Latest news with #CHSS
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
'I was left unable to communicate at 49', Scots paramedic opens up on speech disorder after suffering stroke
Richard Fisher is an air ambulance paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service and has seen his fair share of medical emergencies - but a stroke he suffered in April last year has left him with a communication disorder. A rural Stirling dad has shared his experience of living with a communication disorder after suffering a stroke last year. Richard Fisher, an air ambulance paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service, was left with the language disorder aphasia following a stroke he had in April last year. Following this, he took part in the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) aphasia self-management course at the Bellfield Centre, in Stirling. In more than two decades as a paramedic, Richard has seen his fair share of medical emergencies, but he admits his knowledge of stroke rehabilitation was limited. When it comes to aphasia – a language disorder often affecting stroke victims – Richard admits his knowledge was even more scarce. Over the past year, the 49-year-old has become all too familiar with both conditions after suffering a stroke during an overnight stay in London. Richard stated: "I knew enough about stroke to get someone to A&E as safely as possible. And over the years, I've responded to a lot of calls for people who have had a stroke. But aphasia is not something we learned about when I joined the ambulance service. "I knew nothing about it until it happened to me. Then I felt as though I'd been cut off from the world because I couldn't communicate the way I used to." Aphasia can impact speech production, understanding of speech, reading, writing and using numbers. People suffering from aphasia may exhibit a spectrum of symptoms, with some experiencing one or more, and others dealing with the full range; the extent of impairment can also vary significantly from person-to-person. After speech and language therapy at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, in Larbert, Richard was referred to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to take part in the charity's aphasia self-management course, designed to give stroke survivors the information and resources to help manage the condition themselves. For Richard, the course was beneficial in helping him understand the condition. It also gave him the opportunity to use his skills to help others find solutions to their communication difficulties. His wife Mo recalled: "The facilitators set up a WhatsApp group with everyone who was on the course, and they text each other regularly. "But one of the men said he couldn't text anymore because of aphasia, and he was missing that type of chat with his pals. Richard showed him how to do a voice recording and send that instead, and now a few of them are using that to message people every day." Mo added: "Those are the sorts of helpful hints that you don't realise are useful until you're with people who can't do what they used to do. The course was so helpful for Richard, who also has dyslexia – the aphasia seems to have supercharged that." Richard's career as an air ambulance paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service has seen him featured on the first series of the Channel 4 show 'Rescue: Extreme Medics'. Since suffering a stroke, he has not been able to resume work, but is looking forward to a phased return set for early next month. Although he's eager to rejoin his flying squad, Richard is appreciative of being able to continue contributing to the ambulance service. He remarked: "I need to get back to what is normal. I'm not yet 50. I've got a lot of working years ahead of me before I retire. "The ambulance service is giving me a talk-to-text tablet that will hopefully deal with any communication issues I face. I can struggle when I'm speaking and people rush to fill the gap, and that's frustrating, so my colleagues will be getting an email telling them to let me finish speaking! "I didn't know what aphasia was until I got it. In the self management group, we spent a lot of time laughing about the things we struggle with or ended up saying. We were all in the same boat, so it was good to be able to laugh at ourselves." The CHSS aphasia self-management course aims to inform about aphasia and concentrates on helping people manage difficulties related to communication and other effects of stroke, such as fatigue, stress, and emotional health. The charity's long-term aim is centred around encouraging self-management by creating resources to help those living with conditions relating to the chest, heart, stroke, or Long Covid to comprehend their condition and pursue the most fulfilling life achievable. Jackie Slater, CHSS's Aphasia Development Manager, said: "Living with a communication difficulty, such as aphasia, following stroke can lead to feelings of frustration, isolation and loneliness and have a negative impact on mental health. "That's why CHSS works to provide relevant health information to people living with our conditions, while connecting them to other service users so that they can share experiences and develop skills and confidence. "Our supported self management course, Living Well with Aphasia, gives stroke survivors the information and resources to help them manage their condition. "The feedback we've received from participants has been very positive. The course is a supportive, accessible and welcoming environment for people with aphasia, which is vital. It's amazing to see the positive impact it can have on those taking part. Our aim is to make the course accessible across Scotland." Anyone affected by aphasia can also contact CHSS's Advice Line on 0808 801 0899, email adviceline@ or text ADVICE to 66777.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Academic revolution: Surge in student interest fuels rise of human security studies; Hyderabad centre takes lead
