Elament - eLanarkshire Mental Health Resource

G4S has become the 500^th organisation and the first security solutions company inScotland to publicly pledge its commitment to work with 'see me' to tackle the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental ill-health.

'see me', Scotland's national campaign to end the stigma of mental ill-health, works in partnership with local businesses, organisations and public bodies across Scotland to highlight the importance of positive mental health and well-being, both in the workplace and beyond. 'see me' is committed to empowering people to speak openly and confidently about mental ill-health to break down the associated barriers.

G4S is the largest security solutions company in theUKandIreland, with over 40,000 employees. InScotland, G4S employs over 4,000 employees who deliver a range of services to the business community and public sector organisations. Through delivery of these services, G4S employees come into contact with large numbers of the general public, the business community and many people within the criminal justice system.

Representatives from G4S Secure Solutions Scotland and G4S Care and Justice divisions signed the pledge with Suzie Vestri, 'see me's Campaign Director.

As part of their pledge commitment, G4S agreed action plans to join with 'see me' to tackle the stigma and discrimination around mental ill-health by taking action as employers, service providers and community stakeholders.

As part of the pledge, the company will introduce more training on mental health as part of their employee induction programmes and support employees to better understand and to respond appropriately to any mental health problems experienced by themselves, their colleagues or people in their care.

Suzie Vestri, 'see me' Campaign Director, said: "Mental ill-health can affect all of us at some point in our lives. For people experiencing a mental health problem, the reaction and support of family, friends and colleagues can make a huge difference to recovery.

"We welcome the commitment made by G4S to become the 500^th organisation to unite with 'see me' in our aim to remove the barrier that stands in the way of people talking about mental ill-health. Everyone has a role to play in tackling the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health. Simply being there for someone and offering support can make all the difference."

Kevin O'Neill, Chair of the Lanarkshire Mental Health Improvement Partnership Group, said: "On behalf of the Lanarkshire partners I would like to express my appreciation to G4S for joining forces with 'see me' and ourselves in the promotion of mental health and well-being, stigma reduction and suicide prevention. We are delighted to see the discussions, which began in G4S's Lanarkshire offices, grow into aScotlandwide commitment. G4S are demonstrating that mental health and well-being is everyone's business and we all have an important contribution to make."

Douglas Greenwell, Strategy and Development Director of G4S, said: "We are proud to pledge our support to the 'see me' campaign. Our employees are our biggest asset and better awareness of mental health issues will help them to support the people in our care more effectively as well as improving their understanding of how to cope with any issues they experience in their own personal lives."

For more information on signing the 'see me' pledge, visit: www.seemescotland.org

For more information on G4S, visit www.g4s.com/uk

For more information or images please contactJenny Stewart orShaun Bellat Stripe Communications on (0131) 561 8628, or e-mail seeme@stripecom.co.uk

Notes to Editors

• 'see me' isScotland's national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health.  The 'see me' anti-stigma campaign is owned and run by an alliance of five Scottish mental health organisations: Highland Users Group (HUG), Penumbra, Royal College of Psychiatrists (Scottish Division), Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Support in MindScotland.
• 'see me' is fully funded by the Scottish Government
• The 'see me' campaign features a programme of events and local and national initiatives to reduce the stigma faced by people with mental health problems throughoutScotland.
• The 'see me' website www.seemescotland.org acts as a signpost site for those seeking information on stigma, mental health problems and support services in Scotland.

Clubnet's main office is located in Motherwell and covers all of North Lanarkshire. Clubnet encourages members to take control of their own lives. The service offers opportunities to meet new people and be part of their community. Clubnet members are encouraged and assisted to access opportunities through existing resources. The aims of Clubnet are: recovery, peer support, social opportunities, education and training, personal goals, employment, fun and recreation, and community involvement. This assists confidence building, increases self-esteem and promotes positive well-being.

Clubnet now have an additional office in Airdrie and to mark this is we are hosting an open day at the Airdrie office. Please come along on Thursday 7^th June from 11am -2pm and see what Clubnet has to offer. The office is at suite 6,1 Chapel Lane, Airdrie Business Centre, Airdrie.

There will be Mental Health Information, an opportunity to speak to staff who work in the area, and tea and coffee available in the meeting room on the 1^st floor.

 Mental Health Awareness Week Information Stalls 

To mark Mental Health Awareness week Clubnet will have a Mental Health Information stall at the Work For All event on Tuesday 22^nd May form10am- 12. This will be held in the Muirfield Centre in Cumbernauld.

