Mental health staff go the extra mile to help service users set sail towards recovery
Mental health staff will be stepping out on Saturday 12 September for a sponsored walk to fund a challenge for their service users.
Members of the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team based Great Yarmouth will be completing 15 miles, raising money towards the Voyage of Recovery sailing trip.
“We are aiming to raise £8,000 in total to fund this endeavour, which will consist of up to 18 people sailing for six days around the coast of England,” said Edward Bensley, Senior Mental Health Nurse. “Our portion of the voyage will sail from Essex and end in Lymington, Hampshire.”
The challenge is organised by the Cirdan Sailing Trust and takes place aboard the yacht, Faramir. The aim is to teach teamwork, sailing skills, navigation, cooking, cleaning, connecting with nature, inspiring hope and increasing confidence, and everyday boat maintenance - key skills that can be translated into everyday life for those involved.
The trip will include service users under the care of the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, as well as service users under the Therapeutic Interventions for Distressing unusual Experiences Service (TIDES).
“Both teams work with people who have/or are at risk of experiencing a first episode of psychosis, which is a mental health condition causing people to have unusual experiences, hear voices, see things which others do not, have unusual thoughts or feelings which can be frightening and distressing and become socially isolated and paranoid of others,” Edward said.
This project is being led by Mental Health Practitioner Felicity Leighton, who has headed up pervious groups taking part in the challenge. An Early Intervention service from Leicester will also be joining the same leg of the trip.
She said: “Our sailors from previous voyages have tended to feel much more confident in themselves and in their recovery from psychosis and a sense of pride and happiness.
“During the voyages everyone is an equal peer and the camaraderie on board has been very life affirming for individuals. From our last voyage two of our sailors did particularly well with one returning to work in a school setting and receiving an award for being the sailor who made the most progress, another is now volunteering regularly maintaining a local historic sailing boat.
“The lovely yacht we sail on, Faramir, also has links to Lowestoft as part of her was built in the town so there’s an added feeling of affinity with her.”
Edward and the team would love people to join them on any section of their walk and have a link to a map outlining the route. EI Voyage 15 Mile Walk - 25km Walking Route near Northgate (ID: 3341394)
You can donate to the voyage or sponsor the team through Just Giving . ( https://www.justgiving.com/page/early-intervention-voyage-of-recovery )
To see a video demonstrating the impact and the importance of the Voyage, please follow this link: The Voyage to Recovery - YouTube .