Summer Newsletter

2019 Summer Issue RAMH CAUSEWAY NEWSLETTER ramh.org ¦ 0141 881 8811 ¦ 8 Carlibar Road Welcome! Hello there, and thanks for reading the new Causeway Newsletter. We aim to bring you all the news and updates for your RAMH Causeway Community Service. How are we supposed to be? In this issue we have:  Mindfulness  Arts in Mental Health  The Shed  ACUMEN And much more… Page | 1

Calum McVittie “You can fail at what you don’t Community Connector want. So you might as well take Hello there! Who would believe We got some great feedback and a chance at doing summer is nearly finished for responses from our last issue. So what you love.” another year. It seems like only this month we have decided to yesterday it was freezing cold and build on what we had and bring Jim Carrey raining outside… maybe it was you even more stuff than before. yesterday now that I think about it? “Courage is not This issue we are delighted to the absence of Look on the bright side however, bring you more content from fear, it’s being as Billy Connelly always says “If different stakeholders and scared to death you don’t like the weather in partners. and saddling up Scotland, just wait 20 minutes” anyway.” As always if you would like to get We hope you had a lovely summer involved with this newsletter then John Wayne and thank you once again for please don’t hesitate to get in reading our newsletter. We here at contact via phone or email. “Our greatest Causeway are delighted to bring weakness lies in you the second issue of our new [email protected] giving up. The style Newsletter. 0141 881 8811 most certain way to succeed is Michael Charles always to try just one more time.” ACUMEN Development Worker My name is Michael Charles and I have recently started my new position as the Mental Health Development Worker for East Renfrewshire with ACUMEN. I have experience of working in support work with service-users with learning disabilities and have studied mental health and psychology for five years. I am extremely excited to be getting involved with ACUMEN and supporting mental health awareness and initiatives in the community. You can contact me on; [email protected] Thomas Edison Page | 2

“I’ve had a lot of Mindfulness Another important part of worries in my life, mindfulness is an awareness of most of which By Jimmy Wilson our thoughts and feelings as they never happened.” happen moment by moment. Mindfulness is an integrative mind Awareness of this kind, doesn’t Mark Twain body based approach that helps start by trying to change or fix people to manage their thoughts anything. It’s about allowing “The difference and feelings. Mindfulness ourselves to see the present between winning exercises are ways of paying moment clearly when we do that it and losing is most attention to the present moment can positively change the way we often…not using techniques like meditation, see ourselves. quitting.” breathing and yoga. Training helps people to become more Mindfulness also allows us to Walt Disney aware of their thoughts, feelings become more aware of the and body sensations so that stream of thoughts and feelings instead of being overwhelmed by that we experience and to see them, they’re better able to how we can become entangled in manage them. that stream in ways which are not helpful. Practicing mindfulness can give more insight into emotions, boost attention, concentration and improve relationships. Mindfulness can be used to boost Becoming more aware of the people’s mental health as well as present moment can help us to improve wellbeing. enjoy the world around us more and understand ourselves better. Good mental wellbeing means feeling good about life, yourself, and being able to get on with life the way you want. You may think about wellbeing in terms of what you have, such like income, home, car, job. However evidence shows that what we do and the way we think have the biggest impact on wellbeing. Page | 3

