SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH NEWS
THE Scottish Recovery Walk 2013 is taking place on Saturday 11th May at the Forth Road Bridge. The event
kicks off at 4PM and will see a group of motivated individuals walk from one end of the Bridge to another. It raises awareness about recovery from devestating addictions, as well as being fun for all those who take part.
Kuladharini, Director of the Scottish Recovery Consortium said:" With just days to go until Recovery Walk Scotland 2013 and over 1000 people registered to walk, it’ s time to create history. Never before in Scotland have 1000 people stood together on the Forth Road Bridge and given thanks for recovery from addiction. People are coming from the Borders, Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Glasgow, Edinburgh and of course Fife to experience recovert en masse. They are coming in cars, in buses and on rickshaws, with kids, with Grandmothers and with next door neighbouts. The Cherry Blossoms are in bloom. It’ s time to walk Ladies and Gentleman. See you on the bridge.
To register for the walk, go to http:// www. scottishrecoveryconsortium. org
IT’ S that time of year again- Mental Health Awareness Week. At Mental Matters, we look to raise awareness about mental health constantly but fully support the campaign.
The Mental Health Foundation( MHF) will be using the week between May 13-19 to focus on the aspects surrounding physical activity. On a par with the‘ Get Active’ campaign ran by SAMH- the message is that being more active physically is going to benefit your overall mental health.
Everyone has mental health and it’ s important we all look after our own.
Many events will be taking place across the country and for further information head to http:// www, mentalhealth. org. uk
# letsgetphysical
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Life can be hard. Recovery is possible.
At 13, I started using cannabis and drinking. When I was 18 then I started to go clubbing and to pubs and beganusing mixture of illegal drugs. I was a mess. I went to my GP complaining of voices and I was referred to a Psychiatrist. At 22, I lost my full time job which I loved and things got worse. I got admitted to hospital for my first of many overdose atempts. I did this till I was 26 when I met another patient on his first admission. Hewas a lot older than me but he just understood what I was going and started advising me on how to cope with life and people. We ' re still in touch now in fact we’ re best mates and see and speak every day.
At the time, the hospital spoke to both my friend and mum and tried to discourage the friendship as it wasn’ t appropriate. I’ d probably still be in hospital today without his support.
His friendship, faith and support have been crucial to me and without it- I ' d still be using drugs and drinking. I ' d been written off and was getting no real support from anyone and just going round in circles. I ' m now 32 and 5 years clean and sober. I’ m even thinking of going back to work. It showsthat with support, encouragement and faith in a person it really can make a difference.
Emma Paslawsksa, 32, West Midlands