Clubnet will also be having a Mental Health Information stall at the Voice of Experience AGM in the Tudor Hotel Airdrie on Wednesday 23^rd May from 12-3pm.

Well-informed will be hosting a Mental health and well-being information stall at Wishaw General Hospital on Friday 25^th May from 10-12noon.

For more informations please contact:

Lynsey Sampson

lynsey.sampson@samh.org.uk

Recovery provides us with an empowering message of hope which says that people with mental health problems should be given every opportunity to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life.  Recovery is about more than the mere absence of symptoms; it is a deeply personal process, often described as a journey. 

The Lanarkshire Recovery Network (LRN) exists to bring partners together to promote the conditions for recovery within services and communities.  At every stage the LRN is looking to effect:

• first level change that benefits individuals through accessible services and opportunities which facilitate recovery
• second level change aimed at creating the conditions within communities that maintain recovery including improving public attitudes, increasing access, reducing barriers and supporting connections

As one part of our community programme we have been linking with faith communities across Lanarkshire which provides excellent opportunities to: promote mental health, suicide prevention, improve attitudes around mental ill-health, promote recovery from mental health problems, promote the services and opportunities that are available and encourage people to take steps to promote their own and others mental health and wellbeing.

This work recognises that spirituality is often an important factor in wellbeing and recovery.  This successful collaboration will see a significant number of Lanarkshire's faith communities sign the 'see me' anti-stigma pledge the spring of 2012.

An event took place on the 1st of May 2012 at the GLO Centre in Motherwell. Please see below document used at the event. 

Simon Bradstreet,  National Director of the Scottish Recovery Network - Presentation

Marian McElhinney, Mental Health Chaplain ,NHS Lanarkshire- Presentation

Tony McLaren, National Director, Breathing Space Scotland- Presentation

Kevin O'Neill, Public Mental Health & Wellbeing Development Manager,NHS Lanarkshire- Presentation

Please also find the report containing the information from the event 

International Workers Memorial Day is observed on 28 April each year and commemorates workers who have died, been injured or made by their work. Outside South Lanarkshire Council workers gather to show their respects and commitment to campaign to protect workers both now and in the future. This year the Joint Trades Union Council held an event about Stress in the Work Place to raise awareness of the dangers of stress and key speakers from the Council and NHS Lanarkshire spoke about the ongoing work, policies and assistance available to tackle it.

Pease click the links below to view the Workers Memorial Day film which is  now up on Youtube channel

International Workers Memorial Day South Lanarkshire 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVgYOg9GBjg&list=UU8EB-kUdQ0R9DA0gfy0E8Hg&index=1&feature=plcp

'Making it Happen - Peer Support, Wellbeing andLongTermConditions':One day course aimed at planners, commissioners and service leads

15^th June 2012, Motherwell

21^st June 2012, Motherwell

Background

For the past four years NHS Lanarkshire and partners has been working with national partners to support the mental health and wellbeing of people with long term conditions. Our activities have included:

• One of five national pilots for the Living Better Project (2008-2011) working to improve the mental health of people with diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease
• Seminar in 2011 to explore the role of peer support in supporting people with long term conditions
• Current partner in Developing Peer Support for Long Term Conditions (2011-2012), a national project funded by the Long Term Conditions AllianceScotland

Findings from these three aspects of work indicate that many people with long term conditions would like to have access to peer support, but that the availability of peer support services can be patchy and that services offering peer support could be better integrated with statutory agencies. The current Developing Peer Support for Long Term Conditions project aims to address these issues with a programme of training and development work acrossScotland, of which the 'Making it Happen' course forms a core part.

Aims of course

This one day training course is part of NHS Lanarkshire's ongoing work to support services for long term conditions across Lanarkshire. It is designed to introduce the topic of peer support and build on current knowledge to planners, commissioners and service leads to:

• Improve participants' understanding of peer support, its principles, outcomes and different models of peer support delivery
• Recognise the place of peer support within the wider service context and identify where and how peer support may be integrated within service settings

Your participation will also contribute to this national programme of work, providing valuable evidence about the impact and effectiveness of the training course, which will be used to support national learning to further enhance peer support services for people with long term conditions.

