Pamela Kennedy is Raising Money for SAMH This Weekend

2nd Year Mental Health Nursing student is raising money for SAMH by taking part in the Great Scottish run on 6th October 2013.

Pam's motivation for this challenge is the memory of her uncle Gordon who completed suicide in 2012. Pam says 'Everyday Gordon felt it was a challenge to live with the psychotic disorder schizophrenia which he was diagnoised with in his early 20's. Most importantly, Gordon had a heart of gold and touched the lives of those he came in contact with. He was a true inspiration and I am proud to call him my uncle.'

To donate go to  Pam's Just Giving page 

http://www.justgiving.com/pamela-kennedy1

Welcome to the Class of 2013!

Margaret Caldwell Working in Partnership with Clinical Service

Following an approach from Senior Management (NHSGG&C) Margaret has been facilitating a number of educational sessions for Community Support Workers (CSW).

As part of our wider Clinical Academic Career developments and Clinical linking these sessions involved some clinical teaching of clinical skills such as taking and recording electronic Blood pressure and manual pulse.

"Service gives so much to our students in clinical settings and here in the University and this is part of us giving something in return," said Margaret.

The sessions, supported by clinical staff were delivered in their own locality and evaluated well:

Participants indicate that the sessions were "Very informative" "Clear and simple, easy to follow" 

·         

The Mental Health Nursing Team at GCU know the importance of developing clear links between themselves and Service and wish to support development opportunities for all grades of staff.  

"We want to work with practice rather than working in silos. This is work that we can take into the classroom with our students who now don't see us as being remote from practice. It enhances our credibility," Margaret added.

Class of 2010 on their final day!

Congratulations and good luck to the Class of 2010 from the MH Nurse teaching team



Then watch as Ukulele Bill and Val serenade them on their last day by clicking here

GCU Mental Health Nursing Student Lisa Pollock awarded a place in the National Junior Leadership Academy

GCU Mental Health Nursing Student Lisa Pollock supported by the GCU Mental Health Nursing teaching team, has been accepted as one of only 10 UK “remarkable” nursing students on the pilot National Junior Leadership Academy.

This six month programme funded by the Higher Education Academy seeks to develop 10 promising nursing students leadership identity early in their career journey and develop their leadership knowledge, attitudes and skills.

The National Junior Leadership Academy is aimed at high performing pre registration nursing students or pre registration nursing students in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelan

Activities include

•   Residential Leadership Retreats

•   Mentorship: each participant will be assigned to a senior national nursing leader who will act as their Leadership Mentor

•   Internship: each participant will have a two week policy/leadership internship period with their Leadership Mentor in a nursing related organisation

•   Leadership Networks: the cohort of 10 will be split into three leadership peer networks which will meet in between the leadership retreats and the internship period to work on pre negotiated tasks.

The National Junior Leadership Academy is led by Stacy Johnson and Dr Aru Narayanasamy, University of Nottingham and Professor Laura Serrant-Green, University of Wolverhampton.

"I feel honoured to be part of the academy. I still can't believe I have been chosen to be one of the 10 student nurse in the UK. I am delighted that my passion for mental health nursing has come through in my application and interview and I am very much looking forward to being part of this exciting opportunity"

Congratulations Lisa from the GCU Mental Health Nursing Team!

Scottish Delirium Association: Delirium Pathway Posters

Please see below the 2 posters on the delirium pathway. Please feel free to comment on these posters.

Francis Report Highlights

Watch the Robert Francis delivering highlights of Francis Report http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/robert-francis-lessons-stafford …

400 Suitcases found in New York Assylum in 1995

400 suitcases were found in an attic at the asylum in 1995. They dated from 1910 to 1960

Visit the Willard Suitcases Exhibition by clicking here

3rd Year GCU Mental Health Nursing Student Tom enters the Dragons’ Den and wins!

