Didn't We Do Well...

This weekend, like many others, I find myself a little more proud to be British and reminded of just how good we are as a country at putting on a good show. The opening ceremony for the Olympic Games on Friday was nothing less than stunning. It would be a waste of time to describe any of the content as no words of my own could really do it justice though I do feel TV viewers literally had the better seat as so much was going on in the display that being a live spectator would have afforded only a limited view of the whole thing.
It was very clear that, in addition to the very well choreographed history lesson, some of Danny Boyle's own passions were catered for, particularly the NHS and Great Ormond Street Hospital. This is of course at odds with our government, which up to now has been hell-bent on destroying it.

I do begin to find pessimism and a certain level of criticism giving way to pride and an acceptance that despite the glitches and doom laden predictions, the event is already a success. There are of course several weeks to go until the closing ceremony, but if things carry on just as they are then we should be able to look back on having hosted a Games event to be remembered for many years and for the right reasons.
The star of the show, it can be argued, was the Queen who starred alongside Daniel Craig in a James Bond spoof. This was itself a work of genius and I believe has shown us as a country that doesn't take itself too seriously. A great start.

Monday and Tuesday of last week were taken up on my ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) course, held at the Johnson Hospital in Spalding. The course complimented SafeTalk and provides the skills required to recognise suicide risk and intervene.

Essentially, the initiative is being run in response to the increasing numbers of people who attempt to take their own lives each year. The training was excellent and very well organised. It's certainly not for everyone, and the subject matter is dark and at times runs quite deep. Many attending the course had experience of suicide and mental illness, and it provided a valuable opportunity for some networking and to inform others of the work I do in helping to run an Anxiety & Depression Support Group here in Spalding.
At the end of the course, we were invited to register as a responder. This involves being placed on a nationwide list of responders trained to intervene in situations where suicide is a risk. I did register myself, though I really hope I will never be called upon.
I will be developing a section on my website containing information about SafeTalk and ASIST over the coming weeks. Visit http://www.pcknowledge.co.uk/health

Thursday saw another meeting of our group and in a diversion to the norm, we all had a go at painting with acrylics. Emma had very kindly brought in some materials and somewhat tongue-in-cheek, we all produced a  mini work of art. Speaking for myself, it was about 25 years since I have done anything 'arty', and the other group members a great deal longer. Despite this, it was very much enjoyed and kept us all quiet for an hour while we concentrated deeply on recreating the images in our mind's eye.

Yesterday I did mention we'd had a go at painting to my dear friends and they have kindly agreed to come along one Thursday to give us some tuition . Quite why I hadn't thought of this before now, I really don't know. Their support and friendship in the group will be valued and I am confident they will fit in very well.
I'm hoping that painting and other crafts will catch-on and become a regular thing. We intend to put in a bid for arts and crafts materials in September when the second round of funding for mental health projects becomes available.
I have rather ambitiously added an arts and crafts section to my website and a gallery where our paintings will be displayed. I have uploaded our first attempts and these can be found on my website.

It is raining here as I type this, and we have had some heavy storms. As a result, I have a 'storm head'. It's a type of headache I get when the weather is stormy, probably caused by some kind of atmospherics. I did manage, before the storms arrived, to dig-up my first crop of potatoes from my patio grow bag and though not a huge harvest, I am very pleased with them.

I intend to have them with a pie later in the week. Having already tasted one, I can confirm they taste divine.
Also, I just had to include a photo I took earlier of a rather peculiar carrot my father dug-up...

While I have been typing this, I have forgotten to remember to bid on eBay for a truss girder bridge I've seen that would be ideal on the model railway layout I'm building. I've just taken a call from my friend asking if I was successful and had to admit that it had completely escaped my mind, like so many things lately. Such a shame as it would have been ideal for the position I have created for it.

My wife has had me trawling the Internet for cheap caravan breaks in Norfolk. Even the most basic of accommodation command ridiculous prices, some as high as £600 for a few days. I've left her with the laptop as I type this as there is only so much trawling I can bear, and after all she does know how much we have to spend, whereas I do not. So it looks like we may be having a mini break at some point in the next month. More details to follow, no doubt...

Awareness & Prevention

Yesterday I attended my first session of NHS training in Lincoln with my colleague Emma. The subject matter is rather dark - specifically suicide - how to spot the signs and how to prevent it. The numbers of those contemplating or attempting suicide are truly frightening and as life for many becomes increasingly stressful, these numbers are increasing.
The session was very well attended by volunteers, carers and mental health staff from across Lincolnshire. The chap who gave the training, Jeff, delivered the session very well explaining how he used to work in the special forces and having become injured, lost the use of his legs. Coming to terms with his disability after many years of being so active eventually took its toll and he decided he couldn't go on. Thankfully he was saved and has regained the use of his legs following an operation. He subsequently decided to use his experience to help others and prevent needless deaths from suicide in Lincolnshire.
His story was too much for one of our group and she left after just an hour. The subject matter was just too dark and she was clearly unprepared. It is understandable. We all went very dark places during the session, which was necessary to fully understand those we were being empowered to help.
The training 'SafeTalk', is the first part of an initiative the NHS are trying to roll out countrywide. The second part is called 'Asist'. So far, I have learnt how to identify the signs of suicide and how to confront someone I suspect to be suicidal. Once the act has been prevented, the concerned is passed to someone who is 'Asist' trained. These people have the skills to intervene and get the necessary help from specialists who are able to provide long term care and solutions. In effect, the aim of the initiative is to provide a network of skilled individuals who are available to provide help whenever needed. A register provides the details of all those with SafeTalk and Asist skills and this ensures that the help gets to those who need it, and fast.
I think this is a vitally important initiative and one that has been in place in Canada and the US for some time. In fact this is actually Canadian-born, but its concept is one that can be easily implemented in any country.
My involvement and that of my colleagues is important as we will come into contact with people who suffer with mental health problems and thoughts of suicide. I will also be able to provide help anyone in my area and literally intervene to save their life. It sounds dramatic I know, but this is exactly what it is. It is spotting and preventing someone from taking their own life, and showing them there is another way out.
Some would ask why I would want to get involved with suicide prevention. Well, in short, I've been in their position and I was able to prevent myself from following through with the act of suicide. For me, it felt there was no way out of my situation. In truth, there is always a way out and thankfully I found it in time. I understand them as I have been them. If I can save someone then that's a good thing.