British Food Fortnight

” My favourite British food is a cooked dinner i.e. meat and 5 veg. I would rather make a meal from scratch than buy it ready-made. I know a few foods that help your mental health, mint, lavender, Rosemary for headaches. Looking at Mental Health Support’s page on Good Mood Foods has been helpful because I didn’t know bread and potatoes are helpful for agitation and rosemary and celery are good for bloating. “ B.L.R.

“My favourite British food/dishes  are Cumberland sausage and mash, traditional cooked dinner, full English breakfast and fish and chips. I would buy fish and chips made ready, cottage pie either or. I like using a carvery for cooked dinner. After looking on the Mental Health Support site on the Good Mood Foods page I know that garlic and oats lower cholesterol,  basil and chamomile used for anxiety, basil and rosemary used for agitation.  Looking at the website page has been helpful because I was not aware of the number of different foods which can help mental health.” M.W.  

Check out Mental Health Support Website page on Good Mood Foods by clicking the link http://www.mentalhealthsupport.co.uk/goodmoodfood.html

Making Mosaics

The Craft group at ATS have been making mosaic tiles and mirror’s. Below are some examples 

Matthew with his mosaic mirror.

Matthew holing his round mosaic mirror. Small mirror in the centre with orange, blue and clear mirror squares pointing out all around.

Square tile with small square mirror in centre. Red and blue geometric pattern with green and yellow glass beads, two diagonally on each corner.

Square mosaic tile. Middle is the shape of a fish filled in with small blue and white tiles. Outer is green, blue and orange tiles with four blue glass stones near each corner.

Large round tilled mosaic with small circle mirror right centre. Small tiles follow the round shape in mixed colours green, blue and white.

Friendship Month

” My best friend is from New Horizons, we go out and about to places and his name is Matthew. Friendship means to me that someone real cares and understands you deep down and knows what you are thinking. My mental health does not affect my friendship, I am treated the same as anyone else. Matthew always makes me smile and I don’t feel like a mental health target.” D.J.

” I am fortunate to have more than one person whom I could call a ‘best’ friend. They are very different in character which is great for me. I am lucky to say I have close friends who I know care about me. Friendship is really very important. I sometimes ‘lock myself away’ so to speak and avoid people and situations. They have come to understand this and allow me space but are there when I manage to ’emerge’ again. I have lost at least two people from my life, whom I regarded as very close friends as they did not know how to deal with my depression and anxiety. It can make it very difficult when I am going through a bad phase as I cut myself off. However many of my friends are very patient with me now and others have persevered, over the years, to maintain their friendship with me despite me not seeing them often. Many people found it far easier to cope with my Cancer diagnosis etc. than they did with my mental health diagnosis. The first they could talk about freely, the second they definitely avoided more. ” B.H.

” My best friends are my husband, my dad and my neighbour across the road. My close friends are other members of the ATS art and craft group. People you can confide in, who are there for you when you need them and who listen, and loyalty, that’s what friendship means to me. My mental health does affect my friendships because I am afraid to tell some people about my condition, just in case of the stigma.” B.L.R.

” I have a best friend called Tracey and a close friend called Maria. Friends will be there for you, that’s what friendship means to me and my mental health does not affect my friendships.” E.D.

Tell us about an individual family member, friend, boss or colleauge who has offered significant support.

” My mother has been a great ali.  I have lots of support in the community from Celtic Community Services. But I have goals that I would like to gain such as catching buses, being independent. The thing is to lose weight and gain a healthy lifestyle,  alone my carere’s support me in this. I need outside support and encouragement to because I have become a prison to my weight problem. I am happier than I have ever been, but is this true happiness? ” Anon

 

” I was diagnosed with treatment resistant depression and psychosis 15 years ago. I have had two depressive episodes (psychosis)  two and a half years ago and three years later. My husband has been of the greatest support to me and he has eventually given up work in order to look after me as my problems were so severe. He has supported me emotionally and spiritually during the whole of the time I have been ill. Through his care and prayer I have gradually improved. My husband has sacrificed his career and his time in order to give me a better quality of  life. I am now able to go to New Horizons and enjoy crafting and the support of staff and fellow service users, I also use my local sports centre and my husband supports me and transports me to both venues. I do not think the improvements I have made would have happened if it were not for my husband and his support and prayers. I still have a way to go before I am well but I know whatever the future holds I have a very special person who is always there for me. I am very lucky”. Anon