Dementia and Alzheimer’s in focus in Huddersfield

Rachel McDonald and Clare Hardman Huddersfield Mental Health Nursing students Rachel McDonald (left) and Clare Hardman

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 13:19:00 BST

5th to 9th October 2015 leading up to World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October

Tommy Whitelaw and Michelle Sanderson Pictured right are presenters at the Rethink Mental Health event Tommy Whitelaw, who spoke about being a carer, and former RAF Medical Support Officer Michelle Sanderson, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, with her assistance dog Mitsy.

IN the run up to World Mental Health Day, the University’s School of Human and Health Sciences, in conjunction with the Huddersfield Students’ Union Health and Well-being Service, is hosting the Festival of Mental Health and Well-being.

Consisting of a series of three events, with the first being held today, the festival tackles the stigma surrounding mental illness and promotes well-being. 

The first, a sold-out event called Rethink Mental Health, has been organised by first-year Mental Health Nursing students Clare Hardman and Rachel McDonald, with the help of Hanna Williamson-Sparks and the University’s Field Leader in Mental Health Nursing, Fiona Trotter.

Taking place at the Yorkshire Children’s Centre in Huddersfield, the event highlights mental health issues faced by real people and takes a look at differing subjects within mental health, from being a full-time carer, through to the challenges of addiction.  The day concludes with a comedy show by Jackie Hagan who describes herself as “a modern day Rainbow Brite” whose motto is “if life is scary, throw some glitter at it”.

The second event, also at the Yorkshire Children’s Centre, is a multi-disciplinary symposium called Dementia in Focus taking place on Thursday 8 October and has been designed to explore issues related to Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Grandma Remember Me poster The symposium will bring individuals, community groups, practitioners and academics together to discuss the impact of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease on modern society and will feature talks from research, practice, carer and living with perspectives.

There is also hope of offering a Dementia Friends Information Session following the close of the event and the organisers are asking for people to indicate if their interest in attending this free session by completing the booking form.

Closing the festival, on Friday 9 October, will be Az2B Theatre’s play Grandma Remember Me?, held in conjunction with Kirklees Council and Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation NHS Trust.

The play is written from the perspective of a young child, Lilly, whose Grandma develops Alzheimer’s.  It explores their changing relationship from Lilly’s initial recognition that there is something wrong with her Grandma, through the unfolding challenges and final acceptance and understanding of the disease.  The play raises awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, supports early intervention, the importance of memories and relationships within our lives and how to keep and treasure them.  It shows how it is possible to “live well” with dementia.

The play runs for 55 minutes followed by an opportunity for a question and answer session with the actors and writer.

Grandma Remember Me? was created in 2012 with support from the Arts Council, FEAST and The Works.  It has toured across the UK, including performances at award-winning theatre The Drum in Birmingham, the Houses of Parliament and a range of theatres and universities in the North of England.

  • Please note that for some events there may be a small fee or donation, see individual events for further details, or contact the University’s Berenice Golding on b.golding@hud.ac.uk.

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