Helping Scotland come back from Covid

jogscotland’s jog leaders will play a key role in helping Scotland emerge happy and healthy from the Covid crisis, according to Sports and Exercise Medicine expert, Dr Andrew Murray (pictured). Dr Murray was guest speaker at a special webinar for our jog leaders on 23 March, aimed at supporting them as they lead our members into a safe return to group activity. He touched on the many benefits of physical exercise for a whole range of physical and mental health conditions, and talked about the best ways to stay safe from the virus as we return to our groups, observing hand hygiene, staying away if you have possible symptoms, and social distancing where required. Dr Murray said: “The pandemic has been quite a different time, quite a troubling time, but actually what’s completely clear as a medical doctor is that jogscotland leaders, the people on this call, are exactly the sort of people that are going to take Scotland towards a recovery, and are going to contribute directly to people being happier, being healthier, living longer and just really playing a key part in the road to recovery for Scotland. “You quite often hear it trotted out that nurses and supermarket workers and key workers are doing a great job, but actually now, this is the time, when people who are promoting physical activity and sport, walking and running and cycling, are going to come into our own. Because it’s exactly the sort of thing that’s going to make the biggest difference to people in Scotland.” Jog leaders also shared their own experiences, concerns and tips about the return to group jogging, on topics ranging from the promotion of safe spaces and paths to managing social distancing at their groups.

Keep on moving

By Lynne McDermott, Milestones jogscotland

When Lynne’s family was hit by a double bereavement, she found herself ignoring her own needs, to be there for everyone around her. As a working mum, time and energy were short, but fortunately her jogscotland group was there to provide a haven from the grief, and a reason to keep on moving.

With the family, including dad Kenny, and sister Angela With Angela

I joined Milestones jogscotland in January 2020, looking for some support and motivation to get back running. 2019 had started out so well for my family and I, I was nearing the end of my Open University degree when I decided to challenge myself to run the EMF 10K. I’d never been a runner but as a child and youth had been involved in athletics, something which my family had continued with. I managed round the course in Edinburgh and was so pleased to see my mum, dad and sister had made the journey to cheer me on. Life was good and I graduated in September 2019. However, this joy was abruptly cut short in November 2019, when my dad suddenly passed away after a massive stroke. We were left utterly bereft. He had been such a powerful influence in our lives, adoring father and papa. He had volunteered for years as youth leader and was heavily involved with scottishathletics as a starter and official. I felt at such a loss as I was trying to support my sons, my mum, my sister, often forgetting to

think about my own wellbeing and mental health. You see our troubles were not only surrounding the loss of my dad, but my sister Angela had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer aged 46. My sleep pattern was non-existent and often I felt I was living off nervous energy, I had no motivation, to exercise or take time for myself, and I was too busy trying to “be there” for everyone else. In January 2020 I made the decision that I needed to start looking after me too, I made contact with the group leader, Cat Whitelaw, and got myself booked in for the next session. She assured me I wouldn’t be left behind and everyone was welcome no matter their ability. The group soon became my “me time”. Time for me not to think about grief, not to think about what was lying ahead, it was my time to put one foot in front of the other and just take one more step, this soon became my mantra. The lockdown was horrible for everyone but being separated from my sister whilst she was in the hospice was hard for us all, video chats were great but not the same as face-to-face visits. I was extremely glad when the restrictions were lifted allowing groups to get back, the other group members quickly becoming friends. The banter and chat at the weekly sessions were a therapy in their own right. Always someone there to keep you motivated even when you were having a “just not feeling it day”. Sadly my brave sister lost her battle in September 2020 and the group once again was my saviour to help me with my grief. The support and motivation to keep coming back was what I needed to clear my mind and concentrate on making sure I made it home! The exercise helped my sleeping pattern, lifted my mood and helped me keep myself well so I could support my mum, my brother-in-law and my two young nieces. Even during this most recent lockdown the group has encouraged each other to continue their solo running until the restrictions were lifted once again. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, when I joined no one knew my circumstances but the group’s support and motivation is what encouraged me to sign up for this year’s Edinburgh half marathon, I will be running for Marie Curie as they cared for my sister in her final months.

We were thrilled in January to reach a major milestone for jogscotland, as more than 1,000 of our jog leaders have now been trained in mental health awareness with our partners SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health). They have taken an online module that helps them feel more confident chatting about mental health – good and bad – with their joggers. We know that many of our leaders already provide a listening ear to their members, and while we don’t expect them to become counsellors, we wanted to make sure they felt equipped to cope, and to help others find the support they need. We first made the course available shortly after launching our partnership with SAMH in 2017, making it a key goal when we signed the charity’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport. In 2019 we went a step further and introduced the I’m here badge, which jog leaders receive on completing the course. They are encouraged to wear it when leading and explain to their groups that the badge shows they’re happy to talk about mental wellbeing – whether that’s letting off steam after a tough day, or chatting about a long term mental health condition. We kicked off the I’m here movement with 140 leaders who had completed the training, receiving the badge and making pledges at their groups to support mental health conversations. Since then, the numbers have continued to grow, and everyone who now trains as a jog leader is invited to take the course when they complete the Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) qualification. Even Covid couldn’t

stop the movement, with the LiRF course transitioning to blended learning, and all of the 220 leaders trained during 2020 being invited to complete the Mental Health Awareness training. jogscotland development officer Jo Stevens said: “We’re so happy to go through the 1000 mark – it’s an amazing number of jog leaders who have taken the time to develop their mental health awareness. When we launched the training module, we already knew our jog leaders were dedicated, but they’ve exceeded our expectations in how keen they’ve been to support their joggers’ mental wellbeing as well as their physical fitness. “It feels like there’s been a real sea change in the past few years – mental health conversations are now the norm at many of our groups, which helps to break down fear and stigma, and encourages people to seek support when they need it. Letting people know that we all have mental health – sometimes good, sometimes bad – and that it’s OK to talk about it, has strengthened our community. “We’d certainly encourage other organisations to help their staff and volunteers learn skills to support each others’ mental health – it makes so much difference to individuals’ lives and to the strength of jogscotland as a whole.” SAMH physical activity and sport lead, Robert Nesbitt added: “It’s great to see so many jogscotland jog leaders complete their mental health awareness training. When jogscotland signed the Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport, they listed this training as one of their goals, and they’ve followed through to create real change for their leaders and joggers. “The enthusiasm the jog leaders have shown demonstrates that most people are happy to talk about mental wellbeing, and just need a little guidance and confidence to make those conversations part of everyday life. We’re grateful to all the jog leaders who have taken the course and are setting a great example to their joggers.”