The Shed The Shed is a group that meets Research reveals that making depression. The benefits are weekly at 21 Carlibar Road, furniture and woodwork is highly evident for everyone! Barrhead from 10.00 am to beneficial for mental wellbeing. 12.00pm on Fridays. They make The group members themselves If you want to pick up some any kind of furniture you want report the sense of achievement new skills in a friendly, which can also be painted by the upon completion of their furniture inclusive and welcoming group, if requested. The group do projects. It keeps them focused environment then feel free to this for a small fee, but they do not and active, while maintaining and come along. Everyone is make a profit from this; instead improving concentration levels. welcome to join the group, no the money goes back into the Not only the creation of furniture previous experience required! service. This ensures they can has been found to be beneficial buy the supplies they need, such for mental and physical health, as wood, paint, tools, etc, so the studies reveal that owning wood group can continue to exist and items reduces anxiety and thrive. Gaun Yersel Self-Management Festival On the 27th May we had RAMHs garden games, gardening, flower first ever self-management bouquet making and having a festival. Our hope for the day relaxing massage. We closed the was that people could find out event with 2 fabulous young about local wellbeing services singers, Hollie and Sasha who and try out some taster sessions wowed us with their music skills to support wellbeing. and finished the festival with a bang! We had some fabulous information stalls such as SRN, Thanks to everyone who came Acumen, SDS forum, Carers, along to participate or volunteer, Mental Health Network, Talking we hope you had a great day and Points and much more. People now have more tools in your also took part in mindfulness, toolkit for managing your outdoor yoga, buddy beat wellbeing. (drumming), sing-a -longs, art, Page | 4

They Did It!!! A huge congratulations to “If you do what Causeways Katie Mercer you’ve always and Jade Gallagher on done, you’ll get completing their sponsored what you’ve climb of Ben Nevis. They always gotten.” managed to raise an Tony Robbins amazing £580 for RAMH services. “It is never too late to be what The money they raised will you might have be used to develop and been.” enhance the various George Eliot creative, therapeutic and physical activity groups that “The Way Get RAMH offers. Well done Started Is To ladies! Quit Talking And Begin Doing.” Mental Health on Air Walt Disney Mental Health on Air is a radio And coming up in the next Page | 5 show hosted by Steven couple of months: Murray in conjunction with ACUMEN and Pulse 98.4  NHSGGC Radio Station. This show  Healthy Minds discusses all subjects related  See Me Scotland to mental health, supported  Physical Fitness and by co-host Jimmy. Our recent topics and guests have mental health included: Be sure to tune in!  Talking Points  Voluntary Action You can listen to some of the old  ACUMEN shows on  Mental Health First www.pulseonair.co.uk. Aid Joke of the month Two dogs are walking along a street. They are passed by a third dog diving a lorry load of logs. One turns to the other and says “He started fetching a stick and built up the business from there.”

Performing for Recovery By Melissa Hempkin RAMH has a Singing for Wellbeing self-management period and was they thoroughly enjoyed the group and Acumen has a drama then refined by the group’s facilitator. performance and were singing along. group. These groups have regular The group have a wide repertoire and attendees and members of both This is an exciting process for the sing everything from “What a groups mention numerous benefits; Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong confidence building being the most group where anything is possible and to “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. widely reported. Research supports this, finding that creativity is beneficial can grow and develop throughout Performing in front of others takes to mental wellbeing and can be a courage. People often watch the mood booster, increasing self- rehearsals. Similarly, the singing singing group and drama group’s esteem, and self-expression. This is performances and believe that they undeniably vital to the recovery group report an exhilarating feeling don’t have the confidence to do it and process. from their rehearsals and claim it’s a that it’s not for them. Performing arts are a form of storytelling, which is Drama can be particularly liberating major mood booster. This is evident deeply ingrained into human nature. and can be used as a form of We learn about others and ourselves emotional release for individuals. It in the energy in the room during these through the arts, it creates a way to can provide a way of communicating connect and relate to others while how you’re feeling through a weekly group meetings and during holding a mirror up to ourselves. This character, which may be easier than their performances; it’s infectious. is why the arts are hugely important speaking as yourself. The benefits Both groups regularly perform at to society, they can create powerful the group feel from participating in change; a profound change within drama are multiple. It takes away the events and get hugely positive results in a profound change in the Monday morning blues and gives you world. a carefree feeling, as though you’re a feedback from audiences. child again. The group say it gives The drama group has said that in the them an opportunity for creative A recent event was the BigER lunch past people have attended the group expression and opens them up to and not participated, although, new experiences. They also report which was a fun-filled event held at members don’t have to perform, and the physical benefits, with improved can work behind the scenes if they posture and better breathing. The Neilston Bowling Club on the 14th chose. The Acumen drama group is singing group report similar benefits, closed for the summer, however they as it enables individuals to feel June. It focused specifically on carers will re-open on 19th August. empowered and communicate their feelings in a safe way; through music and provided information from a The RAMH singing for wellbeing and lyrics. group practice on Thursdays at 5- range of local charities such as 7pm at 8 Carlibar Road, Barrhead. The Acumen drama group’s recent The group are not professionally performance was devised from Voluntary Action, Talking Points, trained singers, it’s all about having improvisations over a 7 week period, fun and self-expression. consisting of 20 hours of rehearsal. Social Security Scotland, These improvisations were during a Everyone’s welcome! Neighbourhood Networks, RAMH, amongst others. RAMH was represented at the event by the Singing for Wellbeing group and the Acumen drama group. Their hard work in the rehearsal room paid off and on the day put on a great show that was well received by the audience. The Singing for Wellbeing group recently performed at the Calman Cancer Support Centre at the Beatson, Glasgow. Their songs were uplifting, with highly energetic and enthusiastic performances, which brought the feel-good factor. It proved to be a big hit with the audience as Page | 6