HYDERABAD: A silent academic revolution is taking shape—driven not by conventional career choices, but by a growing awareness of the complex threats shaping the 21st century. From international relations and defence to human security and geopolitics, a new generation of students is exploring how power, policy, and peace intersect in an increasingly unstable world. At the heart of this shift is the Centre for Human Security Studies (CHSS) in Hyderabad—Asia's only think tank dedicated to human security—which is now spearheading efforts to build India's first nationwide curriculum on national security studies, under the mandate of the University Grants Commission (UGC). With India now among the top global arms exporters and the defence sector expanding rapidly, the Telangana govt is also developing a full-fledged degree programme in defense studies. In parallel, the national advisory board on security, led by national security advisor Ajit Doval, has directed the UGC to launch the national security course as an elective in 1,200 universities. The initial offering will be online, with plans for a full-fledged programme in the pipeline. 'In just the last five years, we have seen an explosion of interest in global conflicts, defence systems, and strategic studies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The demand has never been higher,' said Ramesh Kanneganti, defence expert, CHSS founder, and chairman of the UGC-appointed committee designing the course. 'The UN has long emphasised that human security isn't just about borders or soldiers — it's also about public health, education, climate resilience, and economic stability. Ignoring these non-traditional issues can turn them into traditional threats,' he said. The numbers speak volumes. Of the 150 student research papers submitted this year at CHSS, nearly two-thirds focused on defence, diplomacy, and security. In total, CHSS has hosted over 15,000 student internships, many of them producing in-depth research on emerging security threats. One such student, AV Sreeja Reddy, an economics and political science undergraduate from Hyderabad, analysed the economic aftermath of Indo-Pak hostilities on Punjab's border towns. 'Sowing was disrupted, workers fled, and the economic life of the region was frozen,' she said, recalling insights gathered during her two-year internship that included discussions with top bureaucrats and security analysts. She now plans to pursue her postgraduation in policy formulation in Australia. Another intern, U Pratyuhsa U, a politics and international studies student at Puducherry University, focused her research on India's rise as an emerging power. 'India's strategic challenges are layered and dynamic. My time at CHSS helped me understand its position in the global order. I'm committed to continuing in this space,' she said. As traditional and non-traditional threats converge in the age of cyber warfare, climate change, and regional conflict, the rising academic interest in human security reflects not just a career trend — but a deeper concern about the future of national and global safety.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Surge in student interest fuels rise of human security studies
Hyderabad: A silent academic revolution is taking shape—driven not by conventional career choices, but by a growing awareness of the complex threats shaping the 21st century. From international relations and defence to human security and geopolitics, a new generation of students is exploring how power, policy, and peace intersect in an increasingly unstable world. At the heart of this shift is the Centre for Human Security Studies (CHSS) in Hyderabad—Asia's only think tank dedicated to human security—which is now spearheading efforts to build India's first nationwide curriculum on national security studies, under the mandate of the University Grants Commission (UGC). With India now among the top global arms exporters and the defence sector expanding rapidly, the Telangana govt is also developing a full-fledged degree programme in defense studies. In parallel, the national advisory board on security, led by national security advisor Ajit Doval, has directed the UGC to launch the national security course as an elective in 1,200 universities. The initial offering will be online, with plans for a full-fledged programme in the pipeline. 'In just the last five years, we have seen an explosion of interest in global conflicts, defence systems, and strategic studies. The demand has never been higher,' said Ramesh Kanneganti, defence expert, CHSS founder, and chairman of the UGC-appointed committee designing the course. 'The UN has long emphasised that human security isn't just about borders or soldiers — it's also about public health, education, climate resilience, and economic stability. Ignoring these non-traditional issues can turn them into traditional threats,' he said. The numbers speak volumes. Of the 150 student research papers submitted this year at CHSS, nearly two-thirds focused on defence, diplomacy, and security. In total, CHSS has hosted over 15,000 student internships, many of them producing in-depth research on emerging security threats. One such student, AV Sreeja Reddy, an economics and political science undergraduate from Hyderabad, analysed the economic aftermath of Indo-Pak hostilities on Punjab's border towns. 'Sowing was disrupted, workers fled, and the economic life of the region was frozen,' she said, recalling insights gathered during her two-year internship that included discussions with top bureaucrats and security analysts. She now plans to pursue her postgraduation in policy formulation in Australia. Another intern, U Pratyuhsa U, a politics and international studies student at Puducherry University, focused her research on India's rise as an emerging power. 'India's strategic challenges are layered and dynamic. My time at CHSS helped me understand its position in the global order. I'm committed to continuing in this space,' she said. As traditional and non-traditional threats converge in the age of cyber warfare, climate change, and regional conflict, the rising academic interest in human security reflects not just a career trend — but a deeper concern about the future of national and global safety.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Think Tank challenging India's national security playbook
