Latest news with #SAMH
Edinburgh Live
07-07-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh man leads tributes for 'caring and selfless' friend after tragic loss
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh man has completed a touching for his best friend after a tragic loss. Thomas Robertson met Finlay MacDonald at school in Edinburgh, and the pair went on to study at the University of St Andrews. Finlay was lost to suicide last year, with those who loved him hailing him as a 'caring and selfless' young man. On July 6, Thomas ran from St Andrews to Merchiston Castle School in the capital. He was joined by friends and family for the final kilometre, and feels 'relieved to have something so terrible have a positive impact'. The run raised over £28,800 for Scottish Action for Mental Health. It will support at least 12 schools, who will benefit from the charity's peer supporter programme. Thomas, 20, said: "I wanted to start my run at Finlay's university in St Andrews, before finishing at our school in Edinburgh where we were classmates. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "The run gave me a lot of time to think about Finlay, and how lucky I was to have him as a friend. It was really fun waking up every day knowing you're going to see your best friend. "There are so many Finlays out there who have lost their lives to suicide, and it just shows how much more we need to do. "I'm relieved that something so terrible that happened will now have a positive impact on schools in Edinburgh. People see the value in supporting mental health, and I'm really grateful that people have been generous enough to donate." (Image: SAMH) Catriona Wilson, Mass Participation Events Manager at SAMH, said: 'It's been an absolute privilege to support Thomas in this challenge, and to witness the strength and heart he's poured into honouring Finlay's memory in such a powerful way. "Thomas's incredible efforts have helped reduce the stigma around suicide and encouraged people to open up and ask for help. With his help, and everyone who has donated, at least 12 additional schools will now benefit from SAMH's Peer Supporter programme." Rev. Nick Blair, Chaplain at Merchiston Castle School where Thomas and Finlay were pupils together, said:"Community defines Merchiston. A year ago, we mourned with the MacDonald family after losing their beloved Finlay. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "Today, we unite again, supporting his close friend Thomas, whose fundraising effort in Finlay's memory is deeply moving. The solidarity from old boys, parents, staff and pupils shows who we are: a community that stands together. "It's also a moment to stress that young men must never feel ashamed to discuss their mental health. Breaking silence saves lives. "Today, we run with Thomas and raise our voices with SAMH, honouring Finlay and supporting vital mental health work."
Edinburgh Live
03-07-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh man takes on double marathon in memory of 'selfless' best friend
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh man is taking on an 86-kilometre challenge in memory of his best friend who tragically died by suicide last year. Thomas Robertson, 20, is set to run from the University of St. Andrews to the school they both attended, Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, on Sunday, July 6 to raise vital funds for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH). He has already raised an incredible £20,000 ahead of the challenge, which will be donated in honour of Finlay MacDonald. Thomas said: 'Finlay was an amazing friend to me. He was caring, loving, selfless, and all his priority was that everyone around him was okay. 'His passing was a massive shock and left me questioning why such terrible things happen to the best of people. It made me realise just how important mental health is and how much more needs to be done to support it. 'I wanted to start my run at Finlay's university in St Andrews, before finishing at our school in Edinburgh where we were classmates.' The money that Thomas raises from this epic challenge, which is longer than two back-to-back marathons, will go towards funding SAMH's Peer Supporter programme. This programme sets out to increase the mental health knowledge and skills of young people, parents and carers, volunteers and staff through free workshops and information sessions in schools. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox He added: 'I wanted something that was going to resonate with Finlay, who struggled with mental health during school. SAMH's programme creates a really warm, safe environment where kids can just talk about mental health mental and help remove the stigma.' Catriona Wilson, Mass Participation Events Manager at SAMH, said: "We're honoured that Thomas has chosen to support SAMH with this incredible challenge. 'Our Peer Supporter programme has helped over 10,000 people in South Lanarkshire alone, and with the help of Thomas and everyone who has donated so far, at least 12 additional schools in Edinburgh will now benefit. 'By sharing his story, Thomas has also helped reduce the stigma around suicide and mental health. We can't wait to join his friends and family as we celebrate with him at the finish line on Sunday.' Thomas's challenge will finish at Merchiston Castle School with a lap of the school's cross country course and anyone wishing to join him on his run is welcome to at any time. Rev. Nick Blair, Chaplain at the school, said: "Community defines Merchiston. A year ago, we mourned with the MacDonald family after losing their beloved Finlay. Today, we unite again, supporting his close friend Thomas, whose fundraising effort in Finlay's memory is deeply moving. "The solidarity from old boys, parents, staff and pupils shows who we are: a community that stands together. It's also a moment to stress that young men must never feel ashamed to discuss their mental health. "Breaking silence saves lives. Today, we run with Thomas and raise our voices with SAMH, honouring Finlay and supporting vital mental health work." As well as raising funds, Thomas is also encouraging those suffering from mental health problems to ask for help. He added: "Reach out and ask for help. What I would look at as a strong man is someone who looks for help when they're struggling." You can donate to his fundraiser here. For more information or support on the issues discussed in this article, visit
