The Mood Project - a voluntary organisation

MOOD (Mental Health Options for Older People with Depression) has been providing weekly groups since 1999 to people aged 55+ living in West Lothian. Traditionally Social Work and Psychiatric services have chosen 65 as the age when people are described as being old but in practice we see people in their late eighties who are not old while on the other hand there are people in their fifties who could be considered to be elderly.

Our group has had over four hundred referrals over the past nine years and we are currently operating eleven groups with a weekly attendance of around seventy people.

Most of our referrals come from the Community Psychiatric Nursing Service, Consultant Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Social Workers. A large percentage of our clients have experienced multiple losses including poor mobility, financial, bereavement, job, role and relocation. These losses often result in loneliness, isolation, poor self esteem, lack of confidence and thoughts of suicide. Older people sometimes find it difficult to re-establish helpful relationships and require a helping hand to integrate back into the community.

MOOD assesses older people and establishes the kind of activities/groups that will help the client to rediscover helpful relationships. MOOD plays a part alongside professionals in offering additional or alternative supports to those provided by the health services. Over the nine and a half years we have existed we have witnessed many people recover from Depression and being able to enjoy living again.

Groups including self help, embroidery/craft, music, local history, photography, bowling, walking and board games contribute to bringing people together to focus on a particular interest but more importantly to meet others and develop helpful relationships.

In addition to meeting new friends and having something to look forward to each week we find that physical activity and fresh air are paramount in promoting emotional and physical well being. Groups are light hearted (laughter is good medicine) and support from within the groups is in evidence every time we meet. At MOOD we have also engaged local schools in joining some of our groups and we have found that intergenerational work has benefits in breaking down barriers, dispelling myths about old age and young people and reducing stigma.

We believe that having Depression and being old is not the end of the road and that life can still be fulfilling with a little help from regular contact with peers.

The Mood Project can be contacted on 01501 749974, write to Answer House, Reveston Lane, Whitburn, West Lothian EH47 8HJ or visit www.moodproject.org