Highland mental health talk tackles 'unwanted visitor' and offers inspiring advice for those struggling to cope
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A PERSONAL trainer recently shared his latest look at mental health with a packed audience at Eden Court.
Alan Goodwin’s talk at the Inverness venue’s OneTouch Theatre was the latest in his Mental Health Matters: The Unwanted Visitor series.
The 43-year-old took to the stage for the third time to discuss his personal experience with depression and strategies he has used to overcome it.
Mr Goodwin talked the audience through his tumultuous childhood, and his experience of a mental breakdown which ultimately forced him to confront “the unwanted visitor” that was his condition and to work on making himself better.
The poignant speech saw him deliver a number of powerful lines, reminding the audience that “you survive your pain by facing it”.
Mr Goodwin advocates the benefits of good habits, working on fitness and health, surrounding yourself with friends and most importantly, confronting your own feelings.
Recognising and accepting your experience was important, he said, followed by sharing that experience with someone, as “no feeling is permanent”.
Mr Goodwin was delighted with how the event went, and as well as hopefully helping other people said he found a personal release in delivering the presentation too.
“It’s good for me, it’s part of my healing, and with each talk I do I get that little bit more confident,” he said.
“I hope people take away the strategy that there are things that we can do and we don’t have to live under the dominion of mental health.
“There are things you can do to empower yourself. We can normalise it and talk about it.”
After his talk, Mr Goodwin was joined on stage by Highland MSP Emma Roddick, who has also advocated for mental health in her position, and Sarah Pickett, who helps at James Support Group for families of people who committed suicide.
Sponsored by GA Barnie, Mr Goodwin is already working on the next instalment.
“It’s clearly something there is a need for,” he said.
“As long as there are people listening I will keep on talking,” he added.