Tom Lyon wins social business competition

Tommy Whitelaw's Acute Services and Dementia Training Interview

Watch the Tommy Whitelaw interview here

Val Howatson Co-Presents at 2nd Scottish Mental Health Nursing Research Conference - Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Val was co-presenting with with Gwenne McIntosh (Napier University);  M. McCraig (UWS) & L. McNay (UWS) their paper titled: The HEI-R: a potential tool for developing Recovery Focussed Practice in HEI’s?

The aim of this presentation was to highlight the work of the HEI Scottish User and Carer Involvement group. The group have been working in partnership with SRN to develop a tool which could enable Higher Education Institute’s (HEIs) to audit and develop their practices in terms of promoting a recovery based approach to mental health education.

This abstract was linked to the topic of “Workplace” at the conference as it is proposed that through the development of this tool there would be opportunities to model best practice and be seen as part of the ‘recovery jigsaw’ that includes universities, service providers, service users, carers, students, and the wider public. 

Their paper proposed that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) need to audit and further develop their practices in relation to promoting recovery. 

This recognises that HEIs are part of the ‘recovery jigsaw’ of promoting recovery focused practice/services, given that the preparation of student mental health nurses is a shared responsibility between HEIs and service partners. In practice within Scotland the Scottish Recovery Indicator 2 (sri2) (Scottish Recovery Network (SRN), 2012) is being rolled out across NHS services to promote service development in recovery focused practice as outlined in the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland (Scottish Government, 2012). The presenters proposed that a similar tool be developed for HEIs. 

Student Poster Presented at 2nd Scottish Mental Health Nursing Research Conference

We are delighted that GCU Mental Health students Lizzie Burns and Hazel Thomson represented students at the recent Mental Health Nursing Research Conference at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Members of the Mental Health Nursing teaching team supported the students and attended the conference. The students presented their poster / paper  titled: Recovery Rollercoaster.

Mental Health Nursing at GCU

Click here to watch the Mental Health Nursing Video

GCU Mental Health Nursing talk about their course on GCU Web click here

Abby's Poem to Tommy Whitelaw

Tommy are you listening, i cant say i understand, 
But i am here, and i am willing, 
so penny for your thoughts?
C'mon Tommy, pick yourself up theres no time for feeling down, 
Your doin ok, and you shouldn't worry, 
Your doing your ol' ma proud.
The small things your doin everyday, 
are brining hope to peoples lives, 
so when your feeling down and in doubt, 
just keep that in your mind

The things that you's faced, all on your own
Send a shiver right up my spine, 
And i gotta tell you one more time, 
Mate, your doing fine.
You told us stories about your ma, 
And God she sounds like a doll, 
A hardworking lady who loved her kids, 
And was madly deeply in love.

Tommy i know cause you told us so, 
The way the story goes, 
The newspaper clippings and scribbled writings, 
To remind her who she was.
That hardworking lady cant remember a thing, 
even the man she loved so true, 
But no 'what ifs' Tommy cause your ol' ma, 
is living and shinning through you.

We have let you down, and your ma, 
and that makes me hell of a sad, 
But Tommy you have spoken to me, 
And i will do all i can.

Tommy your the voice, for all those like you, 
who have also been let down, 
A voice of justice, a voice of reason, 
That together can shout so loud.
You struck a chord in me that day, 
And inspired me in so many ways, 
Don't let the b#####ds get you down Tommy, 
Cause i promise your doing great.
That wedding dress that Joan made, 
Oh Tommy it was a beauty!
so you get out there
And never give up, 
And share with the world, 
Joan and Your Story!

Tommy Whitelaw Talks to 1st & 3rd Year Mental Health Students

Student tweets in response:

Listening to @tommyNtour in a seminar.Hard hitting real life story about carers&their families. Puts things into perspective.#gcucarervoice

@tommyNtour crying at your talk. Sad but inspirational !

Your story was heartbreaking & inspiring! @tommyNtour Relate 2 u in many ways as carer at home! carers need a voice like u!#gcucarersvoice

@GCUMentalHealth @tommyNtour Had a seminar this morning that I feel will change the course and attitude of our students forever.

