1.Have you had any involvement with Plymouth Mind before the training course, if so, how many years/months?
Just referring the families who are involved with the school I work at.

2.How many years experience have you had with Mental Health?
20 years (professionally & personally)

3.How did you get involved with the training course?
An organisation in Plymouth, via e-mail.

4.Could you tell us about any success stories you remember?
I helped and still help a family supporting the mum witness murder of cousin. The Children’s attendance in school was very poor and there was hygiene issues eventually the school got involved, and the lady was having flash backs, nightmare, the medication she was taking ,amphetamines, meant she couldn’t remember the day and wasn’t able to support children, myself and the school provided support in& out of school, a massive support link formed between social workers, therapists, the lady was being given as much help we could offer her, she had post-dramatic stress disorder & depression .After treatment her finances gradually became better and she eventually builds up enough confidence to enter employment and support her family and managing her problems.

5.Are you enjoying the course? Do you feel is helping you to further your knowledge of mental health?
People have a lot physical health knowledge, but it is good to know about mental health, i don’t think people know enough. It is such a large area & there isn’t enough awareness about it. It is relevant in everyday life and this course for example will help me in my work and in my personal life.

5.What do you think our current cultural attitudes are towards Mental Health and how do you think Plymouth Mind is helping to change this perception?
There are many bad labels surrounding mental health. Our culture expects us to all be “carbon copies” of one another, all living up to the same expectations but when someone is different to the norm, they are labelled and more than often this label is negatively.
Although there are current improvements such as the media raising awareness & celebrities such as Kerry Katona who is (fairly) successful regardless of having bi-polar disorder, this then shows people also suffering with a mental illness that just because you have something like this it shouldn’t stop you from doing what you want to.
Sub cultures accept mental illness differently and are able to support each other more effectively by forming this sub-culture.