The ME Association has been providing expert help since 1980. They understand the challenges faced by people with ME/CFS, PVFS, and Long Covid, and believe that nobody should struggle alone. They provide support and information, campaigns and invest in medical research. They're here for you!

Social media handles @meassociation on Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn YouTube

The booklet is available here - https://meassociation.org.uk/product/what-we-do-and-why/

Links to additional information below:

What is SEP?

Silent Elephant Project (SEP) gives marginalised life limiting and long-term health conditions a platform, through creative and interactive projects. ‘An elephant in the room’ is an English-language metaphorical idiom for an obvious problem no one wants to discuss, or a condition no one wants to challenge. This phrase has coined the main objective of the SEP.For more info - http://www.silentelephantproject.org/

Over 250,000 people in England and Wales with ME/CFS, with about 2.4 times as many women affected as men. [nice.org.uk]

Russell has been living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) over 20 years. He shares his diagnosis journey and how acceptance was key to surviving his ordeal. Russell enjoys going on walks and spending time with his dog Buster. You can read about Russell’s story - Surviving ME/CFS

We hope you enjoy this episode.

In this series: Getting to Know ME, we will explore what it's like living with a life-limiting condition ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). We will also reflect on the impact of living with a chronic health condition, hear from those with lived experiences and hear from specialists on their experiences treating this condition.

What is SEP?

Silent Elephant Project (SEP) gives marginalised life limiting and long-term health conditions a platform, through creative and interactive projects. ‘An elephant in the room’ is an English-language metaphorical idiom for an obvious problem no one wants to discuss, or a condition no one wants to challenge. This phrase has coined the main objective of the SEP.

For more info - http://www.silentelephantproject.org/

If both parents have the gene, there's a 1 in 4 chance of each child they have being born with sickle cell disease. [NHS UK]

Today’s episode is with Kelvin, a young man from London with an impressive attitude towards living life to the fullest. He was diagnosed with Sickle Cell at the young age of 5, and now at 25 years, he believes in keeping your mind at peace.

Social handles:

Books:

We hope you enjoy this episode

What is SEP?

About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected at an early stage. [NHS UK]

Anna shares with us her Breast Cancer diagnosis journey and the amazing people in her life that helped her cope through the ordeal. Anna still finds time to dedicate her passion for nature and helping others achieve their potential. She is a true believer in living your life in harmony with thy self.

Checkout links to some of her projects:

We hope you enjoy this episode.

What is SEP?

75% of deaths registered as suicide in England and Wales in 2019 were among men. [mind.org.uk]

John and Fidelis have a catch up after filming production of Pretend (a mini series exploring men's mental health). They share their experiences of dealing with mental health, how they found being on set and embodying characters for the screenplay.

Checkout the link to learn more and stay up to date or be involved in future developments of this mini-series 👉 https://linktr.ee/Pretendless

We hope you enjoy this episode.

What is SEP?

Javeno is passionate about creating an inclusive space for people in the community. He recalls one committed client named Brenda who's enthusiasm and love of the sessions helped spread the word which led to greater numbers of people participating. Javeno is committed to empowering individuals achieve greatness in health by providing access to tailored fitness sessions at J7 Health Centre in Higher Blackley, Manchester. In this episode, Javeno shares his life's journey, challenges faced during the pandemic lockdown and how he managed to stay committed to his vision.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Mental health problems are common, with 1 in 6 adults reporting a common mental health disorder.

Kondwani speaks with Johnny (John) about his life & work in the community of Charlestown ward, Manchester. He shares the impact of mental wellbeing and the importance to seek support.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as ‘a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

For more info - http://www.silentelephantproject.org/

In this series: Getting to Know ME, we will explore what it's like living with a life-limiting condition ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). We will also reflect on the impact of living with a chronic health condition, hear from those with lived experiences and hear from specialists on their experiences treating this condition.

Emma (aka Poss) lives in New Zealand and loves being creative, gaming and spending time with her cat. She shares what it's like living with ME/CFS for 12 years whilst balancing other health conditions including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). She also finds time to run an amazing Discord community offering support from lived experiences. You can connect via:

We hope you enjoy this episode.

What is SEP?

Silent Elephant Project (SEP) gives marginalised life limiting and long-term health conditions a platform, through creative and interactive projects. ‘An elephant in the room’ is an English-language metaphorical idiom for an obvious problem no one wants to discuss, or a condition no one wants to challenge. This phrase has coined the main objective of the SEP.

For more info - http://www.silentelephantproject.org/

Research shows that "only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men". Kondwani chats with Nathaniel on why Depression could be affecting men differently and what creative tools could be used to explore this further.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

A person with a long term health condition spend 3 hours a year on average with a health care professional, for the remaining 8757 hours in the year we are on our own to look after yourself. Babz speaks with Dr. Tammy, a Qualified Counselling Psychologist, on the power of self reflection from a health perspective, especially for Minority groups.