Thankfully sunnier days are almost here, but if you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it may seem like an incredibly long wait. We found this article with tips for surviving SAD in the Winter 2012 issue of Single Step.
If you would like to try a light box, we have one available at CornerHouse that you can test for a week. Contact Sue (07503 192845 or sue@nextsteps.me.uk) or Sally (07508 055166 or sally@nextsteps.me.uk) for more information.
Depression? There’s an App for that!
February 3, 2012We found a good article about smart phone apps for depression in the Winter 2012 issue of Single Step, the Depression Alliance magazine.
This is one of our favourites…
Pretty ugly – Play about Anorexia
January 17, 2012The award winning portrayal of Katie Metcalfe’s story is back. Based on her book ‘Anorexia – A Stranger In The Family’, the play deals deftly with this difficult subject using a sensitive mix of pace, humour and multi media.
Theatre can make a huge difference to our experience of the world and this play has the capacity to literally change people’s lives as the letters that were written to the theatre company after its premiere testify. This inspiring story of recovery is touring to venues in the South East, including Guildford, Cranleigh and Kingston, and is suitable for everyone over age 12.
See it at:
- Electric Theatre 27th February 7.30pm Guildford
- Electric Theatre 28th February 10am & 1pm Guildford
- Cranleigh Arts Centre 1st March 10.30am
- Cranleigh Arts Centre 2nd March 10.30am & 1pm
- Rose, Kingston 7th March 3pm
To view the poster for this play go here>> Pretty Ugly
Mental Health Education for School children
January 13, 2012AN ON-LINE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITY PACK FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN LAUNCHED BY WOKING MIND
www.mentalhealtheducation.org.uk
Woking Mind’s On-Line Mental Health Activity Pack was launched at the Surrey History Centre, Woking, on 12 January 2012. It is the first on-line mental health education pack that does not require teachers to have prior knowledge of mental health, available free. It contains over 100 personal accounts about mental distress.
This work has been led by two local volunteers, Tristana Smith, an Oxford Psychology student and Lexy Rose, a student from the Institute of Psychiatry, working with numerous professionals and organisations who have given their time and expertise for free. In the summer of 2010, Tristana and Lexy started this work in response to the need to challenge the stigma of mental health problems.
One 22 year old service user said: “If my school had used this pack, it might not have taken me seven years to seek help. I might not have missed countless days of school, and constantly underperformed”.
The pack allows young people to understand and empathise with the experience of mental health problems. It contains six modules, covering the main topics within mental health; including self-harm, depression and addiction. The pack fits within the PSHE curriculum. Teacher activity plans contain all the information needed to teach the activities, and formatted student activity sheets are available. It can be downloaded from www.mentalhealtheducation.org.uk for free.
The pack has had input from Surrey CAMHS (NHS child and adolescent mental health services), researchers at the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, teachers, mental health professionals, and countless individuals with personal experience.
Godalming College Psychology teacher William Baldwin said: “Interactive, informative and easy to use. These resources are a must if we are to break the stigma and lack of understanding that surrounds mental health issues.”
David Rye, Chairman of Woking Mind said: “Mental health problems affect all of us. They cost society over £100 billion in England alone. Countless individuals are prevented from making the positive contribution they otherwise might have. Mental health problems cause great personal suffering to the one in four people who experience them. Friends and family are often left bewildered and upset. Education must be part of our answer to this problem. Ignorance prevents people from knowing help exists. Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination stops people from accessing that help. This pack gives people the information they need, and an understanding of what it is like to experience a mental health problem.”
Woking Mind email: info@wokingmind.org.uk
Registered charity number 1096503
Walk Fit 2012
January 12, 2012KNAPHILL & WESTEND KEEP FIT GROUP
WALK FIT 2012
EVERY MONDAY & FRIDAY STARTING JANUARY 9TH FROM SAINSBURY’S CAR PARK – Knaphill/Brookwood
10am for 1 hour
(MEET BY THE CAR WASH)
THE BENEFITS OF WALKING ARE:
- WEIGHT LOSS
- IMPROVED FITNESS
- IMPROVED OVERALL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
- IMPROVED GENERAL HEALTH
WALK FIT IS FREE JUST TURN UP
- WALK FIT IS FOR ALL ABILITIES
- GROUP WALKING IS SAFE WALKING
WALK FIT WILL BE LED BY A LICENCEDUKATHLETIC ENDURANCE COACH WITH A HIGHER DIPLOMA IN HEALTH, DIET AND NUTRITION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION TELE: SYLVIA 0796 6659413
Next Steps Wellbeing Group New Programme
December 16, 2011We’ve updated the Next Steps Depression Support Wellbeing Group programme for January to March 2012. Meetings are on Fridays from 9:30-11:30 am at Parkview Community Centre, Sheerwater during term time. The first meeting of the New Year will be 13th January 2012. Feel free to join us!
Wellbeing Group Spring 2012 Programme
Double your money!
December 14, 2011To coincide with the most generous time of the year, Localgiving.com is launching a £500,000 Match Fund series! They are offering CornerHouse and other local causes the chance to boost their fundraising efforts by matching donations £ for £ beginning 14th December!
In other words, any amount you feel able to donate to us through Local Giving will be matched by them and thereby DOUBLED!
Click to go to our donation page: https://localgiving.com/charity/cornerhouse
Localgiving.com is a social enterprise owned by the Community Foundation Network (CFN) and the Ardbrack Foundation, both registered charities dedicated to supporting local charities. CFN is the national body of the 57 Community Foundations in the UK. In 2009 they distributed £56m to 17,000 local charities.
Give with confidence
Every charity listed on Localgiving.com has been independently vetted by their local Community Foundation, in a process approved by the Charity Commission.
Revive yourself!
December 9, 2011Come along to Runnymede Revive, a user-led group who provide a weekly drop-in in Addlestone providing mutual support, information and the chance to meet in a safe place for people in Runnymede with emotional and mental health needs.
The drop-in meets every Monday from 11.30am – 2.30pm at Addlestone Community Centre, Garfield Rd, Addlestone, KT15 2NJ. The drop-in is free, and open to anyone who feels they may benefit from joining the group – no referral is required.
With help from CornerHouse Runnymede, the group has recently been successful in applying to Comic Relief for funding to help meet venue hire costs, equipment, materials and for two day trips for group members.
The funding will also enable Revive to help publicise the group’s activities, raise membership, and improve accessibility to support and information for the local population suffering from mental and emotional ill health.
