St Andrew's in the news in November

The month opened with some wonderfully positive news in the form of national news coverage in The Big Issue where Phil Credland, a former Veteran Service user. shared his powerful story. 

In addition to fireworks, November has also become synonymous with men growing moustaches in a bid to raise awareness of their mental health. St Andrew’s joined in the campaign this year teaming up with the Saints, inviting the team to train on the Northampton site.

This achieved some coverage with BBC Radio Northampton and Revolution Radio, both of whom came down to interview players and some patients. The story also made it into the Chronicle and Echo, Northants Life and onto the Saints website.

Integrative psychotherapist and all-round-media star Liz Ritchie secured some national coverage this month, by appearing in the women’s magazine Closer where she talked about how to beat the winter blues.

Liz has also had her comments about how to manoeuvre a relationship in papers in Newcastle, Grimsby, Devon, Nottingham, Plymouth and South Wales. 

This month also saw the launch of another bright star from within St Andrew’s who made her debut into the media. Leanne Thornton is a Healthcare Assistant on Brook ward and has talked openly about her own media health issues, her love for her job and how excited she is to embark upon the Aspire Programme.

Leanne featured in the Nursing Times, AllPost News, UK News Latest, Need to See It News, Business in the News, Healthcare Newsdesk, Daily Business Now, Business in the Midlands, and Wellbeing News.

The St Andrew’s You’re the Jab that I Want song secured some decent media attention with Northants Life and the Chronicle and Echo covering it both online and in the newspaper.

There was also room for our very own ‘Super Mario of maintenance” who was celebrating working at the Charity for 40 years in the Chronicle and Echo – both online and in the paper. Otherwise known as Little Stevie, he also bravely did his first ever radio interview on Revolution.

There was good news for the Occupational Therapy (OT) team in Essex who were celebrating being nominated for an activity award which made it onto the Essex TV website and the publication, In Your Area and UK Daily News.

Meanwhile, Northampton’s OT team also got media coverage appearing in Wellbeing News, the Healthdesk News and AllPost News.

Artwork created by patients which were entered into this year’s Koestler Awards were discussed in an article with the Chronicle and Echo. This gave patient Neelam a great boost as it was her rice elephant picture which was printed.

Specialist physiotherapist Binny Kuriakose from our neuro division gave an interview with the NR Times providing an insight into his role and how he tries to make a difference.

In a separate issue of the same publication forensic and clinical psychologist Dr Vincent Harding discussed how he has gained unparalleled insight into the experience of relationships with people with Huntington's Disease.