What ive learnt today is that its time to step up our game as students. We affect real people & its up to us how we do that. #gcucarersvoice

@tommyNtour absolute inspiration, such a heartbreaking story told so eloquently. you should be so proud of your work and am sure Joan is too

1st Year GCU MH Nursing Student Abby's Stigma Poetry

Anti-discrimination film made by 1st Year GCU Mental Health Nursing Students

Nursing award for GCU Mental Health team

The Glasgow Caledonian University Mental Health team has been recognised for its innovative teaching.

The team won the award for Practice Innovation and Excellence in Mental Health Nursing for the education category of the Mental Health Nursing Forum Scotland Awards.

Lecturer Margaret Caldwell said: “We are delighted to receive this award and were particularly commended by the panel for our service user and practitioner involvement.”

Andy Lowndes is Speaking at Scottish Caring and Dementia Congress 2013, April 17 in Edinburgh

Andy is presenting on the recent reminiscence project Memories FC at the upcoming 5th Annual Scottish Caring and Dementia Congress in Edinburgh.
His presentation is titled "Advancing group-based reminiscence practice: Memories FC (football memories) and beyond."

Letters from the past

BBC News - Letters from Scotland's Victorian asylums go on display click here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20937473

Student Blog about Hampden Event 2012

I have been volunteering with Easy Ayrshire Alzheimer Scotland since September and as part of that I have been involved in their football reminiscence group in Kilmarnock. Through going to these monthly groups I have met some wonderfully interesting men and their wives. When the session starts I find that there is a transformation in the men, they are not just a person with a diagnosis of a dementia at a group but a football fan debating with their peers about the best players, their favourite teams and the best goals. I find it amazing that something like football can bring together a group of people and evoke such passionate memories of the game they loved growing up and still love now. When we took the group to the second day of the memories fc conference at Hampden you could see the spark in their eye as they walked round the museum seeing the players they watched from the stalls and the team strips they respected so much. We had the pleasure of having a former player who is part of our group attend the conference with us. The respect and admiration of the other men we met at the conference towards him was amazing. He was treated like a celebrity and listening to the men speak about him, recounting the tales of how he played the game and his accolades I can understand now why he is in the hall of fame and so respected. Being involved in Memories FC and football reminiscence groups has helped me learn that even though these people have a diagnosis of dementia they still feel the passion and count themselves as a fan of the football team they grew up supporting.

Jennifer Love (Year 2 Mental Health Student)

Dementia In Scotland

So the Scottish Government are reviewing and revising the 2012 Dementia Strategy. What changes will we see on the ground for people living with dementia and family carers living with dementia. We must make the rhetoric into reality. We must do something to stop the time-lag between the good words and the changes on the ground.... Good words but what will we see? How will things change?
Please watch one mans message...... This could be any of us......

GCU Students hand over fundraising cheque to Alzheimer Scotland at Memories FC Conference

Students from GCU Mental Health Nursing Society handed over a cheque for over £700 to Henry Simmons CEO of Alzheimer Scotland at the recent Memories FC Conference at Hampden Park. The students were at Hampden, where they acted as Hosts for the over 250 people with dementia and their family carers who were there for a day of Football Based Reminiscence.

Mr Simmons said:

"I left the two day Memories FC event filled with hope, the strength and commitment of our partnership and GCU's lead role in developing the Knowledge Exchange Partnership is an example of what it truly means to face dementia together. I was also so inspired by the commitment and dedication of all the mental health students whose volunteer efforts made the event possible. I was able to talk to many of them during the event and I was very impressed by their attitude towards working with people with dementia and by the depth of their understanding, receiving a cheque for over £700 from the students fundraising activities was pretty much the icing on the cake and I want to express my most sincere gratitude to all of them for this. These funds will go to directly support the delivery of the Football Memories project which is run entirely from fundraised donations like this.

However perhaps the most inspiring memory and thought I will be left with  is the memory of a room filled with people with dementia, some of them with their families, many others supported by professional carers but all of them collectively sharing in the wonderful memory of football, right in the heart of the home of our national game. That collective  moment will last for me for long time, for in that moment we all forgot about dementia and remembered people. I cannot thank the team at GCU enough for organising this event it was wonderful."

