Email Announcement – February 2005
Free seminar on young men’s mental health
The Social Inclusion Directorate, NHS Lothian, are hosting a free half-day seminar about young men’s mental wellbeing at the Quayside in Musselburgh on Friday 18th March 2005. Presentations will include ‘Young Masculinities’ and ‘Access, Inclusion and Young Men: an exploration of barriers perceived and real’ as well as local project presentations and discussion groups. For more information, contact Prappy Campbell on 0131 536 9426 or Prappy.Campbell@lhb.scot.nhs.uk
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Be Active – support Depression Alliance Scotland!
DAS is a registered charity in this year’s Great Scottish Walk. It’s a great opportunity to have a day out – there are 6 and 12 mile walks, as well as the Healthy Living Golden Mile, for anyone aspiring to be more active in their life or unable to manage the 6 or 12 mile walks. The Walk talks place on Sunday 19th June, starting at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. Last year’s walk raised over £1 million for charity, and we would love to see as many supporters as possible walking for DAS. Contact us for an entry form, or download one from http://www.greatscottishwalk.com
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In The News – ‘Sicknote Britain’ is a myth says TUC
‘Sicknote Britain?’ a report by the TUC into sickness absence found that Britain is not a nation of malingerers and most sickness absence is due to genuine illness. It claims that the number of people claiming incapacity benefit is on the decrease. Long term absence is more common in the public sector, but the TUC believes this is linked to the more stressful nature of the job. The report points out that although stress is often not viewed by employers as a proper illness, it should be taken seriously because its symptoms can include serious physical and mental health problems.
(from the Scotsman 14th Jan 2005)
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In The News 2 – ‘People with depression to be protected against discrimination’
An amendment to the Disability Discrimination Bill currently in the House of Lords, will mean that depression will be seen as having a long term effect under the Disability Discrimination Act in certain circumstances. It will increase protection against discrimination under the Act for anyone who has recovered from a bout of depression. Previously those who had recovered would have only been covered if the depression was likely to recur.
(Community Care 15th Feb 2005)
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Correction to the January Announcement – User Forward web forums
We gave the wrong URL for the User Forward web forums in our last announcement. The correct address is: http://s3.invisionfree.com/userforward/index.php You will need to sign up for a new account and be approved by the administrator before you can view the board. User Forward is an initiative to put together a National Forum for People Using Mental Health Services in Scotland.
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Contributors required
We would very much welcome contributions from members for our Spring newsletter – a ‘Dear Doctor’ letter, book review etc. We would be happy to provide books for review if you would like to write for us.
Contact info@dascot.org or 0131 467 3050
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Your advice wanted for new website
We are designing a new website which we would like be useful and interesting for our members and other visitors. We need members who would be willing to help us with this. It will involve answering a questionnaire about what you would like to see on a DAS website and which other sites you find useful. Once the website is finished, you will get a chance to test it and let us have your comments before it goes live.
Interested? Contact us if you are interested