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
SAMH launches festival to raise mental health awareness among seniors
SINGAPORE – While some seniors blended tea and others came together in a drumming circle, Madam Kamala Devi Marimuthu was rolling dice in a game of mental wellness snakes and ladders. This adapted version of the childhood game encourages self-reflection by prompting players to answer questions related to everyday mental health challenges, and was among the 10 activities that seniors could partake in at an outreach festival organised by the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) on June 20. Madam Kamala found the game to be a dose of positivity. 'The volunteer who played the game with me was very friendly, he cracked a lot of jokes and made me really happy,' said the 80-year-old. The inaugural SAMH Golden Connect festival, being held at the non-profit's Space2Connect integrated wellness centre in Jalan Besar, is aimed at raising awareness of challenges faced by senior citizens, such as social isolation and mental health issues . Seniors aged 60 to 74 are the least likely age group to seek mental health support, whether from professionals or from their informal support networks, according to the 2023 National Population Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board. At the event, Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua underscored the importance of maintaining mental health as a person ages, given the close connection it has with physical well-being. She highlighted instances of elderly loneliness in Jalan Besar, and encouraged seniors both to look out for one another and to tap the support of organisations such as SAMH, especially for cases that do not require institutionalisation. 'As we get older, so do our neighbours. So please be more compassionate...(not) every time something happens, we must send them to the Institute of Mental Health,' she said. The festival also saw the debut of a mental health screening application powered by artificial intelligence that can detect symptoms of anxiety and depression for early intervention. The application, developed by Singapore-based company Opsis Emotion AI, involves a series of questions and video clips to be watched. As a person undergoes the 10-minute evaluation, the application assesses his emotional state through real-time analysis of facial expressions and body language, and produces a report for SAMH professionals to interpret. Ms Jane Goh, deputy director of creative services and youth at SAMH, said the tool complements the association's existing face-to-face screening processes. 'This is useful for clients who might not be able to articulate their emotions very well but might still want to convey certain things,' she said. The tool will be rolled out at SAMH's premises from June 20, and will eventually be extended to other age groups that SAMH supports, such as youth and adults. Among the 200 people that attended the festival on its opening day was Mr Hassan Arshad, 76. He felt that the activities were very meaningful, and looked forward to joining more of SAMH's programmes. Adjunct Associate Professor Lee Cheng, president of SAMH, said community outreach has been at the heart of the association's work since it was started in 1968, and remains a vital part of its efforts to support mental wellness across people's life stages. He noted that the two-day festival involved numerous community partners, including the Jalan Besar Active Ageing Centre, Kallang CC Community Drumming Circle, and student volunteers from Republic Polytechnic, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Raffles Girls' School. 'Through strong community partnerships, we can bridge gaps, build trust, and make support more accessible,' he added. 'We want every senior to know they are not alone, and that care and joy are within reach.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Man with deadly Hep C virus not told after testing positive 20 years ago
Frank Jamieson likely had hepatitis C for 40 years despite only being told that he had the virus in October. A man says his GP failed to tell him he had a potentially deadly virus - over 20 years after he tested positive. Frank Jamieson has been left feeling suicidal following years of deteriorating health, the cause of which was a mystery until recently. In October the 58-year-old was told that he had hepatitis C and that it was likely he'd had the virus for 40 years as a result of an operation in 1984. However, Frank later discovered that his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice, knew he'd tested positive for the virus back in 2002 - results he says were confirmed in January of the following year. Frank, from Greenock, said that after making a complaint to the practice, he was told that his test results were never passed on to him because he didn't call to get them. Caught up in the long-running contaminated blood scandal, Frank says he wants to speak out now