For Further details of the training course please click here , please also find booking form. If you would like to book a place on one of the two training days running in Lanarkshire, please complete and return the booking form to Janine Bowie at the Mental Health Foundation, on jbowie@mhf.org.uk . If you would like further information about the course content, please contact Chris O'Sullivan on cosullivan@mhf.org.uk Local contact: Janette Barry, Nurse Consultant for Long Term Conditions, NHS Lanarkshire Janette.Barrie@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk , tel: 01698 858293

Choose Life, the national strategy to reduce suicide in Scotland, is looking for ways to record the impact of all its work that has been carried out so far.

It has been decided that one of the best ways to do this is through a narrative approach, capturing people's stories.

This would involve looking at how Choose Life has influenced people ie. after doing ASIST training a person may have found themselves in a situation where they have put their skills into practice to save someone's life or the course might have changed their perceptions around suicide.

We would be most grateful if you are able to capture stories from people who you are working with regarding how the Safetalk and/or ASIST training course(s) they attended made a difference to them.

We are also looking for any other positive experiences of ChooseLife work wither it's about the annual 5-a-sides or handing out postcards to football fans. We'd love to hear what Choose Life has done for you.

If you'd like to tell someone your story rather than write it down or record it in a different way let us know how we can help.

Please find attached the template to capture the stories and an example showing how to complete it.

We would appreciate if you are able to complete and return the form no later than the 30th of June to: well-informed@samh.org.uk

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us either on the email address above or on the freephone information line: 0800 073 0918.

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference to Choose Life's national strategy to reduce suicide in Scotland by 2013.

Eleven Lanarkshire faith communities have become the first in the country to unite together and publicly pledge their commitment to work with 'see me',Scotland's national campaign to tackle the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health.

The 'see me' campaign aims to form partnerships with companies and organisations acrossScotlandto take positive mental health messages into local communities. 'see me' is committed to empowering people to speak openly and confidently about mental ill-health,  to break down the associated barriers.

Representatives from eleven faith communities publicly signed the pledge and agreed action plans to join with 'see me' to tackle the stigma and discrimination around mental health problems by taking action as community stakeholders. The faith communities participating in the pledge signings include:

•Baptist Churches of North andSouth Lanarkshire 

•HamiltonPresbytery of the Church of Scotland

•Lanark Presbytery of the Church of Scotland

•Lanarkshire Hindu Welfare Association

•Islamic Education Trust Cumbernauld

•Central Mosque Lanarkshire, Mossend

•Lanarkshire Circuit of theMethodistChurchinScotland

•Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell

•Lanarkshire Regional Council of the Scottish Episcopal Church

•The United Reformed Church in Lanarkshire

•North Lanarkshire Muslim Women's Association

Suzie Vestri, 'see me' Campaign Director, said: "We welcome the commitment of Lanarkshire faith organisations and look forward to working with them to break down the barrier that stands in the way of people talking about mental ill-health. Mental health problems can and do affect people from all walks of life. It's the reaction and support of family, friends and colleagues that can make a huge difference to recovery. We hope that the support pledged here will encourage more people across Lanarkshire to take positive action by joining 'see me' in tackling stigma and discrimination."

Kevin O'Neill, Chair of the Lanarkshire Mental Health Improvement Partnership Group said, "We wish to see a Lanarkshire where we all understand how to look after our mental health, how to support others mental health and well-being and what support is available. By working with faith communities we are able to support faith leaders and promote positive mental health messages to faith communities and congregations. We are delighted that Lanarkshire is the place where the first faith communities in Scotland are signing the 'see me' pledge and joining over 170 organisations in Lanarkshire who have already signed the 'see me' pledge and who are making a contribution to the well-being of our communities."

Rev Graham Austin Convener of Church and Society Committee of Hamilton Presbytery said: "Mental health is an issue that affects almost every family to one degree or another and yet it is brushed under the carpet. What this campaign does is to highlight the issue, give people permission to talk about mental health and offers to provide help and support. This can only be a good thing and Hamilton Presbytery is happy to support the 'see me' campaign."

Rev Sarah Ross of the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Lanark said: "With help from 'see me' we have developed an action plan from which we will inform and resource congregations in ways they can support and encourage people with mental health issues.  It is the hope of Lanark Presbytery that by encouraging congregations to talk openly about mental health issues including stigma and discrimination we will be able to provide warm, welcoming and appropriate spaces and services."

