WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY, 2022

Photograph attached: l-r Catrina Boal and Beverley Ross

Stepping Stones to better health and wellbeing

A community project aimed at reducing health inequalities in Dundee has been praised by participants for helping to improve their health and wellbeing.

Community outreach nurses Catrina Boal and Beverley Ross received funding from the Queens Nursing Institute Scotland to develop and run two community change courses for one year.

The two course ideas came from engaging with local people during their outreach work at local food larders, community cafés and hostels during the pandemic. Many said they missed social connection and face-to-face support and were concerned about their long-term mental wellbeing.

Participants were able to attend a 12-week Stepping Stones course run by senior Keep Well nurse Beverley and supported by colleagues in the outreach nursing team and visiting practitioners. The course is designed to help people develop skills and techniques to improve their wellbeing and confidence.

Some participants then attended the follow on 12-week Minds Matter course which was run by community health specialist nurse Catrina along with a yoga and mindfulness practitioner and creative workers from Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust.

The two projects aimed to reduce social isolation and provide peer support, health information and self-management tools to help participants improve and maintain their mental wellbeing.

Beverley said, “We recorded participants blood pressure and anxiety and depression scores at the first and last sessions and the majority had reduced with some even advising that they had less contact with their GP as a result.

“Despite many of the participants having struggles affecting their daily lives, we were really pleased that attendance at the weekly sessions was very high and we look forward to running the sessions again later in the year.”

Catrina added, “We’ve had really great feedback from people who have attended the courses with many saying they feel much better about themselves and that they’ve made friends, gained confidence and learned techniques to cope with anxiety and stress.

“It’s been fantastic to see people benefiting and being confident to try new things. Many have since gone on to take part in other activities and groups together, with some even taking up volunteering and peer support positions in community organisations.

“Even just hearing that some people are managing to sleep better or getting out for daily walks is a brilliant outcome as these things can make a big difference to people’s wellbeing.”

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718