Memories FC is a knowledge exchange partnership between GCU, Alzheiemer Scotland, The Scottish Football Museum, UWS, St Louis University and The European Former Players Association. It is funded by AHRC & SFC. 

GCU Students win poster competition at ENTER Conference

Hazel & Lizzie pictured with Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Associate Director Ellen Hudson.

GCU Mental Health Nursing students represented by Lizzie Burns & Hazel Thompson were rewarded with First Prize in the poster exhibition today at the ENTER Conference at Stirling University. The conference Showcased the range of nursing educational developments and research being conducted across Scotland and discussed how educators and practitioners could best integrate educational developments and research into practice.

How the voting went.

Well done Lizzie and Hazel! 

GCU Mental Health Nursing Society Fundraisng

Mental Health Nursing Society student fundraisers continue their fundraisning efforts and are pleased to report that their efforts including a Pub Quiz last night have topped their target for Alzheimer's Scotland's Football Reminiscence Hub at Hampden Park. The committee wish to thank all who  attended last night to show your support. Sad to say the Lecturer team (The Hannibal Lecturers) won the quiz!! That's a surprise. Reports say it was a thoroughly enjoyable night. Fundraising continues for the next week and the students will hand over the cheque at the Memories FC football reminiscence event at Hampden event on the 30th November.

Schizophrenia Commission Report Launched

The commission has just launched "the Abandoned Illness" and it's well worth a read.
http://www.rethink.org/document.rm?id=14927

Zumba & Bucket Collection by GCU Mental Health Nursing Students Raises Funds for Alzheimer Scotland

Mental Health Nursing Students are well on their way to the target of £500 for Alzheimer Scotland. Their zumba party is to be followed by a quiz night at Walkabout on 20th November at 7.30pm. For more details contact KDAVIS13@caledonian.ac.uk. Well done so far everyone!

Scotlands Care Home Census 2012

Just published today the Scottish Government's Care Home Census reveals that half of care home residents that's nearly 17,000 of Scotland's population of 84,000 with dementia are being cared for in one of 916 care homes across the country. 50% of these people are admitted to care homes from hospital.
Click HERE to read the census report.

GCU Mental Health Nursing Society

The GCU Mental Health Nursing Society has now set up a Just Giving Fundraising Page to keep track of donations and funds that we raise.  If any students are unable to attend any events that we organise but would still like to donate then here is the way to do it.

http://www.justgiving.com/mentalhealthnursingsociety

Any donation from the public is also welcome - a couple of ££'s here and there makes all the difference.

It also has a small paragraph explaining to everyone that Alzheimer Scotland's football reminiscence hub is our first chosen cause is and why we feel it is worthwhile.

Scotland's Mental Health 2012

This report from the Scottish Public Health Observatory provides the second systematic assessment of mental health and its contextual factors for adults in Scotland. It analyses 51 indicators from the previously established national adult mental health indicator set. These cover both the state of mental health (mental wellbeing and mental health problems) and its context (including individual, community and structural factors). Where possible, the report provides an analysis of time trends over the last decade and equalities analysis by age, gender and area-based deprivation.

Football Based Reminiscence with People with Dementia

Back in July I alerted followers about an upcoming free conference from Memories FC.

I can now confirm some details:

Memories F.C. Free Public Knowledge Exchange Conference November 29th & 30th 2012

Day 1: We would like to invite you to our end of project Community Conference at Hampden Park, Glasgow on Thursday 29th November 2012 (9.30-16.30)

http://memoriesfc3.eventbrite.com/ . (This online registration is for Day 1 only. Details of Day 2 are below)

The Scottish Football Reminiscence Partnership Public Conference is an event to share the findings and celebrate the success of the AHRC & SFC funded Knowledge Exchange Project.

"Harnessing the Heritage of Football: Creating Meaningful Activities and Therapeutic Work with People with Dementia."

