PlusPerth

Newsletter

The new issue of the PLUS Newsletter is now out, please click here to view it.

First Word

Hope - such a little word that means so much. This months issue of PLUS POINT looks at just how important hope is.

Hope in your heart - Hope springs eternal - Faith, Hope & Charity are just a few of the well known sayings that reflect hope.

Sometimes through adversity in life we can lose hope. That's when the importance of family, friends or someone who is looking out for us comes in. They can step in and hold our hope until we are ready to start living again - to believe in us until we can start believing in ourselves once more.

Suzy Johnstons' personal story inspires hope where the odds are stacked against someone who has had a mental illness. She used her experience to grow and develop into a stronger person.

Have you any stories or your own definitions of what Hope is?

On a lighter note here's hoping that our mailbag for our July edition of PLUS Point is filled to the brim with your hopeful articles!

Getting Physical For Mental Health

PLUS took on teams from across the UK at last weekends Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament on the North Inch.

The team sported strips featuring the 'see me' national mental health anti-stigma campaign logo to highlight the benefits of sport and physical exercise for maintaining good mental health.

Mental ill-health can happen to anyone but it needn't be a barrier to living a full and active life. Some of the volleyball team members have experience of mental health problems.

Having found that participating in volleyball has had a positive impact on their confidence as well as their physical and mental health, they are keen to spread the word about the positive mental aspect of sport.

Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. As one in four Scots experiences a mental health problem, it's essential to raise awareness of the link between physical activity and mental well-being. Not only is sport great fun, it can also aid recovery from mental health problems.

We went to an organisation in Glasgow called the Coach House Trust where we met up at the Walled Garden at Murray Royal Hospital beforehand, there were ten of us altogether enjoying the busy life of Glasgow.

The organisation that we went to was a very impressive set up and was established in 1988 with the aim to provide educational and employment opportunities for adults who are recovering from addiction, mental health problems and physical disabilities. It provides support for people getting reintegrated back into the community. There is full training services provided where trainees can learn environmental work skills through recycling material and landscaping work.

The site also has a walled garden, workshop facilities, IT, and a cafeteria.

When we were on the tour of the garden I remember one of the staff saying that his CPN had recommended him to join the Coach House Trust and eventually he got a job through this organisation.

I was rather envious of him because I am currently in the same situation as what that person was in that I have just recently come out of hospital and I am crying out for things to fill my day, the Coach House Trust would be an ideal opportunity for myself and other people like me.

It would be the perfect facility for people to access in that it is trying to integrate service users back into the community. I think funding should be made available for a similar setup to be established in Perth because I feel that there is not enough facilities provided for people who have mental health problems in the Perthshire area.

see me.... I'm a person not a label