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Press and Journal
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Dons-mad runner celebrates Scottish Cup win with fitness app sheep design
A north-east man has commemorated Aberdeen's Scottish Cup triumph over Celtic by creating a Dons-themed work of art with his fitness app. Stuart Marr, 41, from Westhill, has been drawing pictures across the parks and pitches of Aberdeen for the past five years with the help of Strava. And the keen Dons fan wanted to celebrate as the club ended their 35-year Scottish Cup trophy drought. He did so by 'drawing' a sheep posing with the cup and the letters 'AFC' while on his 5km run at the city's Hazlehead Park today. In the past, Stuart's Strava designs have included an elf, a guitar-playing Christmas tree and Santa getting stuck in the chimney. The bus driver's work prevented him from getting to the game on Saturday. But he used his latest run to celebrate the momentous moment. 'I still can't believe it,' the lifelong Dons fan said of his side's 4-2 penalty shootout win over Scottish Cup holders Celtic. Stuart was inspired not only by the win, but by Sunday's open top bus trophy parade in the city centre. Between 80,000 and 100,000 people took to the streets to celebrate with the players. Stuart told The Press and Journal: 'There was a great buzz to the city yesterday.' The dad-of-one has been a dedicated runner for the past 25 years. His fitness app has become an increasingly important part of his outings. He created a kilted man to mark Scotland's participation in Euro 2020. And he drew a head with a brain for World Mental Health Day through Strava. One of the most eye-catching designs depicted the Covid virus being jabbed by a vaccination needle. He drew that one back in 2021 while on a 44 minute, 7.57km run around the pitches at Sheddocksley. Stuart hopes the next Scottish Cup celebration for the Dons is not 35 years in the making. Or even 11 years, which was the club's trophy drought prior to winning on Saturday. 'It'd like to say a big thank you to the players and the Aberdeen team,' Stuart said. 'But I hope we don't wait too long for another one.'
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Managing loneliness in older adults: Study suggests a simple social hack
Older adults often face the pandemic of loneliness. The absence of having someone to talk to, do the mundane routine with, share conversations, can make them feel lonely and deprived. However, according to a new study, social networking can help older adults have a better quality of life, than previously known. Also read | Strategies to combat the impact of loneliness on the mental health of elderly The study, led by Lissette Piedra, a professor of social work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and James Iveniuk, a senior research scientist at the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center, was published in the Journal of Aging and Health, which observed how three types of social networking can affect older adults and their perspective on life. For the study, the researchers tracked 1,500 older adults for a decade. The team identified three types of social networking - enriched, focused and restricted – and how each of them helped older adults form their own social networks. Also read | World Mental Health Day 2024: Tips for your parents to mitigate loneliness and holistic approaches to mental wellness The authors observed that older adults who developed enriched social networks, marked by diverse groups, showed more improvement in overall wellbeing. However, older adults in focused and restricted social networks, reported significantly poorer health. Study lead Lissette Piedra said, 'Social isolation and loneliness can have corrosive effects on mental and physical health. Older adults' social circles may shrink due to poor health, loss of loved ones, poverty, discrimination, language barriers or living in rural or unsafe communities.' The study authors added that participants from Black, Hispanic or from other minoritised racial and ethnic groups demonstrated more loneliness than others, but over the course of the study, they developed their social networks. 'If you start off in a restricted network, the likelihood that you're going to move out of it is low. Many people who are vulnerable—such as women and people of color—are more likely to see their social connections decline and become restricted over time,' added Lissette Piedra. Also read | Loneliness is not 'just a first world problem': Why and how widespread is loneliness The study authors noticed that social networks are not fixed. They are a constant flowing source of networking, and with the right opportunity and time, older adults can develop the kind of social network that they find comfortable. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oxford United holds suicide prevention training
Oxford United has delivered its first day of suicide prevention training for all of its players and staff. The club partnered with Baton of Hope in February to become the first professional football club to sign up to the charity's workplace pledge. It was taken on the third anniversary of the death of Oxford United legend Joey Beauchamp, who took his own life at home in Kidlington in 2022. Mike McCarthy, Baton of Hope co-founder, said it was about "opening conversations and getting people to talk". The club's partnership with the charity forms part of its Can We Talk? campaign to tackle the stigma around mental health and suicide. It was launched on World Mental Health Day in October 2024 in partnership with the Joey Beauchamp Foundation. United first team player and Baton of Hope ambassador Will Vaulk, who lost his two grandfathers to suicide, lead the campaign and said he wanted to "have an impact on making a change". Can We Talk? founder Ryan Maher said the club had recognised "through its own past and its own history that there is a real deep connection to suicide with Oxford United and the county". "Footballers are people