Tackling depression

New project aims to get people to open up and talk

A new mental health project has kicked off in East Kilbride encouraging people to talk about depression.

The TAD project was set up by James Downie in a bid to beat the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage local residents to speak up and support each other.

James, who has previously struggled with his own mental health uses his experiences to help others, told the News: “I started this project on the basis of my own struggles with mental health.

“In the past from my late teens to my early twenties, I struggled with anxiety and depression.

“So last year I started a Facebook group which was totally private and confidential that allowed members to talk about their own mental health struggles.

“There was nothing like this in East Kilbride and the demand was there and it all snowballed, so I decided to set up the TAD Project to help people.”

James, 37, works alongside Councillor Monique McAdams and the East Kilbride Community Trust at the K-Woodlands centre and offers workshops and advice to people in the community.

James added: “The TAD aims to get individuals back out in to the community, to help them regain self confidence, and through voluntary programmes, help people get back in to work.

“We are also hoping to start a weekly support group for the homeless. I feel that across the region, there’s not enough conversations about the mental health struggles of the homeless, and that is massively important.

“There’s a lot of stigma surrounding mental health and not enough people are able to speak up about their problems, but that’s what the TAD project is here for.”

The TAD Project aims to not only help people in East Kilbride, but people across South Lanarkshire.

Interest in the group has grown and so James is currently looking to build a team of support workers and councillors to deliver the project to those in need.

He added: “I started this project and help people just through my life experiences but I am looking to build a team of qualified councillors and workers who will be able to deliver workshops and talks to groups of people.

“I feel lockdown may have affected a lot of people’s mental well-being and it’s important to recognise that these are challenging times, but there is always someone at the TAD who is able to listen and help.

“So ideally I’d like to get people on board as soon as possible to get things underway.”

To get involved with the TAD Project, visit the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/T.A.D.Project1