ACUMEN “The best way out is always The ACUMEN Conference through.” Robert Frost On the 21st of May, ACUMEN Davies, Consultant Mental Health held its annual conference at the Nurse came to talk about the “We make a Inverary Inn. This event had an Argyll and Bute Community living by what excellent turn out and had great Mental Health Services Review. we get, but we speakers who came to talk Finally, ACUMEN drama group make a life by about some important performed an excellent piece on what we give.” developments in mental health being a carer and looking after Winston initiatives. your mental health. Churchill So what happened? Jim Hume, ACUMEN then gave a brief “Every strike Convener of the National Rural brings me closer Mental Health Forum came to update of what it had been doing to my next home talk about the forums aims, run.” goals and achievements. Gillian through the different areas before Babe Ruth the attendee’s got together to do Page | 7 some anti-stigma group activities. Voluntary Action Coming up Breakfast As part of Volunteer Week, In August, ACUMEN will be Voluntary Action held a working with See Me Scotland to networking breakfast for people put on groups in the community from all over the community to throughout East Renfrewshire attend on the 4th of June. focused on tackling mental health stigma. These anti-stigma Ann Calahan from the groups will be held in accessible Campaign to End Loneliness venues, available for all to spoke about the organisations attend. initiatives in the area and the impact the campaign is having ACUMEN is also working with on the community. the University of the West Coast of Scotland to gather information and opinions on mental health nursing to help guide the development of the practice. I will be attending the Link Club and Time to Talk groups in August to talk about this. The ACUMEN Drama Group will be putting on a performance at the NHS Highland Mental Health Conference in Inverness on the 6th of November.

Celebration of Learning Word Search By William Amour X C E E N F E R SMENMYY Words GO T FUOE P EKO J H PK Q L ANS P I NO I OP T PH BOOKS ML C I A P T T T S XOL AL COLLEGE R E I P TAZ AAA I TBH I HAPPY A G F P LKC RGR I T Z RO MENTAL Z E I NVU F OODB T I MF EDUCATION O K T F DHT L AEHEXVC CELEBRATION H K R E L EA RN I NGL YE HEALTH F O E VF AQOOUCDH EK PAPER WB C B V T I WU Z K L X J C POSITIVE H VW J Y EA OYXA I I VB CERTIFICATE X V A XMB KM SMY T L ZY FOOD QMDQE CR AHHAX I J E LEARNING G F H X S RM F R R K U X HM Causeway Community Service Useful Links 8 Carlibar Road www.mind.org.uk Barrhead www.thinkpositive.scot G78 1AA www.scottishrecovery.net PHONE: www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk 0141 881 8811 www.wellbeing-glasgow.org.uk www.ramh.org Mental Health Apps E-MAIL: [email protected] What’s Up? If you would prefer this newsletter by email then please contact Calum on MoodTools 0141 881 8811 or [email protected] to be placed on our email mailing list Headspace Insight Timer Page | 8