Margaret’s poem is on the right track
Mental health message at train station
A poem penned by a Paisley healthcare worker is on display at Johnstone train station as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.
Primary care liaison worker, Margaret Cook, wrote the poem ‘I am Here’ to reduce the stigma of mental health and risk of suicide in train stations.
Approximately 250 people in Scotland take their lives at railway stations every year and Margaret hopes that if her poem stops one person attempting to take their life then she has made a difference.
She said: “Suicide at railway stations is, sadly, not an uncommon tragedy.
“I felt motivated to write this poem to let people with mental health problems know that they are not alone. There is always hope and caring staff, who are there to support and listen.”
Margaret is a member of the Doing Well Primary Care Community Mental Health Team based at Paisley’s Abbey Mill Centre.
The poem is part of the Passing Time exhibition displaying poetry across seven station platforms in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
Scot Little is Margaret’s team leader. He said: “Margaret is a very caring professional who has captured the feelings and emotions of not only nursing but other mental health caring services.
“She is very dedicated in her role and regularly displays the best qualities of a caring professional.”
A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson said: “We’re proud to be supporting the Mental Health Arts Festival once again, and giving a platform to so many talented artists.”
Margaret’s poem, along with the other winning entries, will be on display until May 2019.
In Paisley’s Gilmour Street, the work on display is Shaun Moore ‘Reclaim’; Suzanne Baines ‘ Reclaim’; Ami F Torrence ‘ Talk more’; John Dane ‘Change’; Angela Edgar ‘The train to reclaim’; Craig Birrell ‘ Reclaim ma lungs’; and Grant Gray ‘Reclaiming our Gift’.
And at Paisley St James there is work by Claire Moorhouse and Bill Lillie as well as Graham Fulton ‘Recycle’ and ‘Equinox (extract)’; Norma Martin ‘Volunteering’; John Tuite ‘Reclaim and Repair’; and Stephen Watt ‘Gaslighting’.
In Bishopton, the poems on display are Rashelle Reid ‘A Reclaimed Destiny’; Bill Lillie ‘ Time’ and Ross H Quirk ‘A life taken back’.
In Lochwinnoch, on display are GWC ‘After the Storms’; work by Ashley Edgar and Applecross Nursing Home and Platform, by Eilidh G Clark.
Alongside Margaret’s poem in Johnstone are Roy Moller, Redemption; Ryan McGreaghan ‘Reclaim’; Antonia Seaward; and Ami F Torrance.
For more on the festival and what’s on in Renfrewshire, go to mhfestival.com