{"id":5936,"date":"2024-02-02T14:26:19","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T14:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiberniancf.org\/?p=5936"},"modified":"2024-02-02T14:26:19","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T14:26:19","slug":"sos-january-drop-in-robert-nesbitt-of-samh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiberniancf.org\/sos-january-drop-in-robert-nesbitt-of-samh\/","title":{"rendered":"SoS January Drop-In: Robert Nesbitt of SAMH"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n This drop-in featured a motivational talk by Robert Nesbitt, the Head of Physical Activity and Sport at Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH). Pre-dating the NHS, SAMH have been Scotland\u2019s national mental health charity since 1923 and can trace their roots back to the early 1900s. Throughout his 28 years with SAMH, Robert has been passionate about the work undertaken by the organisation in striving towards a mentally healthy Scotland.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Robert\u2019s audience comprised fans who had been through The Changing Room or attended the monthly drop-ins, as well as Gregor Dow, a SAMH coach responsible for delivering The Changing Room at Hibs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Robert spoke of his pride at having been at the forefront of creating these \u2018safe spaces,\u2019 where men are encouraged to share experiences and develop tools to not only look after their own mental health, but \u2018pay this forward\u2019 to family, friends, and workmates. He described the landscape when he first joined SAMH in 1996, aged 23, providing one-on-one support in Dumbarton.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back then, the stigma associated with mental health meant denial or remaining silent while trying to cope were the \u2018default modes.\u2019 He contrasted this with today\u2019s increasing emphasis on positive mental health. Robert gave an insight into his involvement with initiating The Changing Room, when \u2018men in middle years\u2019 were targeted as a demographic particularly prone to \u2018bottling up\u2019 unhealthy feelings. Sport, especially football, was identified as a common denominator that often did <\/em>encourage men to be open.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n