four.A long distance call seemed to matter no more.The blanket of stars and the snow under his feet,only brought back memories of a scar so deep.A story from my life, I understood his loss.To spend Christmas without family, there’s no greater cost.One more handshake. A “man-hug” goodbye.His face looked of worry, wondered if I would be back tonight.A job in Kodiak sometimes is so rare.But I am happy to tell you, where I work is here.A smile, a thought, the lending of an ear.A thousand times more helpful than a frozen tear.

Dave Wallace sent in this interesting account of “Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum” in the 1800s.

Traditions of PerthMurray’s Royal Lunatic Asylum, an establishment which is one of the most perfect in the kingdom, is situated in a park of 12 acres, on the declivity of Kinnoull-hill, and has a delightful view of the grampian mountains, the Tay, and surrounding country. The house, which was built from a plan of Mr Burns, architect, consists of three floors, 256 feet in length; and was opened for the reception of patients in 1827. This establishment, the admiration of strangers, and allowed to be the first of the kind in Britain, both for cleanliness and attention to the unhappy inmates, has just been extended by an additional building, calculated to accommodate about 80 additional patients. The extensive enclosures afford ample room for exercise to the inmates, and where those able to work are employed, – a course which has been found to be attended with the most salutary effect in restoring bodily and mental vigour. During the winter season, and in rainy weather, the patients promenade in long galleries, open on one side to the air. The meanest patient is well fed and clothed, and those from among the higher classes who can pay for it, are as well lodged and cared for, as they could be in a palace. No coercion is used; everything is mild and soothing to their feelings. On Sundays, the whole are assembled in a chapel, divided by a partition about 6 feet high, the men on the one side, the women on other; so that the inmates do not see each other; the desk from which the governor reads the service, being so placed, that both parties see and hear him. Each person has a separate room. To frustrate any attempt on their lives, the curtains of the beds are hung from the roof in such a way, that if eight pounds weight were attached to them, the whole would come down. This excellent establishment was founded on a legacy by one of two brothers, of the name of Murray, who were day labourers in Perth, at the time it fell into their hands; which was left to them by a brother in India. Mr James Murray having no family, bequeathed his portion for the purpose of founding a lunatic asylum, which has since obtained a Royal Charter. It is governed by a patron, David Beatson, Esq., one of the trustees, and a number of directors appointed by the charter. Mr Simmonds, the present governor, has much credit for his manner of treating the unfortunate individuals under his care.

(TRADITIONS OF PERTH 1836)

A Personal PerspectiveAbout half way through my time at what was formerly known as DART ( rural mental health day services) I was encouraged to seek some employment so we got in touch with the Employment Disability Unit and with the help of Jan Manson I was able to do a few hours voluntary work in the Capability Scotland shop. I really enjoyed doing the few hours so much so that I stayed on after my month’s trial. I was able to claim my bus fares back so I wasn’t out of pocket.

Paul Smith (manager) and his staff were very welcoming and as time passed, I got really confident and was able to ask if I could use the till and with Paul’s help I was able to. (That was something new as I’d never used an automatic till before!)

My time there was very happy and put to good use. I was upstairs sometimes sorting out clothes, sizing them, ironing and steaming them then taking them downstairs to be sold in the shop. Not everything was suitable so they were binned.

As well as clothing there were lots of different things brought into the shop as it was for charity. I think I stayed there for about three years, then due to family commitments I bade a sad farewell. They gave me a farewell lunch to show how much they appreciated my help! After working in the shop in the public eye I gained a lot of confidence and was able to go back into the real world with my head held high.

I actually trained as a nurse but wasn’t able to go back as I had three sons, two with learning disabilities. My marriage broke down so I had to stay at home and it was hell on earth until I found out about DART (now Springwell) which helped a lot, so much so that I am now a better person and I can rise above everything that comes my way be it good or bad.

As always, thanks to everyone,

Sheila