This novel project has demonstrated the potential of football focussed reminiscence, creatively exploring how a fusion between cultural heritage, scientific insights, design and performing arts can benefit and improve the lives of people with dementia and their family carers.

For Day 1: If you are a practitioner from Health or Social Care who works with people with dementia, an informal or paid carer, a researcher or educator with an interest in dementia care and reminiscence work, this day will be of particular interest to you.

The event will include talks, a Knowledge Exchange Cafe, the premier of "I left my heart" a dramatic piece based on our findings by playwright and broadcaster Padraig Coyle, performed in the Scottish national Football Museum. Other highlights include a demonstration of an interactive prototype digital 'Memory Cube' deigned by collaborators at Northumbria University and Quilting Memories.

Speakers include Mr Henry Simmons , CEO of Alzheimer Scotland; Professor John Starr, from the Scottish Dementia Clinical Research Network -SDCRN; Professor Debbie Tolson, Professor of Gerontological Nursing at Glasgow Caledonian University & Professor Hugh O'Donnell, Glasgow School for Business & Society, Glasgow Caledonian University. 

In addition we expect a representative from the Scottish Government to attend and formally open the Alzheimer’s Scotland Reminiscence Hub at Hampden Park. Our partners in Memories FC (Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum) were successful in obtaining a Postcode Lottery grant to develop this facility at Hampden Park.

We hope that you will be able to attend this day and look forward to sending you the detailed programme as soon as you have registered.

For Day 2: The second day of our public conference will take place on Friday 30th November 2012 (12.30-4.00pm) again at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

This day is for people with memory problems and dementia, family carers and the public who have an interest in reminiscence.

This day will include football memory activities; the premier of "I left my heart" a dramatic piece based on football memories, performed in the Scottish national Football Museum. Other highlights include a demonstration of an interactive prototype digital 'Memory Cube' deigned by collaborators at Northumbria University, the Quilting Memories project.

You will also have the chance to enjoy a tour of the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, The Scottish Football Museum, a Mini Stadium Tour and other exciting activities.

Contact Andy if you wish to attend.

Tel: 0141 331 3103

Email: alow@gcu.ac.uk

Check our Facebook site for further details of Day 2 (www.facebook.com/memoriesfc).
  

Memories FC is a partnership between Glasgow Caledonian University, Alzheimer Scotland, The Scottish Football Museum, European Former Players Association and the University of the West of Scotland & St Louis University, USA

Scottish Women's Aid: New research examines the similarities between domestic abuse and terrorism.

"Everyday Terrorism: How Fear Works in Domestic Abuse", was carried out by Professor Rachel Pain of Durham University's Centre for Social Justice and Community Action, in conjunction with Scottish Women's Aid.
The study, conducted with women and men who had experienced domestic abuse in Scotland, focuses on the fear which domestic abuse instils in the victim, and examines the conditioning which prevents many from feeling able to leave.
Click HERE to read the full report.

World Mental Health Day 10th October 2012

World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. 

This year the theme for the day is “Depression: A Global Crisis”.
Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and in some countries fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment.

Link to WHO

World Alzheimer’s Report 2012

Alzheimer’s Disease International has recently published the World Alzheimer’s Report 2012. The report is titled ‘Overcoming the Stigma of Dementia’. The report is based on a global study of people with Dementia and reveals that 1 in 4 people with Dementia conceal their diagnosis through fear of stigma.

Lennox Castle Exhibition

THE forgotten stories of a historic hospital will be revealed at a new exhibition titled "Lennox Castle Stories" this month at Glasgow’s Trongate 103 venue from October 23-27 as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival.

Scottish Health Survey 2011

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today announced the publication of the Scottish Health Survey 2011.  This is the seventh report in the Scottish Health Survey series which began in 1995.  The report comprises separate volumes for adults and children and Health Board level results are published alongside the annual report for the first time since 2003. 

Men, Suicide & Society

This report seeks to explain why men of low socio-economic position in their mid-years are excessively vulnerable to death by suicide and provides recommendations to reduce these unnecessary deaths.

