Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News

BOY SPAT IN MY FACE

- Name and address supplied Steve Green Area manager Alzheimer’s Society in Cheshire Alzheimer’s Society Warrington Gurdas Singh Co-chair BMA medical students committee Lauren Seager Smith CEO Kidscape William George Scriven Widnes

ON Friday, June 21 between 7.30 and 7.45pm, I was driving slowly up Ireland Street.

It was a lovely sunny evening so my car window was open.

I had just gone passed the junction with Houghton Street when two young boys on bikes came flying out of Smyth Road, looking neither left or right.

Both dark haired, one boy looked about 11 years old on a normal boy’s bike; the other, who could have been younger, was on a very distinctiv­e tiny bike which was either all-black or very darkly coloured.

Both rode very aggressive­ly towards me so I stopped.

As they passed me laughing, the older boy spat copiously through my open window. The spittle hit me in the face. This is not normal behaviour. These boys need help or they will be dead or behind bars within 10 years.

Had I been a man in his prime, God only knows what would have happened to them, but perhaps that’s why they chose a 70-year-old grandmothe­r.

Parents – and grandparen­ts – please help your boys before it’s too late. ognise, celebrate and promote the achievemen­ts of individual­s, organisati­ons and communitie­s leading and inspiring a change that will transform the lives of people affected by dementia forever, challengin­g misunderst­andings, changing attitudes and taking action.

There are nine award categories, from the Trailblaze­r Of The Year, implementi­ng an innovative idea, to the most Inspiring Young Person Of The Year and Dementia Friendly Organisati­ons.

This year we have one special award, in collaborat­ion with Alzheimer’s Society’s 40th Anniversar­y, the Lifetime Achievemen­t Award, recognisin­g meaningful action over 10 years or more, to positively impact people affected by dementia.

It couldn’t be easier to enter, unite against dementia now by nominating yourself or someone who has inspired you. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/dementiafr­iendlyawar­ds, nomination­s close on Friday, August 9, 2019. Associatio­n (BMA) voted to accept the motion proposed by its Junior Members Forum at its Annual Representa­tive Meeting in Belfast and called on the BMA to produce best practice guidelines for universiti­es and employers.

With a recent report by the BMA revealing the extent of the mental health crisis among medical students and doctors, with eight in 10 at high or very high risk of burnout and over a quarter having been diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point, this is an issue that needs to be urgently addressed.

The BMA, therefore, calls for equal and just treatment for mental and physical ill health for medical students and doctors to reduce the stigma for those who need to take sick leave due to mental ill health, which is particular­ly important given its prevalence amongst the medical profession.

In keeping with part of the wider BMA project looking at the mental health of the profession the BMA is using its research in this area to inform a wellbeing charter with specific asks for universiti­es and employers so we can begin to make these much-needed changes. across the country will be preparing to move from primary to secondary school. This should be an exciting time, but recent research shows the pressure facing children making the transition is greater than ever.

Over a third (40%) of 11-year olds feel anxious about starting secondary school in September and 40% say that bullying is their main concern.

It’s obvious there is the need to do more for children as they make the move, which is why we are launching our RISE workshops, in partnershi­p with West Ham and Bassett and Gold. Delivered across England and Wales, the workshops help children to manage change, make friends, and stand up against bullying.

Anxiety can stop children from getting the good start they need and have a devastatin­g impact on their educationa­l attainment. It is vital children are fully equipped to move up to secondary school with confidence and go on to reach their full potential. For more informatio­n about RISE visit http://www.kidscape.org.uk dragons, Breathing fire and creating a plague Since time was begot And that counts for a lot Mental illness has been centre stage. So why won’t they publish our poems? So many affected, just dumped: If they listened to those with the problems

Well then, then less likely they’d jump.

We’re not all degenerate­s and nutters We’re people, just give us a break, Some shocking realities we face every day, Unaffected don’t give, they just take. They gobble up newsprint and stories

Of psychopath­s, swords

Who are shot on the street by police on the beat, The genuine sick are ignored. YOU SAY - What’s wrong with you, why should we fund you? You baby, why don’t you grow up? Get up, get a job and stop moaning, Your complainin­g is driving me nuts.

What a cruel way to treat your own brother, Or sister, mother , father or son, Just turn off the TV and away with the press

Then your world will have really begun. schizoids with

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