Addressing the mental health stigma.
For Stress Awareness Month Graeme paid a visit to Angus’ Penumbra Mental Health team to highlight the support on offer locally for those experiencing mental ill health.
Penumbra Mental Health is a pioneering charity offering dedicated support services for people experiencing mild to serious and enduring mental ill health. The charity supports people on their journey to better mental health by working with each person to find their own way forward.
The power of people’s lived experience had enabled the charity to provide pioneering services that transform lives. Penumbra Mental Health is the largest employer in Scotland of peer support colleagues in the mental health sector.
Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. The last two years have been the most challenging we have faced and in 2020 mental health services were overwhelmed by people that are struggling and seeking support.
Across Angus, Penumbra Mental Health offers self-referral support to people aged 16 and over through the Angus Suicide Prevention Support Service, 121 and groupwork support through its NOVA service (which also has dedicated young person’s team), and the South Angus Peer Support Service.
Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life.
Penumbra Mental Health is making it their mission to provide exceptional mental health and wellbeing support and activities, guided by people’s own lived experience, their recovery journeys and their hopes and aspirations.
Graeme visited Penumbra Mental Health at their Arbroath Office, where he spoke with Assistant Support Manager Callum Troup and team about their Angus Suicide Prevention and Support Service and their Individual Recovery Outcome Counter (IROC) which measures and understands where people are in their recovery journey.
– Graeme
I was very pleased to meet with Callum and some of the team at Penumbra Mental Health to highlight Stress Awareness Month.
The pandemic has had a hugely detrimental effect on the nation’s mental health and sense of community. Disrupted social lives, the cancellation of large gatherings, travel restrictions and working from home have kept us in one place for long periods of time.
However, one of the positives to emerge from this unparalleled situation has been the community spirit and support shown by so many to so many.
It was great to discuss how Penumbra Mental Health works to empower people to manage their own wellbeing by helping people to discover and connect them with resources, amenities and meaningful activities within their community.
– Assistant Support Manager of Penumbra Mental Health, Callum Troup
It’s always great to see our elected members visiting the team here in Angus. It’s a chance to really share with decision makers the range of mental health support we offer and what we do right across Angus.
It’s also an opportunity to remind communities that our support is easy to access; people can just contact us direct to access support.
