13 May 2021
Arthritis Action is taking part in Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May), by sharing inspiring stories from our members, expert advice on practicing self-management for physical and mental health, feel-good recipes, and more all through this week.
Starting with a powerful message, member and Arthritis Action Trustee Sarah Vickerstaff shared her top tip for looking after your mental health when living with long-term pain conditions, like osteoarthritis. Remembering to treat yourself is a fantastic way to take stock and acknowledge your experience, while reminding you to practice self-care to help maintain a positive mindset.
We also shared advice on how to build coping strategies for a calmer mind, with our Director of Member Services & Operations, Clinical Hypnotherapist Heather Baumohl-Johnson, from our Online Self-Management Resource.
This week, we also launched a brilliant new Turmeric-Spiced Granola recipe on our channels and website, developed by Nutritionist and living-with-arthritis blogger Kate Lawson with arthritis in mind. This recipe is packed with antioxidants, it is entirely customisable to suit your dietary needs, and is suitable for a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle too!
Finally, we were proud to share Scottish cyclist Josh Quigley’s inspiring story this too this week. Josh recently attempted a Guinness World Record for the longest distance cycled in a week, pledging to raise over £10k for Arthritis Action. Despite injury forcing him to cut his attempt short, he managed to exceed £10k, owing to his incredible spirit and way of connecting with people around him and his supporters.
Josh shared with us his moving story on coping with mental illness and a diagnosis of arthritis at a young age of 28:
“Don’t let your arthritis define you. See it as a new challenge. When I was diagnosed with arthritis, it would have been easy to say ‘Oh no, this is going to get in my way’. Instead, I busied myself with the things I still controlled. It’s worth asking yourself, ‘What goals can I set myself for the coming week, or month, or year?’ Push yourself just a little further than you are right now, and you’ll be surprised what you can still achieve with a body that has arthritis.”
You can stay up-to-date with our activities by following us on our social media channels. To find local mental health services near you, please visit our Mental Health Directory, or visit our Positive Wellbeing page for accessible apps for your phone, helpful websites, interesting podcasts, and inspirational books to help you look after your mental wellbeing.