Charity News

Supporting someone with a mental illness

One in four people will experience mental illness in their lifetime, it is not as uncommon as you may think. Over the course of the Covid 19 pandemic many people have either had mental health problems exacerbated or experienced them for the first time. If you are worried about yourself or a loved one then Rethink Mental Illness can provide expert information on a range of topics related to mental health issues. If you support someone with a mental illness you may face practical, financial and emotional problems from time to time. There is no ‘one size fits all’ way to support someone with a mental illness. How you care for someone will depend on you and the person you care for. Here are some ideas that might help. It can help to understand the diagnosis and how it affects the person you care for. Setting out roles and responsibilities together can be useful. Be patient and understand that getting better can take time. The person you care for may have very challenging and complex behaviour. This can cause a lot of stress between you and the person you are caring for. There will be help available for both people involved. Encourage the person you are supporting to be independent and take part in everyday activities. If you live together setting out house rules can help. Make a crisis or emergency plan. Remember that you aren’t to blame if things get difficult. Make sure you look after yourself and your own wellbeing. If you need practical advice and information about mental illness, medication or support for carers then Rethink Mental Illness’s advice team are there to help. Find out more, and discover help and hope, at www.rethink.org

Mood & Motivation Support for People With Dementia Grandparents Day at the Little Sisters of the Poor

Lockdown severely affected people with dementia and their caregivers. The isolation and loss of their usual support has led to deterioration of their dementia and mental health. For 12 years award-winning charity Dementia Adventure has been supporting people with dementia, and their families, to access the wellbeing benefits of nature, which include improved sleep, anxiety, appetite, and communication and even slowing the decline of the condition. As lockdown has eased, some people with dementia and their caregivers are finding it hard to find the motivation to ‘get up and do’. Which is why, thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Dementia Adventure are offering free, online Mood and Motivation sessions. The training connects individuals to experts and other dementia carers, where they explore how to improve mood, build confidence and overcome barriers to meaningful nature-based activities on a regular basis. Jilly (80), a family carer for her husband, Geoff who lives with dementia, recently attended one of the sessions. She nearly didn’t attend because she “was feeling very sad and fed up with it all” but she came away feeling more positive and better able to cope. “They helped me realise there were things I could DO, it’s made all the difference.” With the number of people living with the condition is predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2040, the need for support is only going to increase. A regular donation to Dementia Adventure will support more people like Jilly and Geoff to live healthier, more active and enjoyable lives. For more information about visit dementiaadventure.org

The Little Sisters of the Poor charity was delighted to respond to the Holy Father’s invitation, to celebrate the first annual Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in July. A number of events took place in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and London, with care homes marking the occasion in their own individual ways. Residents’ families were invited to bring their grandchildren or great grandchildren, and outdoor picnics and ice creams were very much the order of the day thanks to the glorious weather. The festivities helped to showcase the bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and to honour all our Elderly – both past and present. Some of the favourite activities included the planting of remembrance trees, the offering of flowers and presents, participating in quizzes, games, music and singalongs, and of course, lots of cake! A lovely day was had by all, and they are very much looking forward to their next Day of Grandparents and the Elderly event. www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk