MENTAL MATTERS It’s time to talk about recovery!
June 2013
EDITORIAL
Let’s talk recovery!
firstly like to welcome you back to another edition of Mental Matters. Although the first edition was written as part of a university project, I always had a vision that in real terms I would like a recovery based magazine out there and circulating throughout Scotland. I look at this magazine a bit like my own mental health. It's a recovery. I am learning more and more and I'd really like to thank everyone who got in touch to contribute to the
CONTENTS
I’D
4 6 8 10 12 14 16
magazine. I'd love to hear from more of you to share articles on mental health or come forward to share your story. In this second edition, we hear a few personal experiences of mental illness and the steps to recovery and it's definately not easy to come out in public, but the more people who do - the less this emotive topic will become taboo. Across Scotland, there is a lot to be positive about and the message continues to be spread by recog-
nised charities. This magazine is free. Please distribute it across social networks, show to friends and family - I want everyone to get involved. I am happy that your here and reading and hope that you can see what I'm trying to acheive. With your support, I hope we can help this magazine grow into something special that will benefit people all across Scotland and beyond.
in my life is that I've passed the first three years of my journalism degree. I don't like to praise myself (West of Scotland pride) and the journey hasn't been perfect or easy. I've accepted my mental illness though and hope that now as a qualified journalist - I make 'Mental Matters' work.
I'll share as many stories as I can. My biggest story and perhaps acheivement
@Hollz2012
Thanks for reading!
Holly McCormack
MY WALK TO RECOVERY & RAISING FUNDS FOR OUTREACH Interview with Chris McLeary by Holly McCormack
MY BATTLE WITH OCD A story into recovery by Jamie Milligan
ALTERNATE VIEW Can music help to treat depression?
SOCIAL ANXIETY A shared experience told by Michelle Fisher LOOK AT MEDITATION TECHNIQUES A relaxing insight from Fiona McBride
MENTAL HEALTH NEWS & MEDIA REVIEW BY JORDAN PHILLIPS A THOUGHT ABOUT RECOVERY WITH POETRY BY HANNAH JACKSON
S D R A W O T K L A W Y M . . . Y R E V O C E R
CHRIS MCLEARY IS WALKING 1000 MILES AND IS RAISING MONEY FOR THE CHARITY CROSSREACH! HOLLY MCCORMACK FINDS OUT MORE...
IN JUST a few days time, Chris McLeary will set out on the ad-
venture of his life as he makes steps towards his future and away from the past. The 28 year old from Dunbar is putting on the walking boots and aims to walk 1000 miles across Scotland in just 100 days. Chris has battled both depression and anxiety but has found hope and purpose through the support of charity Crossreach.
The Christian charity have provided one-on-one counselling and helped to get Chris back on track and the young Scot now feels it's time to give something back and hopes to raise £2000. Many paths have been noted down as the route for the journey was unveiled and with GPS tracking Chris will be traceable all along the route.
He will set off from the Crossreach office in his local town of Dunbar and travel a distance equal to the admirable venture of John O'Groats to Lands End. The routes set out involves amongst others the Ayrshire coastal route and the West Highland Way.
It will finish on the 6th of October at Crossreach Headquarters in Edinburgh and in conjuction with their annual awareness week.
The walk isn't just about raising much needed funds for the charity but to allow Chris time to embark and think about where he is with his own recovery and utilise the time on the road thinking.
It seems a long way to travel but with the aid of a tent, moral support from the charity with regular phone contact and an online following to back Chris, he is excited to set off and get on the road. Chris explains why he is embarking on the challenge. He said: “I benefited greatly from the counselling services of CrossReach and that’s why I’m raising money for them. They never once asked me for a penny and they never, ever would. This time last year I could barely get out of bed. Now I’m about to walk 1000 miles. The power of proper guidance from a counsellor can’t be underestimated”
Christopher adds “CrossReach counselling services are such a vital work and operate on a donation system.
Giving depends on how much you earn, for those earning less than £10 000 per year, the suggested donation is just £5/10 per session. CrossReach provide services from care homes to substance abuse.”
A 1000 mile walk is bound to have a physical impact and Chris explains how he is preparing for the jouney ahead.
Christopher said “I have been walking a few miles a day. On the walk my target is 10 miles per day. Sometimes I will manage more, other days I will want to spend a day or two enjoying where I am."
To spare the costs of this challenge, Chris adds that he will be spending most of the time outdoors. He adds:For accommodation during the 100 days I will be sleeping in a tent for the majority of it, a very small one at that. Beds have been offered, as has food along the way. Everything I need is in a backpack from my tent to clothing. Food will be picked up on route. The majority of the equipment I have has been kindly provided by Susan at Hilltrek in Aboyne and her suppliers." To keep track throughout the walk Chris will be updating followers on his twitter page and blog. A state of the art phone provided by Tmac also provides GPS tracking and a link will be available on the website in a google maps type format in real time. Chris encourages people to get involved by donating and even joining him on the route.
To donate to this cause please text LWTR51 followed by £1/£2/£5/£10 to 70090 or pop into your local Crossreach branch and say your donation is for the walk, so the cash goes to the right place and help Chris raised his target of £2000.
For updates and a full look at the route then please go to www.thelongwalktorecovery.com
TO HELL AND BACK
HARROWING PERSONAL INSIGHT IN JUNE 2010 I had the
world at my feet. I had just fulfilled a lifelong ambition of becoming a qualified sports writer, had a week’s holiday to look forward to both with the love of my life and my best friends, and to make things even better, the forthcoming World Cup meant I was about to rekindle my love affair with the beautiful game. Writing that little paragraph and reading it back stirs up a number of emotions in me. Nostalgic feelings of happiness of course, but also regret, frustration and an overwhelming desperation to return to the times when the biggest concern I faced on a daily basis was how I was going to spend long summer days with my mates. What’s happened since has split my life in two. Gone is the happy wee comedian who was ready to take on the world. He’s been replaced by an anxious shell of a man who struggles to survive on a daily basis.
ACCOMPLISHED REPORTER
In a previous life I was a very accomplished writer and reporter. Forgive me then if this reads like the manic typing of a mad man. But you must understand that for me this is three years of bottled up frustration and secrecy being hammered out into a hastily written word document. This is a confession for me as much as anything else. Why write it at all you may ask? Honest answer? I don’t know. I don’t know if this is the right thing to do. But I hope that by telling
my story I can make people understand what I’ve gone through over the past three years and, more importantly, help anyone else who is suffering from horrific mental health problems. If I am to write this then I must be brutally honest. I mustn’t leave out a single excruciating detail. Honesty, I’m finding, is the only policy. This is my first attempt at documenting my problems so, please, be patient and read on.
HAD IT ALL I really did have it all. I had a beautiful girlfriend who I was only just beginning to realise had completely
bowled me over. I had a loving, doting family as well as lifelong friends who I would trust with my life. Why then was I beginning to suffer irrational fears and worries about the most random, abhorrent thoughts imaginable? University had finished and I was enjoying long, lazy days which consisted of me heading to the gym in the late afternoon sunshine and returning home to collapse on the couch and watching hour upon hour of World Cup coverage. On weekends I would relax with friends and my other half, usually in the pub or a friend’s house. I had holidays to look forward to and
life was in general very good and very relaxing. A couple of weeks into my four month break from anything and everything, I was off to Blackpool with my family to enjoy a long weekend of booze, banter and the shows. Shortly before we left my mum asked me how she looked. I said what any son would say: “You look good, mum.” A simple answer that would be forgotten within seconds on any other day. But on this day, I began to analyse my answer to lengths I had never done before.
UNCOMFORTABLE THOUGHTS I asked myself: “Is it normal to think your mum looks good? Is there something wrong with me?” This stayed with me the whole way in the car to Blackpool and reached the stage where I didn’t feel comfortable being in the same room as my mum. I wish I had seeked help then, but I didn’t. The anxiety surrounding my straightforward response disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Life was good again and continued to be until I sat down one day with Frankie Boyle’s book and began to read an anecdote about child prostitutes(It is Frankie Boyle). Like anyone, I was quite disturbed by the image of what had been described in the book. However, instead of continuing to read, I was filled with concerns and anxiety. “What if I could somehow be aroused by that? What if I could be one of those terrible people?” Irrational, but very frightening thoughts which gripped me for about a week. The more I thought about them the more I believed they were real. Again, I wish I had seeked help at that point, but again I didn’t. By this time Spain were world champions, I had just returned from a very relaxing week with my other half in Kos and was now off on a whirlwind 18-30 holiday with the boys. My abhorrent concerns had all but cleared up and life was good again. It continued to be
K: OCD AND I
TOLD BY JAMIE MILLIGAN good until around two days into my first week with the boys(are you seeing a pattern yet?). Aware of the fact that I was no longer suffering these horribl e thoughts and images, I was quite relieved. Or at least I was until my mind decided to worry about something else I’ve never given a second thought, my sexuality.
TURNING POINT This, for me, was a turning point. The other two obsessions had been easy to dismiss because, let’s be honest, even in the grip of a full blown panic, I think most people are fairly confident they are neither attracted to their mothers or indeed a child abuser. This was more difficult to dismiss. Despite not having one doubt over a period of 21 years, this seemed much more rational to me. And the more I worried, the more I became convinced I was going through a sexual identity crisis. The problem was of course, I wasn’t. I was experiencing symptoms that were becoming all too familiar with me, but I simply didn’t draw a parallel. The rest of my holiday was blighted by these concerns as were the next nine months as I fell victim to this monstrous obsession. 21st parties, Christmases, dream trips to Barcelona came and went and the obsession remained. It reached the stage where I was ready to snap. The Jamie I had known for more than two decades appeared to be gone and sinking without a trace. I had to do something. Unwisely, instead of seeking help, I decided to test myself. That’s when the real problems began. In the grip of frustration and obsession, I decided the only logical thing to do would be to watch gay porn and see how I reacted. I won’t go into too much detail, but let’s just say I didn’t find what I was looking for and actually, at times, quite enjoyed it. I decided to watch it again and again, completely unaware
that my behaviour was symptomatic of a mental health crisis. I don’t expect the majority of you to understand this. If the shoe were on the other foot and I was reading this my immediate reaction would be: “This poor boy is undergoing a chronic sexuality crisis. Poor lad. He just has to be brave and accept it.
” It is difficult to put into words what suffering pathological doubt about things you are 100% comfortable about can do to a person. Please believe me when I say that if I thought for a minute that I was suppressing my sexuality I would admit it, embrace it and get on with my life. I would not put myself through this daily torture. It, quite simply, wouldn’t be worth it.
OCD I am conscious about rantin and something my mates from Uni have always said I’m good at) so will try to bring this whole sorry exercise to a close. I have been diagnosed with OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have seeked help and am receiving therapy from a wonderful therapist who understands exactly what I am suffering from. Slowly, but surely I can see green roots of recovery and signs of the old Jamie returning. It has been a long, arduous, at times hopeless struggle, but one which I am finally winning. I understand that for the exception of my close friends, family and ex girlfriend, reading this will come as a major shock. This isn’t a cry for help. I am receiving help from someone who understands more about OCD than I ever could.
This is an attempt to help combat the stigma that surrounds mental health and, I hope, a helping hand for anyone who reads this and can draw parallels with my story. Mental health is the most precious, yet fragile aspect of life. I am only just beginning to realise that. Take care of it and it’ll take care of you. I abused mine and my battle isn’t won yet, but I am now doing what I should’ve done when this all began three years ago with a fleeting thought. If you are suffering from any kind of mental distress then please get help. Don’t put it off like I did. If I hadn’t seeked help I don’t know where I would be today. I certainly wouldn’t be sitting writing this article. But I am, and that shows the progress that I am making. The old Jamie is not gone. I will bounce back and beat this monster.
Follow Jamie on Twitter @JamieMilligan21
ALTERNATE VIEW: CAN MUSIC WHEN YOU think about the way you
feel, do you attribute it to a particular song, artist or album? Have you ever thought ‘that band makes me happy’? Many people do. You may be surprised to learn that the symptoms of depression - the most common mental health illness in Britain- can now be alleviated through the medium of music. On a daily basis a growing number of people feel the need to listen to, or play music in order to feel content. The mere thought of a particular song has the ability to lift a person’s mood by making them feel better about themselves, after allowing the listener to identify with the lyrics. These could relate to a specific event, or a time in the listener's life, or they may simply just enjoy the song. Music can affect the way a person feels or thinks and this can impact their lives as a whole. Sarah Perricone, a trained sound healer at The College of Sound Healing in Glasgow, stated: “Our whole body vibrates at different frequencies and sound can easily impact a person.”
SELF HARM Other mental health problems such as self-harming are also enjoying success with treatment by music. With self-harm statistics for the UK showing one of the highest rates in Europe - 400 in every 100,000 are self-harming - the realisation that this is becoming an ever increasing problem has prompted a need to find new coping mechanisms. The versatility of music is what makes it such an inspiring medium of treatment. Sam, 19 from Glasgow, Journalism student, responded: ‘Music can match all moods whether it is positive or negative.’ Liz McAlonan, 63 from Glasgow, Sales Executive, said: “If you listen to a happy tune then it makes you feel happy too.” Although each patient can require different treatment, depending on the true extent of and severity of their issues, everyone has one thing in common: It is scientifically proven that the brain is less active when you experience depression. What those in a depressed state really require is a reason to continue with treatment in order to get better. They have to develop a positive mind-set in order to beat their illness, and a number of people believe that music can help patients achieve this. Perricone explained: “Those with depression need kindness, care and understanding. It’s about creating an environment for a person to heal.”
HELP TREAT DEPRESSION? Perricone expressed her feelings on the subject: “I believe music can help people overcome emotional difficulty, such as depression. In a depressed state there is less brain activity as it is a mental disorder. Songs can actively stimulate the brain and make the person happier, and as a result they may find life easier to deal with. It can lift their mood.’ However, it is not simply listening to music that can aid people in the battle with their mental illness. Practical implementation of this theoretical idea is also employed. Many people play various instruments and use this to escape issues in their day to day lives. The physical playing of music requires an increased level of concentration which allows the brain to engage and become more active. It also allows a sense of achievement which can also provide hope that they can overcome their troubles.
REACHING OUT It is important for music to reach out and break the metaphorical wall that those with depression surround themselves with. The lyrics, the drumbeats, the guitar riffs – all of this has the power to do that. A song or a band could save someone’s life. Everyone has 'that one song' that really speaks to them. What's yours? Christine, 39 from China, described how music can help her: ‘It helps me because when I’m homesick, I listen to music that reminds me of home and the music takes me back there and makes me feel less homesick..’ Lyrics make others feel connected to the outside world. As though they are not as alone as they think. And it is for this reason that music is one of the most powerful forms of art in the world. Perricone explained: “When at the right frequency music and sound can have a huge impact on people. The vibrations caused by the sounds are something everyone hears. They all resonate with sound. Sound, and by extension, music can directly stimulate brain function by releasing endorphins when you listen to a sound you like.” People feel that the reasons why music can affect the way people think is because it not only makes people feel less alone, but also allows them to fully express themselves and say the words that they cannot. When someone finds a new band or song that they feel describes them perfectly it is the most beautiful thing.
MUSICAL FAN BASE It is not only the artists and the music itself which inspires people and keeps people going – it's also the fan base of the musician. Many find solace in expressing their feelings with each other. The fans act almost as a support group – a family. This allows people to feel less alone and can help make them stronger and feel as though they are more equipped to deal with challenges . Alex Conte, 43 from Glasgow is a Bus Driver, said: “Yes, music can very much have an effect on people’s moods; people walk around with their earphones in and don’t notice what is going on around them because it’s almost as if they are in their own little world. It would be a great help in treating depression.”
STUDY During 2011, a case study was funded by the New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST) programme in the European Commission which took place in Norway and Finland. Seventy nine participants between the ages of 18 and 50 with diagnosed clinical depression took part in the trial over a three month period. A random selection of 33 participants were chosen to undertake two sessions a week of music therapy (which included both playing and listening to music) combined with their medication, while others were chosen to continue on their usual medical prescriptions with no additions. A total of 12 individuals dropped out of the programme; however the drop-out rate was higher in the selection of those receiving their normal medicated regime than in the music therapy group. This indicates that those who receive music therapy are potentially more eager to continue with treatment in order to make themselves better. A teenager diagnosed with depression commented: “Music can help other people because everyone responds to music differently and different songs can mean different things to all kinds of people. They can listen, and feel better. Just like I did. My experiences were my own, but many go through similar issues.” She continued: "I learned that it gets better, It always gets better. There’s always something to hold on to.” Music is the sound of the soul. It has the capacity to help heal the broken and strengthen the weak. So, let me ask you again...do you have a song?
Nicole Brabender
: Y T E I X N A L A I C SO A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION BY MICHELLE FISHER
HAVING experienced anxiety problems for some time now, I have encountered many prejudices from people. I
always hope for support and understanding about my situation. Instead, I am often met with utter confusion, or an awkward silence. Perhaps this is due to the stigma of mental health. People don't expect a “normal” person to have these problems. I am not entirely sure what they expect, to be honest. It is certainly not the open and honest attitude that I have about it all.
My history of social anxiety has influenced who I am and how I operate in so many ways. It would be crazy to hide it away. As detrimental as it has been to some aspects of my life it has shaped my personality in unexpected ways. I have learned to think about how other people might be feeling. That skill can maybe be put down to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which I completed in 2009. You learn that you cannot read minds. You have to ponder the many things that could be going through someone's head at any given moment. You may be treated in ways you do not like because of the hidden mental illness of others. You can't make the assumption that someone is a bad person. Mental illness can lead us all to do things that hurt others or make them uncomfortable. If we expect to be treated fairly then we should give others the benefit of the doubt. We don't know the difficulties they may face, but we can begin to understand. I think being aware of social anxiety makes it easier to reach out to others. I have heard quiet people be called “freaky and weird”. I don't see it that way. They just need someone to take an interest. It can be very hard to speak up when you think no one is interested. Especially if your group is very social and you can't get a word in edgeways! It takes a bigger person to notice you are struggling, and try to lift you up. Even if it is hard for me, I want to work on connecting with people who find it difficult, because I know how helpful it is.
PANIC ATTACKS
My anxiety has lead me to have several panic attacks/hysterical crying fits in the workplace. Working with understanding people makes this a lot easier. Not that my colleagues are there to deal with my problems or anything. Just knowing that if I won't be shunned if I have an off day makes all the difference. The extra worry of the dreadful “what if” can't hurt me any more.
I am lucky now though. In the past I lost jobs because of this. I lost my entire intended career path because of this, 7 weeks before finishing my degree. I lost most of my high school friends. Raising awareness is important to me to stop this happening to so much as one person. If that starts with just me being open and unashamed then I am happy to pay the price of an awkward silence or an uncomfortable conversation. Ultimately it could inspire others to open up, seek help, or even just begin to think about mental health. Being ashamed will allow stigma to continue. I think it is time we sold the benefits of our problems whilst trying to “get better”. We are understanding. We are compassionate. Our down times have taught us life lessons we will never forget. Of course anxiety is not ideal, but why not make the most of it?
-
-
l e
g
s
r
e
OKAY YOU BEAUTIFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY, JOYFUL PEO BY FIONA MCBRIDE
THE Office for National Statistics (ONS) released a
report, called Measuring National Well-being - Health, 2013 on 19th June, which revealed the fact that at any given time about 1 in 5 adults in the UK have some indication of anxiety or depression. Marital status, employment status, health satisfaction, and being a carer all influence the likelihood of suffering poor mental health, which means we can all be susceptible. Everybody can. It is sometimes easy to forget that it is normal to find ourselves having to deal with different problems or issues at different times in our lives. This forgetting can cause us to be unreasonably and unfairly critical of ourselves. We might find we use negative self talk which sounds a bit like this:
"How stupid/ugly/unlucky/uncared for/skinny/fat/unworthy/unlovable/what a failure I am!!!" We can be uncommonly cruel and say hurtful things about ourselves that we would never dream of saying about another person. This ruthless self-sabotage by negative thoughts and emotions makes us feel miserable, and it has great power because we tend to believe our own stories and views of life, which can lead to a lack of self-confidence or self-worth. Self sabotage is normal - we can all beat ourselves up over something or absolutely nothing. What matters at that moment is whether we can find a way out and away from our toxic mind chatter. What is needed at such times are tools to make sure that any consistent thoughts and emotions are positive rather than negative. In other words, they make you feel better able to cope with life's events. Happily, this can be much easier than you might imagine; the difficult bit is just remembering to do it. Here are a couple of tools to put you back on track.
Smiling A very quick fix is to fake a smile. That's right, don't even attempt to think your way out, just smile. As the ONS report on well-being points out "good physical health is important for good mental health and vice versa", and according to researchers at the University of Kansas fake smiling is good for both. If you want to try clamping a pencil or chopstick horizontally between your teeth, your face will be stretched into a smile. The "findings suggest smiling during brief periods of stress may help reduce the body's stress response, regardless of whether the person actually feels happy or not." I tried it (without pencil or chopstick) and felt better for it, perhaps because I began to smile at what I was doing and how I might look, but that didn't matter to me as my mood was elevated. You know how impossible it is to feel happy and angry or happy and despondent at the same time ‌ but take care not to overdo it!
The researchers are talking about brief periods of stress; longer periods of time spent faking it are said to be exhausting.
Meditation Eastern civilisations have employed meditation across millennia as a tool to gain all sorts of health benefits and some (recent) research indicates that during meditation, activity in the part of the brain which is responsible for negative emotions is reduced, while there is increased activity in the part of the brain where happiness originates. There is also evidence that meditation is helpful in alleviating depression. There are many different sorts of meditation, from those where you concentrate on a colour or an object or a space, to others where you attempt to make your mind a complete blank. Having experimented with a few of them myself, I found that forms that aren't too taxing mentally or physically are of the sort that don't require the effort of sitting in the lotus position. The lotus position is said to maintain good posture for those sitting still for lengthy periods of time, but it does take effort and practice and we want a simple and easy way to dodge those negative thoughts and emotions that can plague us when we feel vulnerable. Sitting up in a chair with our legs straight (not crossed) and feet on the ground is pretty comfortable. Meditation can be done lying down too, if need be, but it isn't ideal. As most of us sleep in that position, we are conditioned to doze off when we stretch out and relax. Having drifted off myself a few times I can vouch for the effect of being just too comfortable. It is a fact that trying to think of nothing or focus on one thing to the exclusion of others is extremely difficult. We are so good at thinking and dreaming that invariably a random image or thought sneaks up on us, just when we are trying very hard to pay attention to something or nothing. Chasing or ignoring thought takes energy, and by doing so we are investing our attention on that which we wish to banish. Instead, what is much easier is to acknowledge what comes floating into our mind. It is likely that our habitual thoughts, those which sometimes seem to run on a loop in our head, will make an appearance. If we have been feeling a bit down, those thoughts might be of the type we specifically want to use meditation to escape. Fortunately for us that's no problem at all: we don't argue with them, for instance, stating in our mind: 'that's not true, they didn't mean that!'; nor do we ignore them 'you don't register, you're not bothering me'. Instead, we might say yes, and from a neutral place say lightly 'I acknowledge and honour you'. We don't hold the spurious thought up by investing emotion in it we just let it
OPLE ‌ LET'S KICK ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION INTO TOUCH!! pass; just let it drift on through our mind. We allow it, make no judgement of it and feel nothing for it, no matter what it is. In this way we remain free from mental entanglement and we can take a refreshing rest from the pressure of self-sabotage; and when we take time out in that way we give ourselves the opportunity to heal much more rapidly than when we are struggling with day-to-day worries. If you realise that you have been engaging with a thought during a meditation don't berate yourself, just disengage from it and keep going. Be kind to yourself. Everybody functions so much better in a kind and caring environment. If you can manage it, daily meditation gets your mind into the habit of taking a healthful break; you can destress and feel good instantly with practice. Choosing the best meditation for ourselves is made simpler when we have an idea of what we hope to gain from it. I hope you give the tools a try and gain positive results because we all deserve a happy life.
Did you know... The half smile is a recognised distress tolerance technique. It’s widely used and taught as it forms a crucial part of (DBT) dialectical behavior therapy!
Practice this technique by going to http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/halfsmile_and_serenity.html
SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH NEWS
WE all know that it’s important to get active for our mental health but at the end of June aspiring footballers will be
able to take to the pitch in a 7-side event to raise awareness about suicide.
The Suicide Awareness event attracted over 500 people last year and aims to be a bigger success this year.
It kicks off at 12PM on 30th June and is taking place at the Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie Park, Paisley.
On the day additional activities will be available for all members of the family.
Please come down to the event. Join in, share awareness and take time to celebrate the lifes of those who have been lost to suicide.
For more information, the event has a twitter: @nosubforlife
A TWO day hack weekend has taken place to discuss ideas contributing to Project Ginsberg.
This project is targeted at an audience with common mental health problems and encouraged innovators to showcase their ideas for the project. It will deliver a digital platform which supports people to self-manage their mental health problems. At the core of the platform is a data store, with the aim to aggregate data from a variety of mobile and web applications. The aim is to help people access information, understand themselves better, track their experience and wellbeing over time, learn how to reinforce positive activities and connect with others. It is being developed by Scottish Government, NHS 24 and New Media Scotland. For futher information, go to http://www.project-ginsberg.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Follow us on Twitter: @Mental_Matters
IT was great to read the first edition of your magazine and well done for playing in your part in raising awareness on mental health problems in Scotland. I have a mental illness myself and have come through from the severe lows in my life to a point now that I feel comfortable saying I'm in recovery and ready to give a little back. It's evident in the media that more is being done to talk about these difficult subjects and help tackle the awful stigma that still exists on these topics. Your article on mental health first aid highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and raising awareness. The magazine is a small step but well done and I look forward to reading future editions.
David Hughes - Livingston ******
I’m looking for emails into random_hollz@hotmail.com - talk about issues affecting you, stories of recovery or anything relevant to Mental Matters. Also, if you would like to feature in or contribute to the next edition then again please get in touch.
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MEDIA
MENTAL health issues have
a ubiquitous presence in everyday life, with one in four people experiencing some kind of mental health issue in the course of a year. Despite the alarming prevalence of mental health problems in the UK, The subject remains taboo in the mass media. While still under-represented in the media in relation to the regularity of mental disorders, the subject has become somewhat less stigmatised than it once was. Recent British TV shows which have attempted to tackle these complex issues include Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, and the critically-acclaimed Sherlock. In spite of the representations of mental health problems becoming more and more common, these representations are neglecting one of the groups most at risk of developing a mental health disorder: teenagers.
Skins – The Unsung Truth about Teenage Mental Health Teenage mental health problems are becoming increasingly widespread, with the number of young people aged 15-16 with depression doubling between the 1980 and the 2000s. Why does the number of British teenagers with mental illness continue to rise? With the progressing economic uncertainty and university courses becoming more difficult to gain entry to each year, it’s no surprise that teenage mental health continues to worsen. It would stand to reason, given the current state of teenage mental health being poorer than ever, that the representations of teenage mental illness would be rife in the current mass media. Regrettably, however, this is not the case. A prime example of authentic and realistic portrayals of teenage mental health issues would be the British teen-drama series Skins (2007-2013). The show follows the lives of a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, during the 2 years of 6th form. The show has gained significant notoriety for its controversial storylines, some of which have explored dysfunctional families, adolescent sexuality, and death.
While Skins has been criticised for its unrealistic and stereotypical illustration of teenage lifestyle, there has been unanimous praise for its emotional and pertinent depiction of teenage mental illness. There have been numerous characters within the show who have dealt with some form of mental disorder, the most notable example being Cassie Ainsworth (portrayed by Hannah Murray). Though Cassie may seem to be the paragon of an average, unassuming teenager, she battles demons which are, sadly, all too realistic in the current social crises of teenage mental illness. Cassie is depicted as being eccentric and suffering from several mental disorders — most notably, anorexia nervosa — and multiple problems, including low self-esteem, suicidal idealisation, and drug addiction.
While other characters deal with more common teenage problems such as family divorce and relationship issues, Cassie’s struggles reflect a worrying and relevant truth: mental health problems in teenagers are worsening at a rapid pace. Cassie’s character arc in the series is constantly bolstered by her mental health troubles, with episodes focusing on her aversion to food and how this adversely affects her health, to episodes focusing on her rehabilitation with the help of her family and friends. One of the more endearing facets of Cassie’s storyline is the romantic relationship she shares with fan-favourite Sid Jenkins (Mike Bailey). Although Cassie and Sid’s relationship may be somewhat atypical in contrast with other teen romances on the show, the relative normalcy of Cassie (a teenager with severe mental health issues) and Sid’s union is refreshing to say the least. The series 1 Cassie-centric episode dealt with Cassie’s struggles and her refusal to accept her own illness; Cassie’s denial of her illness unfortunately reflects many real-life battles with teenage anorexia. The writers explained that there wasn't an overall happy ending, because they "didn't want a little preachy drama where everyone hugs at the end"; instead, they hoped that people would recognise their own faults in Cassie. [2] Another Skins character who dealt with mental health problems is Effy
Stonem (Kaya Scodelario), whose mental health deteriorated into manic-depression by the 4th series. Like Cassie, Effy finds solace in her friends and family, and has seemingly overcome her depression by the end of the 4th series of the show. Both Cassie and Effy are set to reappear in the highly-anticipated 7th series on Skins. Both characters are set to feature in their own independent episodes of the series, but whether or not Cassie and Effy have completely overcome their respective struggles… only time will tell.
