REAL-LIFE LOWDOWN…
‘Joining a choir helped get my life in balance’ For Arabella Tresilian, 43, who lives in Bath and has two daughters, a social prescription was the answer to a lifetime of anxiety and depression. ‘After struggling for years with mental health problems, in 2015 I walked out of my job as a freelance management consultant and couldn’t go back. I didn’t want to take medication, and talking therapy wasn’t the answer either. When my GP suggested referring me for a social prescription, I have to admit deep down I was doubtful it could work. I had never heard of anything like it before, but my facilitator, Diane, was wonderful. She helped me examine my life and how I wanted it to be. With her support, I decided to join Bath Community Gospel Choir.
As my anxiety and depression lifted and my confidence grew, I joined a gentle yoga class and began volunteering for Bath City Farm and Bristol Mediation. I’ve now trained as a workplace mediator supporting others with mental health problems to flourish at work. In the past, I’d do a job then crash and burn. Today, my life is balanced. I am happy and positive, and it’s all down to social prescribing.’
‘It helped me out of the pit of despair’ Kathy Clark, 52, from Somerset, is married with two grown-up sons, and is a human resources director. She was always fit and active, until a chronic health condition changed everything. ‘Last February, I was diagnosed with an aggressive type of rheumatoid arthritis. By the second week in March, I couldn’t walk. I’ve always been very active, so it was a huge blow and I got very depressed. My local social-prescribing service, Mendip Health Connections, put me in touch with On Track, a goal-setting group for people with chronic health problems. Just sharing successes and struggles helped me to realise I was not alone. I also did a mindfulness course where I learnt to focus on what I have rather than what I’ve lost. And I’ve started to swim again in a warm physiotherapy pool. I’ll never be 100% better but I am now coming out of the pit of despair I found myself in.’
‘Gardening stops me dwelling on my troubles’ Lynn Gregson, 58, lives in Salford, and has two children. She has depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. ‘Once a week, I attend Start Growing, a gardening group run by a local socialprescribing project, START. A small group of us meet to do anything from planting seeds and bulbs to potting up, pruning shrubs and working in the greenhouse. It’s two hours when I’m not dwelling on my troubles and we chat and laugh a lot. It’s such a lovely place with a big domed greenhouse, raised beds, fruit trees, apples and pears, and beautiful flowers. I’ve learnt so much and am much more confident. I love it.’
‘Mindfulness helps me cope’ Fi Schofield, 58, is a musician who lives in London. She has had issues with depression since her teens. ‘Last time I was depressed, my GP referred me to a community programme and I was offered classes, including one run by the football club. I chose aqua aerobics. It helped but, unfortunately, when it was over, my depression washed over me again. I was convinced the GP would put me on medication, but instead she encouraged me to take up mindfulness. I also started keeping a journal and found that made me feel more in control. I now work as a tutor at the Recovery College in Camden, where I help run Writing for Wellbeing and Singing for Health courses.’