Mindspace Recovery College is holding two open days in Perth ahead of their return to in-person courses.
One for mental health professionals and organisations will take place today (August 24) and the other for members of the public who would like to find out more about Mindspace’s services will take place on Tuesday, August 31.
Both will run from 10am-3pm from the charity’s York Place office.
Mindspace is a mental health charity providing specialist and free support to both adults and young people in Perth and Kinross.
It runs courses which enables people to learn more about mental ill-health and self-management techniques.
People can share their lived experience so that they can learn with and from each other to maintain positive mental health.
Since lockdown in March last year, the office was closed and all courses moved online to be delivered through Zoom.
Now restrictions have eased sufficiently for courses to be run in-person once again.
Mindspace recovery facilitator Douglas Stewart said: “We have all found the previous year very challenging in different ways.
“The team had to adapt from a face-to-face group work to doing everything through the Zoom platform.
“We managed the change extremely well taking into account the challenges of working from home when this was not our norm.
“The Zoom groups and courses we provided had a mixed attendance well down on our usual numbers but just like us, everyone was trying to adapt to a different world.
“We are now at a turning point where we can start to do face-to- face groups.”
Fellow recovery facilitator Rachel Palmer adds: “Zoom was a real test for me and whilst I have got used to it I am so excited to be planning face-to-face groups and thinking about seeing a whole person rather than a face in a box!
“Everyone can rest assured that we have all the adequate measures in place for your safe return.”
The first course that will welcome participants back into the premises will be a new one, introducing the concept of sophrology, starting on September 14.
Sophrology is a mental wellbeing practice that uniquely combines breathing, relaxation, gentle movement, meditation and visualisation techniques to quieten the mind and ground you in the present.
Many other courses will be available covering topics such as mindfulness and sleep issues, taking place during the week and at evenings and weekends.
Violet Hari, course participant and volunteer at Mindspace, said: “I have seen the wonderful work that Mindspace does.
“It is an amazing team of professionals who work together to help improve the lives of those who have mental health difficulties.
“Most of all it has created a safe environment for people to express themselves.
“I believe that all agencies should become aware of the work that Mindspace offers.”
This service, which offers free side-by-side support to people living with or experiencing mental health challenges, has now expanded from Perth into rural areas of Perth and Kinross – Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Kinross, Crieff, Comrie and Pitlochry - with local peer support workers based in each of those areas.
Members of the Young People’s Recovery College team will be on hand to provide information about their service, which offers young people aged eight to 18 the opportunity to learn about mental health and explore practical coping strategies.
