It's Funny How Things Develop...

Tuesday this week saw another meeting of our anxiety and depression support group. I know when I started attending, I wasn't too sure as to whether the group would help or whether I would stick with it. In reality, I cannot now imagine leaving the group or be in a position where I am unable to help fellow sufferers or talk openly with them about the illness. Far from being just a group of like-minded people (literally), it has become a group bonded by friendship and understanding. My role in the group has developed and I now have the task of welcoming new members by contacting them before attending and introducing them to the other members. I have a new person to contact tomorrow. I'm very aware of how daunting it can be to join a new group and be introduced to people you don't know. It can be very scary and for someone who suffers with anxiety, it can seem an impossible task and one they would prefer to avoid. I understand this, I've been there.
After our group meeting, we had a volunteer meeting straight afterwards. This was run by the chap who manages volunteers in Lincolnshire and he updated us on initiatives, general news and provided information on new training courses enabling  staff, volunteers and carers to spot the early signs of suicide and prevent it from happening. We've all signed-up for the course and they'll be taking place during the coming weeks.
My own induction, I found out, will take place in September but I was given various forms to record my volunteering activity and expenses so I'll be carrying on as normal.
An idea suggested by one of my colleagues is to open a working farm to provide mini allotments and craft activities for mental health patients and the disabled. Her parents own several acres locally and they are keen to open-up their land so it may be used for a worthwhile cause. I'm very keen to get involved with this and I think this is an excellent opportunity to engage with others and to provide a focus for people who would otherwise sit at home alone or pass the time drinking. Of course, like everything, funding will be needed to get the project off the ground and it was suggested at our meeting that this may be forthcoming. There are several similar projects running in other parts of Lincolnshire under the 'Green Fingers' banner. I did suggest that I could produce a website for the project as well as growing seedlings to provide starter plants for any new budding gardeners.
I really do think this could develop into a fantastic project providing a safe environment for people to practise various skills, grow their own produce and more importantly engage with others to hopefully develop lasting friendships. I have seen first hand how friendships develop and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity of meeting some wonderful people, who I am proud to call very good friends. It is my intention to stay very close to this project and I'll write more as things get off the ground.

No news yet regarding my application recently to King's Lynn NHS. I'm a little worried that, if I am successful, whether I will have to give up my time on Tuesdays. I do believe the role to be quite flexible so I'm hopeful that I may be able to fit it in somehow. We will see.

I've been busy once more working on my website. I did take the site down as I was struggling to get the various links to work between the pages. I've now opted for a simplified design with simple links and I'm quite pleased with the design. I'm uploading the first pages as I type this so it should all be up and running some time this evening. There's much work left to do but it's a start. I will add a section in the coming days devoted to mental health, and more specifically, the services available in the South Lincolnshire area. Having spoke to many people over the last few months, it is clear to me that there is an urgent and pressing need for more mental health awareness and for people to know that help is available. For many, a sympathetic ear is all that is needed and the knowledge that is somewhere to turn to in time of need. So there is much work to do to keep me busy for the next few months, and that's good.