Well-being Festival 2010

Just wanted to let you know about activities in Bedfordshire that I have been involved with over the last year. Below is information on the local Well-being group of which I am a part. There will also be two roadshows at the university in October and a Mental Well-being and Spirituality event on Bedford campus on November. More information about this to come in September.

Well-being Festival 2010 - ‘Make a Difference’
During the summer months the Well-being Festival Group has been hitting the hotspots in Luton and Bedfordshire to promote mental well-being across the community and challenge the stigma that exists towards mental illness.
To promote the flagship event taking place on World Mental Health Day – 10 October 2010 – and spread their message the group has coordinated a roadshow across the county. From racing dragon boats on the River Great Ouse at the Bedford River Festival to dressing up as celebrities at the Luton Carnival, no task has been too daunting!
Engaging the public and providing information about mental health and the need to look after your well-being the group has been collecting pledges asking people to consider ways of looking after their own, someone else’s or the wider community’s mental well-being.
The team’s main event for 2010 will be on Sunday 10 October 2010, World Mental Health Day, 10am-4pm at Marston Vale Forest Centre where a ‘Time to Get Moving’ event will focus on physical activity and how it can improve our mental well-being.
The day is absolutely jam packed with events and everything is completely free! There will be therapies, street dancing, laughter yoga, belly dancing, tai chi, a football tournament, smoothie bike and much, much more.
The team want you to get involved and here’s how:
· Let your feet do the talking by coming along to the Marston Vale Forest Centre on Sunday 10 October 2010
· Spread the word. If you can’t attend then why not show this article to friends and family and encourage them to enjoy a great day out.
The group are also organising an arts night at the Luton Hat Factory on 12 November 2010 at 6-10pm. The ‘Let’s Get Mental’ arts night is about bringing together the Luton community to share the message that mental well-being is everyone’s business. The group will be doing this through music, creative arts, dance, drama, poetry and other activities.
The Well-being Festival is coordinated by a group of local service users, carers, faith leaders, academics, third sector and public sector partners. It’s not too late to get involved so contact the team on their hotline 07899 076770, email wellbeing@sept.nhs.uk or visit the website www.wellbeingfestival.org.uk

Living with psychosis: 'I'm mad, but not bad'

After seven years, Erica Crompton has learned to live with psychosis. But the fear her illness inspires in other people is much harder to get used to. Read the article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/living-with-psychosis-im-mad-but-not-bad-2025012.html

Reducing Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination

The latest findings from the Institute of Psychiatry show that the Time to Change anti-stigma camping is having a positve effect on reducing stigma towards people with mental health problems. There has been a2.2% improvement in public attitudes from 2008-2010.

Have a look at the Time to Change website to see have you can help challenge stigma.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/home/


Also look out for the Making a Difference Roadshow in October on Bedford and Luton Campus. More details will be be available at the start of the new term.

A New Era?

The old Student Centre has finally been knocked down. Appointments with students have been interrupted when we both stopped to stare at the demolition process. We watched in fascination as roofing collapsed and stairs crumbled in a cloud of dust (inhalers out for those of us with asthma). So things change and we move on. Another academic year is over and students and staff catch a breath before the next rush. I have been using some extra time to attend a couple of conferences and read. Okay, I should have been filing but their is only so much filing I can cope with in one week.

The conference I attended yesterday was about psychological treatment in psychosis. There is a body of research that suggests that psychosis and schizophrenia are predominately the result of stressors in out life that we don't have the resilience or support to manage . If there is a shift from biological causes in these diagnosis, what does this mean for the future of psychiatry which has been based on a medical model and treatment through drugs? There are also concerns that the medical profession is swayed by the influence of drug companies. The companies fund research which benefits them and promotes drug treatment. I can see that medication is of benefit to some but until we all take a more holistic approach to mental distress then we will not be able to empower recovery.

What is loneliness

Check out the article on loneliness from the One in Four magazine and find out how this can affect your mental health.

http://www.oneinfourmag.org/loneliness.html

5 Minutes a Day

Apparently latest research is saying that 5 minutes a day exercise in a green space is good for your mental health. The weather is forecast to be good this weekend so why not get out and go for a walk. You don't have to get out to the countryside if transport is a problem. Find a nearby park, have a walk and a picnic. I'm off camping in Folkestone this weekend so plenty of fresh air and green space for me. Must remember the exercise! Back on campus in June.