Not losing sight of the main objective

A message from the Running Scotland 2021 team ahead of their bid to run from John O'Groats to Gretna Green and raise money and awareness for SAMH, Scotland’s mental health charity

16 August, 2021 / indepth
 Paddy Watson  

Whilst we continue training every day for the big Running Scotland challenge, it is important not to forget why we are doing this epic event in the first place.

Mental illness is a huge challenge for public health in Scotland. In any one year it is estimated that around one in three people are affected by some form of mental health condition. It is a pretty safe bet to say that most people know a close family member or friend living with a mental health problem, or indeed may be living with mental health problems themselves.

As dentists and health care professionals, we are absolutely not immune to these problems. It is well reported that dentists often suffer high levels of work-related stress, due to a job that can be regularly both physically and mentally exhausting.

It has also been shown that these issues have been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic, with enhanced stresses and uncertainties. Not forgetting that for everyone, the pandemic has kept us locked indoors, reduced our contact with friends and family, and generally disrupted our regular routines that used to give us some kind of day-to-day normality.

This is why we have decided to undertake this challenge to raise money for SAMH, Scotland’s mental health charity, who have been providing essential mental health support services for adults and young people for the last 90 years. Simply, their goals are to be there for people, promote good mental health, and end stigma and discrimination.

We want people, not just dental professionals, to be able to speak up about mental health. We also firmly believe that exercise and the great outdoors are so important to improving our own lives. You don’t have to run the length of Scotland though! We as a group can all firmly testify that a run after work can sometimes turn a rubbish day into a slightly better one, and sometimes that slight improvement is all that is needed.

One run can change your day. Many runs can change your life.

www.justgiving.com/runningscotland2021

www.samh.org.uk

As always, massive thanks to all our sponsors who are instrumental in allowing this challenge to take place. Running Scotland is kindly supported by: Kalyani Dental Lounge, Extreme Business with Coach Barrow, Rachel Barrow Web and Design, Quintess Denta, Sweden and Martina, PW and Partners, Vision Dental Laboratory, Kitchens International, Biohorizons Camlog, Perioacademy, Tunnocks, Ashley Latter Dental Sales Training, GSS Autocentre, Scottish Dental Study Club).

RunningScotland 2021 is supported by:

Tags: RunningScotland2021

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