Richard Adamson
How I got involved with the PSS Wellbeing Centres and Upbeat
I’ve been supported by the PSS Wellbeing Centres for over 15 years. I’ve met many people who have encouraged me and inspired me to try different ways to keep mentally well. These conversations have led me to try and tell my story in many different ways. I’ve tried my hand at writing, performance, artwork, journalism, and songwriting and in doing that I’ve discovered aspects of myself that I have both liked and been surprised by.​ The Upbeat project represents a chance to use the internet to platform these conversations and creations and showcase to a wider audience the benefits of the Wellbeing Centre’s approach to managing mental health.
Why I’m upbeat about Upbeat
The internet is still a relatively new creation and yet there is an imperative to understand it, due to it having so much power in our daily lives. Having an engaging site to tell stories about mental health is useful. However, it’s been the skills I’ve gained since learning about Upbeat, which has helped me navigate other online-related tasks.​ Upbeat has helped with mundane stuff like bills but has also helped me find other independent voices and ideas that are being heard because of the low-cost resource which is the internet. For me, being digitally savvy is a work in progress but I feel it is important not to be too far behind the times. If you get time to look at Upbeat, you’ll find ways to change your life, a small step at a time. Life can definitely be better.
What I’d pack in my self-care suitcase
I’d take a smart device, to keep in touch with the wider world. I would also like to take my pens, coloured pencils, and paper to capture my thoughts and observations in an old-school fashion. Also, my ukulele which I’ve been learning for six years with folk in the Wellbeing Centre and beyond, is a nice-sized musical instrument, as well as a cheerful-sounding friend to have by you when out and about.