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Rosemount team offers vital support

Vic Barlow
12/ 3/2008

WHEN I was invited to be guest speaker at the Road 2 Recovery mental health workshop at Crewe Alexandra FC, I had no idea what to expect.

Even more daunting, I didn’t have a clue what they expected of me. Did 120 guests really want to be regaled with stories from the Express? Not if they came from Crewe. I didn’t think jokes were appropriate, and any medical knowledge I possess can be written on a small prescription.

Five minutes before I took to the stage, I had no idea what I was about to say. So I talked about my own breakdown, the devastating effect it had on my life, and how I eventually recovered.

It went down a lot better than I expected. Unencumbered by professional restraint, I was able to convey my experience in my own words. Seems like it struck a chord.

Peter Wilkinson and his Rosemount team were in great form, organising fun exercises, offering advice and handing out information. Peter made a brilliant presentation that I defy Steve Cougan to top.

There was a wonderfully warm atmosphere around the whole event; the staff were really enthusiastic and the catering was excellent.

It’s good to see some real assistance being offered to the mentally ill. When I had my breakdown there was little or no support whatsoever and look how I turned out. (‘Must we?’...Mrs B).

The views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express

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