Supporting Mental Wellbeing

In today's world where so many of us feel hopeless, helpless, and negative, good news stories shine like sunshine.  Particularly when they are colourful and joyful - a counterpoint to the negativity and dire warnings that seem to invade all of our lives.  Such small miracles have the habit of not just helping individuals directly but empowering and improving the lives of those who make it possible.  And they often take time and patience - it is a journey - and one that you support us in taking.

For example:  It had been noticed that a veteran coming to one of our cafe hubs had become increasingly withdrawn and their attendance was lessening.  On having a quiet conversation (over a cup of tea/coffee!)  we discovered that they were feeling increasingly lonely, and had lost the motivation to 'do anything'.  With physical health being an issue, we asked what were they were passionate about and what makes 'you feel good'.  The answer was 'gardening'.  However, they were unable to attend the allotment, but there was something closer to hand - the hub's raised flower beds (which with all the recent hot weather needed some consistent attention).  The veteran now comes to the hub every other day to tend and water the flower beds;  they are talking to others and staying at the hub for a couple of hours each time; have made new friends and started to attend more activities.  And the add on - that the colourful beds outside attract attention, and help make the local shopping area much more attractive.

In Scarborough we have a well established allotment  on the edge of the town which supports several veterans who attend regularly with support from FirstLight Trust and a very kind volunteer Sue Tipple who provides regular management and necessary knowledge of what grows when (not always easy in Yorkshire). 

The veterans have commented on how this breaks up their otherwise mundane week and tackles the isolation they sometimes feel. They also benefit from the shared produce and surplus arriving in the hub to produce delicious soups and attractive accompaniments to freshly baked quiches and scones. 

Which leads us onto the cooking..... Cooking is tremendous for helping build confidence, creating calm (as well as being fun) and can have some surprising results:  this week veterans made cookies that are normally sold in the Gosport cafe hub;  one veteran stated he loved being with others when baking as this session helped ground him before a really hectic week. The mixing (both of ingredients and people) was extremely therapeutic and it was agreed at how calming baking and cooking can be. It is often during such sessions such as these that conversations occur revealing underlying concerns and anxieties that normally would 'fester away' producing profound anxiety, and a feeling of helplessness.  Around half of the group were concerned about the increasing cost of energy and how they would manage to pay the bills this winter.  Chatting informally they revealed that they knew nothing about the fuel allowance which was available.  As a result all are coming to a meeting about budgetting to see how some changes in budgetting might ease their worries and ensure they can pay their bills. What a great result and that was before we ate the cookies!

Links:

• Look at our website www.firstlighttrust.co.uk