Kirkcaldy charity' unveils positive mental health help during coronavirus

The initiative, called A Ray of Sunshine, offers additional support and advice to clients – and it comes as the charity revealed that some of the 1500 people they support have symptoms of the virus.

The new campaign provides additional support to help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing, and offers support more widely to others who may be struggling during the current lockdown.

The service has replaced face to face services with phone calls and online support, whilst ensuring that those who really cannot manage without the charity’s visits still receive them.

Staff have created their own content which is being shared as part of a planned approach to deliver uplifting, inspiring support. This has included advice on maintaining a routine, sleeping well, eating healthily, and ideas for parents who are struggling during lockdown.

Other staff have written stories and poems, painted pictures, and even danced for videos, which will all be included in a weekly online TV programme on the LinkLiving website and social media.

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/kirkcaldy-community-centre-risk-collapse-2538681

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/transport/police-nab-fife-driver-four-times-over-limit-easter-2541617

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/10-ideas-raise-funds-our-maggies-centre-2541502

Michael Fong, project worker, said: “I work with young people who are in high school and struggle with mental health issues which sometimes means that they are not engaging with the school curriculum.

““Before the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown they were taking part in a ten week programme called ‘Steps To Resilience’ which aimed to build up their resilience, help their mood, improve on their well-being and confidence to get them back to school.

“We were working on creative ways to help them engage with school that included the use of virtual reality to help them understand their emotions and to find ways to help them cope with these emotions.”

“We have been getting feedback from the young people during lockdown, and one of the big issues that they are dealing with is not sleeping that well, as their routines have been severely disrupted.

“We have been trying to combat this with some tips and tricks on how to sleep better at night, and we have also been assigning them small tasks and challenges to achieve throughout the day.

“I think the most important thing for the young people is for them to have some sort of purpose and to try and be creative and productive.”

Sarah Smith, LinkLiving chief executive, said: “We are all anxious and scared right now, but for the people that we support who have experienced past traumas, and who are already isolated and lonely, the pandemic is magnifying their existing difficulties.

“We support around 1,500 of the most isolated, lonely and often traumatised people – many have absolutely no one to turn to at this time.

“They may be young people who have come from care, people who have been homeless, adults who have experienced childhood trauma, or who have severe and enduring mental health problems. They have already been through so much.

“Many have traumas and disadvantages, such as a being emotionally, physically or sexually abused. This can lead to anxiety, poor mental health, difficulties with relationships, with managing day to day life or holding down a job.

“Some of the people we support have the coronavirus and many, particularly the older people, are having to self-isolate.

“Like everyone we are having to adapt at the moment and this is putting considerable strain on our resources, but I couldn’t be prouder of the LinkLiving teams as they work so hard and selflessly to ensure that nobody is alone.”

For more information visit:

https://www.linkliving.org.uk/

Or call 0330 303 0302

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers; the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen, East Fife Mail and Glenrothes Gazette.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

The support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with your community during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this, and your continued support of our newspapers across Fife will help to protect their viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press