Post-Skins Has Skins’ genuine and sombre depiction of teenage mental illness had any effect on the representation of the demographic in other forms of media? Since the show’s inception in 2007, there has been an array of TV shows, films, and documentaries dealing with the complicated subject matter of teenage mental health problems. There have been countless documentaries on teenage anorexia, with some focusing on half-way houses devoted to the treatment of both male and female teenage anorexics. Documentaries concerning bipolar disorder and depression in teenagers are also becoming more popular, as well as other mental health illnesses which have previously gone unnoticed in teenagers. Mental health issues in teenagers are at an all-time high; but thankfully, so are encouraging and truthful media depictions of the issues that young people face every day. Campaigns like the Mental Health Anti-Stigma project are attempting to de-stigmatise mental health disorders, and this will hopefully increase accurate representations within the media. TV series like Skins are having a uniformly positive effect on the media’s representation of mental health matters; hopefully these effects will continue to grow and the taboo on mental health issues will dissipate into non-existence, within the mass media and in real life.
ByJordan Phillips
In the next editon. we’ll look at the BBC3 Mental Health Season.
TALKING about recovery may form the basis for this magazine bu
it's important to talk about it not just in the context of a mental illness.
As we've explored before, their is a key difference betweenn the terms of mental health and mental illness and it's important to understand those difference for our wellbeing. In terms of mental health, we all need to take time each day for ourselves to maintain a healthy balance in our lives. Try not to think that you don't have enough time for yourself in any given day as even just 15 minutes of solsitce can do wonders to your mental health. Recovery for an individual could even just be after a stressful day at work, a day looking after the kids or a loved one. MAKE YOURSELF NUMBER ONE
The importance to self soothe is self evident and although this is simple advice and mainly common sense, sometimes we do just need to be reminded.
Take that time albeit in the bath with a relaxing bubble bath, pour yourself a nice calming cup of tea, read a book, watch your favourite film or go for a walk outside.
Small simple steps that on a daily basis can prove to be the difference in maintaining a healthy balance with your mental health. Hopefully reading this magazine has proved and I'll keep this short and sweet, just be kind to yourselves. I've learnt recently that it's okay to be nice to yourself, it's really okay!
ut
-
e
h
l
WE ARE MIGHTY... BY HANNAH JACKSON
We may as people Have been through crap in our lives But to a better future To us it only drives Our minds are strong And we soldier on We fight to the end Until the bad days are gone We fight until its over We fight until the end Even when things make no sense And we can't comprehend The path isn't always smooth It often can be rough Times can be hard And things can be tough But we always remember The progress we've made We never let our spirit Or our hope fade We get all the shit And we leave it behind And in new beginnings We seek to find Because we are mighty And we will continue to fight Because at the end of the tunnel There is so much light
POETRY
D o you: x H ave a friend in crisis and w onderhow to respond effectivel y? x W antto be supportive and helpful,butjustdon¶W KDYH WKH answers? cide,butjustdon¶W NQRZ ci x K nowing som eone w ho is talking ofsui how to help them ? A M entalH ealth FirstA id course can help! M any people,justlike you,have fam ilies and friends w ith a variety of chal lenges,butdon¶W NQRZ KRZ WR UHVSRQG Ifyou can relate,and w ould like to learnthe ski lls to help som eone w ith a m entalhealth problem , w hy notconsi dera S cotland¶V M entalH ealth FirstA id course. der x x x x
N H S H ealth S cotland certified course 12 hourcourse S im ilarapproach to generalµIirstaid¶ A part icipation based coursefullofactivities,film clips,case ons studies and discussi x N ow being offered ata variety oflocat ions around S cotland by M inds M atterTraining To find outm ore or to register for a course visit w w w .m indsmat smatt tert raining.co.uk