in case there are others in Inverclyde in the same position. He was finally told the news of his positive 'hep C' test last October after years of health problems. Now he is determined to see his GP surgery held accountable. He said: "It has ruined my life. I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything. "My health was so bad, and I had no idea why. It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C." Frank is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team. "I have been suicidal," he said. "Right now, I don't want to be here. "I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened. "The surgery had my results but they never passed them on. But after all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me." The hepatitis C virus can cause chronic liver disease, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure if untreated. Fortunately Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment. He says that after staff at the IRH diagnosed him as having the virus in October, he was later contacted by Ardgowan Medical Practice, who produced positive blood test results dated January 6, 2003. Frank said: "I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF. We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third. "But that Christmas we both lost our jobs with Fullarton Electronics when they closed down. Our lives fell apart. All our plans were halted. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again. Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results." Frank did visit his doctor a year later, but says he was told nothing about the positive hep C test. And five years ago his health began to deteriorate rapidly, with severe nerve and joint pain. He also began showing signs of Raynaud's phenomenon, which causes cold and numb fingers and is a visible symptom of hepatitis C. Medics now believe Frank contracted hepatitis C during an operation to correct a broken leg he suffered in a road accident in 1984. "I've had hep C for 40 years," he said. "The accident happened on a bad winter's day, at the Tuck Shop, on the road outside the Ardgowan Practice, unbelievably. "My leg didn't set right and I had to go in for an operation. Now I find I'm a victim of the contaminated blood scandal. But my journey is just beginning." Frank showed a letter he received from Ardgowan Medical Practice, responding to his complaint, in which they told him that the procedure for blood test results is the same today as it was in 2003 - that patients should phone within seven days of the test to find out the results. The practice also told Frank it has no record of a phone call from him asking for the results. He also showed a letter from the practice in response to a second complaint made by Frank in which they say that unless he specifically asked about the blood test during an appointment, a GP would not check his records. He said: "I want to speak out about this because I have nothing left to lose. I feel that Ardgowan Practice should be more accountable and take responsibility for what happened. There is no way they should not have passed those results on to me. I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned? "This has destroyed my life. For 20 years it was known I had hep C. I want to make sure that this never happens to anyone else. If anything good is to come out of this, it is that people will be aware of what happened to me. "There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know. I also fear that if I was infected by contaminated blood at the IRH in 1984 there might be other people out there in the same situation who don't know about it." In a further blow, because of the passage of time, Frank says he has been told by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman that it will not investigate his case. Frank is now hoping for justice through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) after facing a race against time to get his compensation claim in. The SIBSS provides support to people in Scotland who contracted hepatitis C and/or HIV from NHS blood, blood products, or tissue. Ardgowan Medical Practice decline to comment when approached. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Details emerge of demolitions of North Lanarkshire tower blocks
The council's tower strategy aims to replace outdated high-rises with "modern, high-quality" homes across the area. As part of phase one, more than 1,600 properties have been vacated, with several towers demolished and others repurposed to support the Ukraine Resettlement Programme. Phase two is now underway, with decanting progressing across sites in Wishaw, Kilsyth, Airdrie, Coatbridge, and Motherwell. CAD Towers (Image: North Lanarkshire Council) Read more: New Glasgow-inspired wellbeing wallpaper unveiled by SAMH Key milestones include ongoing demolition works at Jackson Court in Coatbridge and Coursington, Allan, and Draffen Towers in Motherwell, where a controlled blowdown is planned to take place later in the year. Preparations are also progressing for future demolitions at Dunbeth Court in Coatbridge and Allershaw Tower, Wishaw. Read more: Athletics club hosts first round of road race series at Glasgow Green (Image: North Lanarkshire Council) Councillor Michael McPake, convener of housing, said: "We're making real progress in delivering safe, modern homes that meet the needs of our residents. "This programme is not just about replacing buildings, it's about improving lives, enhancing communities, and ensuring our housing stock is fit for the future." Alongside demolition projects, safety improvements such as sprinkler installations, fire safety upgrades, and lift replacements in five tower blocks are also being implemented.