that people look up to," he said. "There's an audience here of people who are majority men and unfortunately with suicides, the majority of cases are men. "We've already seen such an impact... we are making a difference, which is so amazing. "But we're not going to stop there, we want to improve that." Mr McCarthy, whose son took his own life in February 2021, said men in particular "find it very hard, if not impossible, to open up about the emotional challenges that we all go through". "Unless we normalise conversations about it, nothing's going to change." He said he had found out that employers were "afraid" to tackle the issue. "That's where we come in - we guide and help employers to be able to keep their staff safe and well and to recognise that mental health is every bit as important as physical health," he said. Personnel at team sponsor and heating company Baxi have also taken part in the training. Paul Haynes from the company said he had lost a family member and a good friend to suicide. He said: "It resonated with us... and we feel it's really important that through the power of sport you can help spread the word. "But also within industry, we want to say that it is OK to talk." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Mental health issues 'not weakness' - Oxford coach Oxford United Baton of Hope Joey Beauchamp Foundation
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Oxford United's suicide prevention training 'opens conversations'
Oxford United has delivered its first day of suicide prevention training for all of its players and club partnered with Baton of Hope in February to become the first professional football club to sign up to the charity's workplace was taken on the third anniversary of the death of Oxford United legend Joey Beauchamp, who took his own life at home in Kidlington in McCarthy, Baton of Hope co-founder, said it was about "opening conversations and getting people to talk". The club's partnership with the charity forms part of its Can We Talk? campaign to tackle the stigma around mental health and was launched on World Mental Health Day in October 2024 in partnership with the Joey Beauchamp Foundation. United first team player and Baton of Hope ambassador Will Vaulk, who lost his two grandfathers to suicide, lead the campaign and said he wanted to "have an impact on making a change".Can We Talk? founder Ryan Maher said the club had recognised "through its own past and its own history that there is a real deep connection to suicide with Oxford United and the county"."Footballers are people that people look up to," he said."There's an audience here of people who are majority men and unfortunately with suicides, the majority of cases are men."We've already seen such an impact... we are making a difference, which is so amazing."But we're not going to stop there, we want to improve that." Mr McCarthy, whose son took his own life in February 2021, said men in particular "find it very hard, if not impossible, to open up about the emotional challenges that we all go through"."Unless we normalise conversations about it, nothing's going to change."He said he had found out that employers were "afraid" to tackle the issue."That's where we come in - we guide and help employers to be able to keep their staff safe and well and to recognise that mental health is every bit as important as physical health," he at team sponsor and heating company Baxi have also taken part in the Haynes from the company said he had lost a family member and a good friend to said: "It resonated with us... and we feel it's really important that through the power of sport you can help spread the word."But also within industry, we want to say that it is OK to talk." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Campaign ME
25-03-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
RAPP MENA offers employees remote working week after Eid Al-Fitr long weekend
Creative and customer experience agency RAPP MENA, which is part of the Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, has revealed that its employees will be offered an additional week of work-from-home after the Eid Al-Fitr public holidays in the UAE. The move aims to allow RAPP MENA's employees to rest, recharge and connect with family and loved ones after Ramadan. The initiative also is one of many work-life balance perks offered by the agency in line with the UAE's National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing, which champions workplace policies that enhance quality of life. Curtis Schmidt, CEO of RAPP MENA, said, 'Despite shorter workdays, working during Ramadan, especially for those observing the fast, can be challenging. Granting the Eid Al-Fitr holiday and extending remote work options afterwards is part of our commitment to well-being and work-life balance.' Schmidt added, 'This allows people to plan their time off with more flexibility, travel and spend more downtime to recharge. Investing in our people doesn't just feel good — it drives results. Our team's dedication and performance soar in this supportive environment.' In addition to the Eid Al-Fitr holiday and remote week, RAPP MENA offers two weeks of distant work annually for travel, permanent work-from-home Fridays, and a day off for World Mental Health Day—supporting the UAE's growing emphasis on mental health in the workplace. 'Far from impacting productivity, these employee-focused practices have fuelled dedication, work ethic and performance, proving the value of a nurturing environment,' Schmidt said. Employees also receive birthday leave, a day to celebrate a religious or special occasion and major holidays such as Christmas. Those living far away from the office gain an extra work-from-home day weekly, while staff opting to work from the RAPP Egypt office enjoy an additional remote week. These efforts echo the UAE government's encouragement of flexible work arrangements, seen in national calls for remote work during challenging times, and contribute to the UAE Centennial 2071 goal of building a thriving workforce.