Mrs Asha Mallik of the Lanarkshire Hindu Welfare Association said: "As Hindus we welcome the opportunity to sign the 'see me' pledge with the other Lanarkshire faith communities. It is good to sign the 'see me' pledge as it will encourage openness about mental health problems and this can only be a help for all."

Mr Azhar Din of Islamic Education Trust Cumbernauld said: "The Islamic Education Trust of Cumbernauld recognises the 'see me' campaign as an important step towards physical and spiritual well being of everyone in our communities. By signing the pledge together with the other faith groups we hope it will give the campaign a real boost."

Rev Allan Loudon of Lanarkshire Circuit of theMethodistChurchinScotlandsaid: "TheMethodistChurchsee being involved in 'caring for each other' as an important part of our calling. The Lanarkshire Circuit signing the 'see me' pledge expresses this as it enables everyone to become more aware of mental health issues and the stigma it can create."

Imam Kurshid Khan of the Central Mosque Lanarkshire & Lanarkshire Muslin Welfare Society said: "We of the Central Mosque Lanarkshire are very happy and honoured to be signing this 'see me' pledge alongside the faith communities of Lanarkshire. Standing up to support the needs of those with mental health problems is an extremely virtuous act in our faith and important to our community."

Mrs Aisha Tasneem of the North Lanarkshire Muslim Women & Family Alliance Association said: "North Lanarkshire Muslim Women and Family Alliance, consider signing the 'see me' pledge will help in general to overcome the barriers of misunderstanding about people with mental health problems. We are very happy to be part of this campaign with other faith organisations across Lanarkshire."

Rev Stephen Younger, of the Baptist Churches of North andSouth Lanarkshire, said: "Baptist Churches are deeply committed to Jesus as Saviour and Lord revealed in Scripture and seek to emulate His healing ministry to the whole person - body, soul, spirit and mind. Faith 'sees' God's peace brought to the Whole Person and sees that every person is loved and valued by God."

Rt Rev Bishop Devine of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell said: "The Diocese of Motherwell is honoured and privileged to sign the 'see me' pledge; the fact that most of the religious communities from across Lanarkshire have come together to sign the 'see me' pledge and unite to remove the stigma that surrounds mental ill health and help people in our society; can only be a good thing."

Rev Lorna Mortis of Scottish Episcopal Church, Lanarkshire Regional Council said: "The Churches of Lanarkshire Regional Council, Scottish Episcopal Church, are pleased to sign the 'see me' pledge with other faith communities of Lanarkshire. Anything that leads to greater understanding and support of mental wellbeing is something our church is very committed to."

Rev John Humphreys of the United Reformed Church in Lanarkshire said: "The Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church aspires to be a community in which all will find welcome. The 'see me' pledge is part of this aspiration and I hope that the 'see me' pledge moves beyond Lanarkshire acrossScotlandhelping all our communities to reach genuine inclusiveness."

 Please click here to view press release

To view the Prayer Cards please click below:

See Me prayer card Gaelic

See Me prayer card Christian 

See Me prayer card Muslim

For more information on signing the 'see me' pledge visit: www.seemescotland.org

For more information or images please contact Shaun Bell or Calum Frier at Stripe Communications on (0131) 561 8628, or e-mail seeme@stripecom.co.uk

Notes to Editors

•'see me' isScotland's national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health.  The 'see me' anti-stigma campaign is owned and run by an alliance of five Scottish mental health organisations: Highland Users Group (HUG), Penumbra, Royal College of Psychiatrists (Scottish Division), Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Support in MindScotland.

•'see me' is fully funded by the Scottish Government 

•The 'see me' campaign features a programme of events and local and national initiatives to reduce the stigma faced by people with mental health problems throughoutScotland. 

•The 'see me' website www.seemescotland.org acts as a signpost site for those seeking information on stigma, mental health problems and support services inScotland.

South Lanarkshire Council, Money Matters Advice Service has launched a free, confidential telephone advice line for pregnant women and families with young children. Callers are offered a full welfare benefit and tax credit check to maximise their income and information and advice on how to make claims.   

Often when a person's family is growing they find themselves worried about how they will make ends meet or cope with rising debts. As well as giving advice on Welfare Benefit entitlement, the service will give advice and assistance to pregnant women and families with young children who are worried about money or struggling to pay their bills and getting into debt.

Sometimes advice over the telephone is not enough and a person really needs to speak to an adviser in person. Perhaps they need someone to help them fill in forms, represent them at an appeal tribunal or negotiate with creditors. In these cases, the Money Matters Advice Line Adviser will arrange an appointment with one of South Lanarkshire Council's Money Matters Advisers.

