Neil Lennon Helps Publicise SRN Research

Over 150 people joined the Scottish Recovery Network and special guest, former Celtic Captain Neil Lennon to launch the eagerly awaited findings from the Narrative Research Project on the 8th October.

The research draws on the experience of nearly 70 individuals across Scotland to highlight factors that helped and hindered their recovery from long-term mental health problems. At the launch, Lennon added a personal perspective when he shared his experiences of living a highly successful life while coping with periods of depression.

The research report, 'Recovering Mental Health in Scotland', shows that people can and do recover from even the most serious and long-term mental health problems. While recovery is a unique and individual process the research identified a number of common themes including the central role of hope which allowed people to see that it was possible to recover a life beyond illness. These unique experiences have been used to create 'Routes to Recovery', a booklet, which was also launched at the event, providing information, suggestions and a strong message of hope for those who are on the journey.

Common factors found to promote recovery include:

• Forming a positive identity; believing you can recover and forming a new more positive identity can be the first step to recovery.
• Having people around you who believe in you; and seeing and hearing other people in recovery inspires hope.
• Being in control and taking responsibility of your own recovery is important.
• Focusing on positives promotes hope. Having an optimistic outlook and celebrating achievements helps to maintain wellbeing.
• Finding meaning and purpose helps. Involvement in activities such as volunteering, education or work and feeling you are contributing creates sense of worth.
• Finding the right treatment and support to support your needs is key.
• There is no 'one size fits all'; its crucial to find what works for you as an individual.

Commenting on the project Neil Lennon said: "When I first experienced depression I didn't know what had hit me. This research and the work of the Scottish Recovery Network is really important because it lets people know that discovering you have a mental health problem doesn't mean that you can't live a full life. I'm fortunate in that I've always had access to good support but what this does is offer hints, tips and ideas which people can learn from."

Simon Bradstreet, Director at the Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) said: "People who experience mental health problems truly are experts by experience... The research was designed with this in mind and the findings should be a source of hope and optimism to people living with mental illness as well as a valuable resource for friends, families, carers and service providers."

For more information about the Narrative Research Project or to view the complete research report 'Recovering Mental Health in Scotland' and the companion resource 'Routes to Recovery' please visit the  Scottish Recovery Network website.