Conference Chairman and Fellowship Patron Richard Holloway in discussion with
Fellowship Chief Executive Mary Weir in Edinburgh City Council Chambers, where
the conference was held.
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Graham gave a moving account of what it was like to suffer from mental
illness as a parent. Before his talk, Lorraine Keith read an equally emotional personal description
of an actual child's perspective.
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Dr Alison Blair gave an account of the issues and dilemmas facing professionals
when working with families where a parent has a mental illness.
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Members of a delegation from Sweden. Gunnar Österlöf
and Göran Granath gave an account of their innovative Kä Project - working
with groups of children and parents.
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The morning session proper concluded
with a description of work with
children and young people nearer home, from
Damian Haasjes of Edinburgh Young Carers Project.
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Just before lunch, the launch took place of One in a Hundred, a book for
children who care brought together by members of NSF (Scotland) Stonehaven Carers
Group.
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The official launch was undertaken by Adam Ingram MSP, who is Chairman
of the Cross Party Group on Mental Health and committed to the promotion
of mental health issues in the Scottish Parliament.
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After lunch four parallel sessions were held, which fed back to a plenary session
seeking a way forward for children who care. Pat Little facilitated
one of the sessions.
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Each delegate received a complimentary copy of One in a Hundred. Here Dale Montgomery of
National Office and Board Member Val Eagelsham are preparing to hand copies out.
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