All calls to the service are treated in the strictest confidence - you don't even need to give your name.

To speak to the Welfare Rights Officer call our Freephone number 0800 24 20 24 (Option 2) or landline 01698 453154 Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12a.m. 

Alternatively, you can call outwith these times, leave a message and the Welfare Rights Officer will aim to call you back within 24 working hours.

Greg Burgess, North Lanarkshire's Choose Life Co-ordinator was invited by Madeline Moon MP for Bridgend, to make a presentation to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self Harm Prevention at the House of Commons on Tuesday 13 March 2012.

The group's purpose is to raise awareness within parliament and encourage discussion and debate of all issues involved in suicide and self harm prevention. Greg was invited because of his innovative and successful work in highlighting suicide prevention awareness through sport, particularly the annual 5-a-sides football event for suicide prevention week and the work with Motherwell Football Club.

It was an exciting and daunting experience for Greg; going through security and passing the armed police who stood at every corner. Walking through the two thousand year old Westminster Hall where Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill lay in state was inspiring.

Greg and Ernie Benbow of State of Mind Rugby made their presentation at 1pm in room 13, where the parliamentary group and another fifteen people who had come to hear them.

Ernie began the session with a presentation on his work in Rugby League with a group called State of Mind. This is focused on raising awareness of mental health issues amongst elite super league players and fans.

What was fascinating about Ernie's work was how similar this work is to that of North Lanarkshire. Although there is greater involvement of the players and a focus on their well being, the work is uncannily similar.

Feedback on the North Lanarkshire work on the 5-a-sides video (as seen at spwfives.org) , the future joint initiatives with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Premier League, was very positive and there were some interesting questions over the national 20% reduction target and how to reach those at greater risk of suicide. The practical angle of how government can help was asked. The group could easily see how support for clubs and teams of all sports could be encouraged nationally and this would lead people to get involved with suicide prevention to support staff and fans alike.

This is a compelling demonstration of how the work of North Lanarkshire, SAMH, Samaritans, Breathing Space and Choose Life Scotland is able to cross borders and sports and improve how people talk about suicide. This presentation with Ernie Benbow is now leading on to further joint working, using sport to raise the profile of suicide prevention throughout the UK.

To see the picture click here

The council has scored a golden hat-trick at this year's Cosla Excellence Awards.

Move the Goalposts, a joint project with Strathclyde Police, won gold for 'Tackling Inequalities' and 'Improving Health'.

TheEddlewoodTrainingAcademywhich provides skills in catering and cleaning won the gold award for Securing a Workforce for the future, sponsored by the Improvement Service.

And in partnership with Renfrewshire andGlasgowCitycouncils,South Lanarkshirewas awarded the Scottish Government Award for delivering Excellence for the completion of the M74.

Chief Executive Lindsay Freeland said: "Councils inScotlandsubmitted 229 projects for the excellence awards with just nine winners being chosen.

"We are extremely proud this included three of our projects which is testimony to the dedication of our employees, and the quality of the work we do with partners.

"We are absolutely delighted with this news. To achieve this level of recognition from the Cosla Awards is a real accolade."

Move the Goalposts targets 'hot spot' areas acrossSouth Lanarkshireusing football as a 'tool' to divert 12-25 year-olds from gang participation, acts of violence, antisocial behaviour and alcohol and drug misuse. It aims to encourage young people, parents and residents to help create an improved sense of wellbeing in their communities.

TheEddlewoodTrainingAcademyprovides skills training for both council employees and local unemployed people. The academy was developed by the council's Facilities Management Service whose broad ranging remit covers building cleaning, catering, janitorial, school crossing patrol, concierge, reception, and conference and banqueting services for the council and partner organisations' properties in the area. It addresses the challenges the service faces in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified and experienced staff for cleaning and catering. 

And the 8km of new motorway linking the M74 with the M8, west of theKingstonBridge,Glasgowprovided the missing link in the strategic motorway network. The project involvedGlasgowCity, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire councils, TransportScotlandas scheme promoter and a private sector consortium, Interlink M74 JV. The new road has significantly improved journey times for businesses and has opened up 'brownfield' and under-used sites for new development.

The Cosla Excellence Awards showcase and celebrate the very best of Scottish Local Government.