The report goes beyond the existing body of suicide research and the statistics, to try and understand life for this group of men, and why they may come to feel without purpose, meaning or value.

DownloadHERE  

The Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 1st - 24th October 2012

Now in its sixth year, the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival is one of Scotland's most diverse cultural events, covering everything from music, film and visual art to theater, dance, and literature. The annual festival takes place in venues across Scotland from 1st - 24th October 2012, aiming to support the arts and challenge preconceived ideas about mental health.

Festival information 

Get involved! 
Cheers 

Lesley

Friday is.....

World Alzheimer's Day is on Friday 21st September. How aware are you?

Alzheimer Scotland has just launched a new report, Delivering Integrated Dementia Care: The 8 Pillars Model of Community Support, which calls for a radical reform of the way we deliver community care services for people with dementia, their carers, partners and families.

Healthcare Staff: Mental Health & Exercise / Physical Activity

Dr Andrew Murray from the Scottish Government spoke yesterday at the Mental Health Nursing Forum on the importance of encouraging exercise as a way of significantly improving health outcomes in Scotland. Click HERE to watch an online resource for students/qualified nursing staff. It's really quite powerful. Dr Murray works alongside Sir Harry Burns on this agenda and they are actively trying to influence knowledge, understanding and practice in a bid to get all nurses/healthcare staff to ask patients routinely about their activity levels and prescibing exercise as an effective treatment.

Today is....

Today is world suicide prevention day.

http://www.facebook.com/events/219365821453424/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_suicide_prevention_day/en/index.html

Breathing Space

Thomas Szasz Dies September 8th 2012

Thomas Szasz the critic of conventional psychiatry died aged 92 at the weekend. Read his obituary in 'Critical Psychiatry' HERE<*ahref="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/oct/04/thomas-szasz">ALSO

Scotland's Mental Health Strategy 2012-2015

A new strategy designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in Scotland was launched today.
Click HERE to read the Strategy Document.

Mental Health Network: Service User Event

The Mental Health Network of Greater Glasgow is holding a service user event on the 22nd August 2012 10am-3pm at Annexe Communities, 9a Stewartville Street, Glasgow G11 5PE. This event will seek to establish service user views on services currently provided at Gartnavel Royal Hospital.
To book a place telephone Mental Health Network Office on 0141 550 8417.

The inquiry into the label of schizophrenia

Interesting and challenging to read the testimonies of people with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Click HERE to go to the Inquiry into the Label of Schizophrenia website.They are due to report in September and we will place a link to that report on this blog.

Poor mental health linked to reduced life expectancy

Read HERE the Welcome Trust Report into the research undertaken by UCL (University College London) and the University of Edinburgh published today in the BMJ.

"Their results reveal that people who experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression had a lower life expectancy than those without any such symptoms. Even people with minor symptoms of mental health problems seemed to have a higher risk of death from several major causes, including cardiovascular disease."

Memories FC 2 Day Conference

Announcing a knowledge exchange two day all stakeholder Conference sharing the news on our football reminiscence project. The 29th& 30th November at Hampden Park Glasgow, Scotland's National Football Stadium will see two days that will likely have a number of different fora (academic, practitioner, carer, PWD). All will relate to Reminiscence and dementia.

Full programme to follow but for early expressions of interest mail Andy at alow@gcu.ac.uk

http://www.facebook.com/MemoriesFC

Have you heard about Students and Mental Wealth?

Mental Wealth UK was conceived; setup to 'bring mental health out of the shadows through student-led initiatives'.
MW UK has held hundreds of events and campaigns on campuses across the UK, and the number of institutions with student-led groups has grown from 1 to 25. They hold national training events, funded projects, distribute information guides and posters, and nurture communities of students across the country that are committed to helping those that are suffering and to making campuses healthier, happier places for students.
Want to know more? Click HERE

Effective Practitioner Website

http://www.effectivepractitioner.nes.scot.nhs.uk/