EGN NEWS DESK
With the British Medical Association not too long ago reporting that psychological well being companies usually are not being resourced at a quick sufficient charge to reply to the extent of demand, Reverend Canon Kerry Dixon, a Mission Development Officer in Scotland for Church Army, has reworked his conventional Episcopal church in Dundee right into a lifeline for these struggling with poor psychological well being points, serving to them to keep away from or overcome a ensuing dependancy.
Based in Dundee, a metropolis going through Europe’s highest charges of social housing and drug-related deaths per capita, Kerry has labored tirelessly to develop the Pirate Monks and Pirate Nuns help teams, offering care and steering to these with psychological well being points the place overstretched public companies fall quick, in an effort to intervene earlier than their psychological well being deteriorates into dependancy and/or homelessness.
The cycle of psychological well being and despair just isn’t new to Kerry; with 35 years of expertise, he has seen first-hand how poor psychological well being can result in dependancy, with service customers typically turning to alcohol, medicine or different dangerous behaviours to self-medicate away the emotions of unhappiness and perceived failure.
This situation is commonly made worse by the vicious cycle that’s performed out over and over in Dundee, in addition to many different elements of the UK, the place public companies will not step in till the individual is sober, but they really feel they cannot obtain sobriety till their underlying psychological well being points have been addressed. However, with Kerry’s steering, the outcomes of the 2 help teams has been distinctive, with many utilizing the tailor-made care and steering to show away from their dependancy in direction of functioning lives.
What is exceptional about Pirate Monks and Pirate Nuns is that Kerry has created an area that’s accessible to everybody, irrespective of non secular background. While Christianity is the primary driver for the teams, what’s inbuilt Dundee is a deal with hospitality and constructing real connections between the attendees to assist them navigate their psychological well being challenges.
Kerry commented: “The help that Pirate Monks and Pirate Nuns offers is each emotional and sensible. My goal is to construct an surroundings the place attendees can really feel protected and safe, but in addition heard and understood. While the group is constructed on Christianity, we help all faiths, and we help one another; constructing lasting friendships and connections.
“Practically, I present important gadgets like clothes and entry to foodbanks, but in addition assist out by supporting them via the method of getting a everlasting place to dwell through the council. And when they’re moved into lodging, I assist out with DIY – not too long ago I used to be laying carpets and becoming a bathe for certainly one of our group.
“Building the belief of the individuals who depend on the 2 teams is significant, and to construct that belief I’ve not solely taken them away on weekend retreat, but in addition engaged in symbolic gestures like a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday.”
You can discover out extra about Pirate Monks on Church Army’s web site at this hyperlink.
