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    UISTS SANTA DASH: Friday 16th December
   

The Uists Santa Dash takes place on Friday 16th December, starting at the East Camp, Balivanich at 12.30pm. The Dash will be a 2 mile loop finishing off at Tagsa Uibhist where refreshments will be available. Full Santa Suit or Santa Hat available. £3 entry (includes hire of suits). All proceeds donated to the Mental Health Outreach Service (Tagsa Uibhist).

To register and book your Santa Suit or Hat contact Kenna MacInnes, tel. 01870 602588 or email kenna.macinnes@nhs.net

     
    DRAFT MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND 2011-2015 - CONSULTATION
   

The Scottish Government launched the draft 'Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2011-2015 A Consultation' in September 2011, and the Scottish Government want to know what you think about this plan.

This new draft national mental health strategy brings together work to improve mental health services and mental health improvement. It intends to build on the current approach and seek Stakeholder's views on the direction of travel for the next 4 years to further improve mental health outcomes. Your answers will help develop the plan. You might want to have someone to help you read this and fill it in. You can tell the Scottish Government what you think by answering the questions at the end and sending them by email to: MHStrategy@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or post to: Katherine Christie Scottish Government Health Directorate Reshaping Care and Mental Health Division Mental Health Service Delivery Unit 3ER, St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

This consultation, one of the first published by the Scottish Government since the election, indicates the priority placed on mental health. For the first time, it brings together in a single document our mental health improvement work, our mental illness prevention work and our work to improve mental health services. If you need more information call Katherine Christie on 0131 244 5207. Please send your answers back by 31 January 2012.

   
    TRAINING - 1st & 2nd December 2011 at Western Isles Hospital
   

ASIST training is aimed at anyone who would like to be better equipped to prevent suicide.

We know that a lifeguard is at a swimming pool to help someone who gets into difficulties in the water, but who in our community helps a person who has thoughts of suicide? Often people do not want to intervene for fear of making the situation worse. They are afraid to say the wrong thing, or the stigma attached to suicide means they avoid, ignore or do not recognise the signs of suicidal thoughts. This is how ASIST can help: by giving you the necessary skills and confidence to reach out to someone who needs help.

For further information on suicide prevention training in the Western Isles contact Elaine MacKay, Planning and Development Officer, tel. 01851 708035 or email: elainemackay@nhs.net

     
    SUICIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2011
    During the 2011 Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, Choose Life Western Isles is extending an invitation to its conferences which are being held from 12.15pm on Wed 14th September in Balivanich Hall, Isle of Benbecula and from 12.15pm on Thurs 15th September in the Council Chambers, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Stornoway, The keynote speakers this year are: Dr Cameron Stark, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, NHS Highland whose speech is entitled 'A conceptual model of suicide in rural areas', and Christine Mackechnie, Service Co-ordinator, Counselling & Family Mediation, whose speech is entitled 'Time to Talk'. For further information please contact Elaine Mackay, Choose Life Coordinator.
     
    SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK 2011
    The annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Week takes place from the 10th - 16th September 2011, and the national theme for this year is 'Preventing Suicide in Multi-cultural Societies'. During this week, there will be events taking place across the Western Isles, namely a Suicide Prevention and Awareness conference, in both Lewis and Uist and also look out for advertising regarding multi-faith services. For further information please contact Elaine Mackay, Choose Life Coordinator.
     
    CYCLE FOR STEVEN
    This year NHSWI are supporting a team of cyclists from North Uist, who will complete a sponsored cycle from Glasgow to North Uist, in memory of their friend Steven, who died by suicide. The event is called 'Cycle for Steven' and the five boys taking part will depart from George Square, Glasgow, on Monday 29th September and aim to arrive at Carinish Hall, North Uist, via the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry, on Friday 2nd September. The boys have organised this cycle to help raise awareness of depression in young men, and all funds raised will be donated to the national charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). NHS Western Isles Chairperson, Neil Galbraith, will meet with the boys on Sunday 28th September in Glasgow, before they set off the next morning and the media will be present to interview the boys as they travel and greet them on their arrival in North Uist. On Friday 2nd September, there will be a family Ceilidh held in Carinish Hall, where there will be an opportunity to pick up leaflets/information about Suicide Prevention Week and resources/support networks that are available both locally and nationally. For further information please contact Kenna MacInnes, Senior Health Promotion Officer.
     
    NEW SUPPORT LEAFLET - Choice, Control and Recovery: A guide to Self-directed Support
   

The Mental Health Foundation has launched a new booklet entitled 'Choice, Control and Recovery: A guide to Self-directed Support' for people who experience mental-health problems and who are interested in getting access to self-directed support in Scotland. Self-directed support is designed to help people to manage their own social-care support and choose the services that suit them best. The booklet will give you some information and allow you to make an informed decision about whether to get self-directed support. It will also explain how self-directed support can help you to manage your mental health. Click here to view. To contact the Foundation direct simply tel. 0141 572 0125 or email: scotland@mhf.org.uk

     
    TRAINING - Suicide Prevention Training
    Many people who are feeling suicidal signal their intent, whether it be verbally or through behavioural change. Therefore, the more people who feel confident and willing to explore possible signs of suicide risk and provide support and help, the more lives could be saved. For further information on suicide prevention training in the Western Isles contact Elaine Campbell, Choose Life Coordinator, tel. 01851 708035.
     
    NEW DEMENTIA LEAFLET - This is Me
   

Alzheimer's Society has launched a new leaflet entitled 'This is Me' to support people with dementia who are going into hospital. Click here to view. To contact the Society direct simply tel. 0207 423 3500 or email: enquiries@alzheimers.org.uk

     
    PROCESS MAPS FOR CONSULTATION
   

Produced by NHS Western Isles Mental Health Services, five Process Maps are available for consultation on the following topics. Comments to be made to Anne Hutchison by tel. 01851 708039 or email Anne.Hutchison@wihb.scot.nhs.uk

     
    NEW WEBSITE ADDED - Office of the Public Guardian
    The Office of the Public Guardian, which covers the whole of Scotland, has a general function to supervise those individuals who have been appointed to manage the financial or property affairs of an adult who lacks the capacity to do so for themselves. Information includes Powers of Attorney, Access to Funds, Guardianship and Intervention Orders, and the site is sponsored by the Scottish Court Service.
     
    NEW WEBSITE ADDED - Mental Health & Wellbeing
    Created by the Mental Health Officer of Western Isles NHS Board, this website has been designed to offer ideas to promote well being or for those who want to explore further links to support their mental health. Well being, mental health, emotional health, feelings, a sense of balance, happiness, equilibrium are all ways that help us to identify with that crucial part of our health, but which in reality can be hard to express and talk about, especially when life just doesn’t feel right or there are too many negative challenges.
     
    TRAINING - Scotland's Mental Health First Aid Training
    Scotland's Mental Health First Aid aims to raise awareness about the need for good mental health and well-being among the general public and help improve the quality of life and social inclusion of people who experience mental health problems. For further information on SMHFA training in the Western Isles contact Gordon Chlad, SMHFA Instructor, tel. 01851 704704.