Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Morningside Terrace
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Stories of Changing Lives
The Patients’ Council at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital held a very successful launch of their new publication ‘Stories of Changing Lives’ at Craighouse on Friday 15th January. So often, in the past, people, in services, were not given the opportunity to share publicly their experiences. Stories of Changing Lives gives them this voice and the opportunity for us all to learn from what they have to say.
Over ten years ago people who lived in the continuing care wards and hostels of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital faced a change in how they would live and be supported. It was realised that people who were considered to have long term mental illness should be supported to live in the community and have a home of their own. Stories of Changing Lives is based on the experiences of seven people as they share with us how their, and their relatives, lives have changed and what helped to make it happen. Also included are personal contributions and reflections of those who supported people through and beyond the transition whether nurse, social worker, support worker, doctor and the Multi-Agency team. Together they give the reader a valuable insight into how change affects everyone involved in the process, not just the person being supported.
The book tells of how some people embraced the move whilst others were more hesitant yet, thanks to the person centred approach taken by planning and services, people proved it was possible to regain their independence and control of their own lives with support that reflected the pace and support that each individual felt they needed each step of the way.
Patients’ Council member, Lesley Smith, who compiled and edited the book and has her own experience of recovery sums this up in her introduction “when individuals and professionals work together, where the person is central and in the driving seat, positive change happens.” The book isn’t just a record of people moving out of hospital but as Linda Irvine, NHS Lothian Strategic Programme Manager for Mental Health, says “This book tells the extraordinary stories of remarkable people who made huge changes in their lives. It echoes our message that recovery can be a reality for people with a mental health illness. I would challenge everyone to read it and be inspired by what is possible”. Stories of Changing Lives offers hope and inspiration to others whether for their own lives or as they support people on their recovery journeys.
Stories of Changing Lives reinforces what we know about recovery-that it is not just about people surviving but triumphing. That having money, making choices, achieving goals and the importance of friends are all vital to recovery as people are not just their mental health.
Contact the Patients’ Council for copies. Read and be inspired and challenged!
Click on the icon below to open "Stories of Changing Lives" in Adobe PDF format.
Stories of Changing Lives 
The Patients’ Council is a registered charity - Scottish Charity No: SC021800