Email Announcement May 2005
Depression Alliance Scotland News
Staff
We are pleased to welcome back Ilena Day from maternity leave. She will be job-sharing the co-ordinator’s role at Depression Alliance Scotland with Dinah Aitken.
Fundraising
We are an official charity of the Great Scottish Walk and are looking for people to participate in the Great Scottish Walk and raise funds for Depression Alliance Scotland. There are 3 walks of different lengths in Edinburgh on Sunday 19th June 2005, a six or twelve mile walk and a Golden Mile for people who don’t think they can manage six or twelve miles. For more information contact us at info@dascot.org
Events
Food and Mood Event May 18th
Held by Health All Round, Springwell House Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh 2.00pm – 3.30. Find out how food affects your mood. All welcome, contact Health All Round on 0131 537 7532 for more information.
Bluebell Day – Postnatal depression awareness day June 6th
Postnatal Depression is an extremely debilitating and upsetting illness which affects at least one in ten of all new mothers. Over Scotland as a whole, it is estimated that 11,000 women and their families are affected by postnatal dperssion at a time when society expects them to be happy. Despite the fact that the illness responds very well to appropriate treatment, the stigma attached to postnatal depression and the fear of telling others in case of misunderstanding, means that post natal depression is still one of the major causes of death for mothers within a year of childbirth.
Bluebell Day on 6th June is the first postnatal depression awareness day. Many areas of the country are under-resourced and the campaign seeks to promote and set up consultancy and service provision in areas struggling to help women with postnatal depression.
For more information visit www.bluebellday.org.uk
Edinburgh Users Forum AGM June 3rd
Edinburgh Users Forum is having its annual general meeting on Friday 3 June 2005 at the European Room, City Chambers High St Edinburgh EH1 1YJ. Doors open 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. For more information contact them c/o CAPS on 0131 538 7177.
ABPI Scotland events
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has two events coming up:
- Access to Medicines – What is the impact of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)? There will be three speakers and a thirty minute period for discussion Thursday 26th May 2005 1pm – 2pm.
- ABPI Scotland Annual Lecture – “Innovation and Risk in Pharmaceuticals” by Sir Tom McKillop 21st June 2005. A discussion will follow the lecture.
We have been offered a place at each of these events but are unable to attend. If you would like to take our place please contact us at info@dascot.org.
Focus groups: Consent to examination and treatment
Health Rights Information Scotland is a project funded by the Scottish Executive with a focus on patients’ rights. They produce information for patients on a range of topics. NHS boards throughout Scotland are sent our information products for distribution within their area. They are currently looking for people to take part in focus groups of around 6 to 8 people looking at a leaflet they are producing on consent to examination and treatment. They would like to hear patient’s views on this issue and if their draft leaflet is clear and accurate.
Those taking part are not expected to be experts in the subject. Discussions will be confidential There will be a payment of £25 to those who take part in each discussion if they are involved with an organisation on a voluntary basis. People who are employed by a patient organisation can claim expenses. Groups will take place on the last two weeks in May or the last two weeks in June.
For more information contact: Sarah Wheeler (HRIS Project Development Officer) tel: 0141 227 8846; email: swheeler@scotconsumer.org.uk
In the News
Scotland pioneers mental health 'first-aider' scheme
Mental health "first-aiders" are to be trained across Scotland in a programme that will enable ordinary people to assist sufferers of severe mental illness. The national training programme, funded by the Scottish Executive and NHS Health Scotland, is the first of its kind in the world and will train at least 300 instructors over the next three years. The roll-out is part of the Scottish Executive’s National Programme to Improve Mental Health and Well Being, and will be launched officially in June.
The idea is that members of the public will be able to to recognise the symptoms of someone with mental health problems, such as difficulty coping with work, and to deal with a crisis situation through guiding someone towards professional help. More than three-quarters of Scottish people know someone who has had mental health problems.
NHS Health Scotland ran a pilot scheme last year involving 15 people who went on to train 900 people across Scotland, including Ilena Day and Ruth Lang from Depression Alliance Scotland. An independent evaluation of the pilot scheme found that people who attended the course not only lost their negative attitude to people with mental health problems but also improved their own mental health.
Anyone who wants to train as a mental health first aider can contact Alana Atkinson at the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health on 0131 555 5959.
(Louise Day The Scotsman 5th May http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=481892005)
Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland
137 general members have been appointed to the Health Tribunal for Scotland. This includes:
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14 people who have experience of mental health problems and of using mental health services;
- 8 people who are carers for service users;
- 47 nurses with mental health problems;
- 6 clinical psychologists;
- 4 occupational therapists;
- 4 people who work in a care service;
- 4 managers of a care service
There are around 300 members in total including medical and legal members. You can see the full list of members online at http://www.mhtscot.org
(Edinburgh Users Forum Newsletter May 2005)
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