En Voyage - Issue #8
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<strong>En</strong> <strong>Voyage</strong><br />
ELAINE WYLLIE<br />
DANDELION FOUDATION FOUNDERS JOCK PETTITT AND MARC WINN<br />
disruptive innovators. How would the<br />
system respond to change? My intentions<br />
were always good: who could not support<br />
a movement to dramatically improve our<br />
community’s mental health, and ultimately<br />
save taxpayers money? After two years<br />
of Thrive 2020, I felt that we had built<br />
enough support from the community,<br />
the Health & Social Care Committee,<br />
and our government, that I could stand<br />
up as a citizen and doctor and lead with<br />
confidence. It is still a highly aspirational<br />
idea – to “solve” mental health – but if<br />
anywhere can do it, I believe Guernsey can.’<br />
It’s exciting to see how many initiatives<br />
have arisen following Thrive 2020. MUG<br />
Men’s Shed is in the process of being<br />
created by dedicated volunteers; based on<br />
the successful UK Men’s Sheds Association<br />
and inspired by a talk by Patrick Abrahams<br />
at Thrive 2016, it will offer a place for men<br />
to share skills and social interaction. Mental<br />
Health First Aid (MHFA) was introduced<br />
by Sue Hayward at the second event, and<br />
MHFA training courses are now being<br />
offered by Guernsey Mind to businesses<br />
and individuals alike. After Dr Melrose<br />
Stewart’s talk on her involvement in the<br />
Channel 4 documentary Nursing Home<br />
for 4 Year Olds, numerous nursing homes<br />
and preschools are working out how to<br />
join forces. The online Guernsey Recovery<br />
Community Group was set up by patients<br />
and staff in partnership, enabling people<br />
to connect and support each other in<br />
mental health and addiction recovery, and<br />
has nearly a thousand members to date.<br />
Shifts in States policy are underway: as<br />
well as the launch of the Mental Health<br />
and Wellbeing Strategy in 2017, the new<br />
Bailiwick education curriculum has been<br />
implemented to promote ‘joyous and<br />
purposeful learning’. People have been<br />
inspired by the speakers to take on their<br />
own projects for the benefit of the whole<br />
island. There are a number of charities,<br />
social movements and other initiatives soon<br />
to be revealed, all inspired by Thrive 2020.<br />
The Dandelion Foundation reminds us<br />
that we don’t need permission to make our<br />
community happier and healthier. One of<br />
the most popular talks at the 2017 event was<br />
by Elaine Wyllie, who introduced the Daily<br />
Mile to schools. Children doing a Daily Mile<br />
in school demonstrated improved fitness,<br />
learning and behaviour. This simple yet<br />
effective initiative has already been adopted<br />
by many Guernsey schools, without the<br />
need for a government directive. Marc,<br />
Greg and Jock have brought in world<br />
resources to inspire us and show us the<br />
way, but making a real difference at a<br />
community level depends on us taking up<br />
the baton, not waiting for government to<br />
provide the resources or lead the way. ‘We<br />
exist to motivate, inspire and accelerate<br />
the process of change,’ says Marc. The<br />
community revolution has already started,<br />
can you help make a difference?<br />
Find out more at dandelion.gg and<br />
thrive2020.org. All the talks from October<br />
2017 can be accessed via thrive2020.org.<br />
36 <strong>En</strong> <strong>Voyage</strong> | Aurigny’s Magazine