By Rohan Dutta Far from Delhi's power corridors, in a modest office at Hyderabad's Dr. MCR HRD Institute in Jubilee Hills, a bold experiment is quietly rewriting India's national security playbook. The Centre for Human Security Studies (CHSS), led by Ramesh Kanneganti, is bringing national security discussions to regions often left out of the conversation. Unlike Delhi's top-down approach, this Hyderabad-based think tank champions a bottom-up model, arguing that true national security must begin with food, water, health and education, not just military strength. 'CHSS is the first think tank from South India to influence national security strategy, pushing to decentralise policymaking and bring regional perspectives into focus,' says With key defence, IT, biotech and industrial sectors, as well as cultural diversity, the city serves as a natural hub for security thought leadership. CHSS advocates conflict prevention through dialogue, education and opportunity. Its model addresses poverty, unemployment and exclusion that fuel unrest. CHSS' work spans four areas: research, capacity building, internships and blending academic insight with field practice. The think tank has conducted AI-Smart Policing workshops for senior IPS, IAS and State police officers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Its Mission E3 (Educate, Empower, Employ) internship initiative has trained over 15,000 students in the last decade, helping more young women pursue education and careers over early marriage. This grassroots focus also guides its deradicalisation and youth outreach efforts, especially in vulnerable regions. The aim is to widen young people's sense of belonging in India's strategic future rather than limit them to short-term jobs or schemes. One of its major projects, Mission Panchamukhi, conducted India's largest coastal security review across nine States and four Union Territories. CHSS worked with fishermen, port authorities and security agencies to create AI and IoT-driven port security solutions tailored to local needs. CHSS created a seaport security syllabus for the Indian Maritime University and contributed to Telangana's upcoming BA Honours course in Defence and Security Studies. Nationally, is also part of a UGC-approved National Security MOOC on the Swayam platform. Globally, Stanford University and the Australian War College have engaged with CHSS's human-first model. But notes Indian universities are still under-involved in shaping security policy. (The writer is interning with The Hindu-Hyderabad)
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
World's largest walking football tournament held in Glasgow
More than 900 players from 92 teams took part in the Walking Football Scottish Cup and Festival on Saturday, June 7, held at Glasgow Green Football Centre. The event, organized by Walking Football Scotland and sponsored by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS), brought together participants from across the country to compete in multiple categories. It attracted high-profile visitors, including former Scotland manager Craig Levein and ex-players Peter Grant, David Hopkin, and Dougie Imrie. Read more: Gala day featuring football match with Still Game star to take place in Glasgow MSP Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, was also in attendance. Gary Brewer, director of people and culture at CHSS, said: "It was amazing to see so many people come together and, once again, celebrate the Walking Football Scottish Cup and mark the world's largest one-day walking football event." The tournament is part of a two-year partnership between CHSS and Walking Football Scotland aimed at improving health outcomes for people over 50. Figures from Public Health Scotland have revealed that nearly 11,000 people in Scotland had a stroke last year. This remains one of Scotland's main causes of long-term disability. In addition, coronary heart disease remains Scotland's biggest killer, with 300,000 people in the country living with the condition. Activities, such as walking football, are designed to help people improve their physical activity and maintain a healthy heart. Walking football provides a gentler alternative to traditional football, helping participants stay active while reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Gary said: 'Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is committed to supporting the one in five people across the country with our conditions. "One of the best ways we can do this is by improving health outcomes for people across Scotland and playing walking football is a great way of contributing to reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. "Walking Football Scotland can reach a vast number of players, and we have been able to offer support to clubs, players and their families. "It's great to see the popularity of the sport continuing to rise and we hope our partnership with Walking Football Scotland continues to grow from strength to strength as well." Read more: Billy Connolly, football and love: Book reveals what matters to Glaswegians Kenny McLean, president of Walking Football Scotland, said: "Walking Football Scotland continues to lead the way, not just in participation but in impact. "Breaking records and building communities — that's what this game is all about, and I couldn't be prouder of what we're achieving together. "This is our showcase event – a celebration of everything walking football represents. "But the real heart of the game lies in the hundreds who play week in, week out across Scotland. "A huge thank you to everyone who makes this movement so special." Winners on the day included Braehead FC in both the over-40s and over-50s women's categories, Saint Anthony's in the over-50s, and Pollok Utd in the over-60s and over-65s. Alloa Athletic took home the over-70s title, Glasgow Life won in the Parkinson's category, while the Universal Wanderers took home the Peter Collins Fair Play award.
