What is Foolish Optimism? Firstly, Foolish Optimism is a national conversation about young people, mental health and hope. But it more than just a conversation. This film explores what Foolish Optimism means to some of the people who have driven it forward to date. The following is an excerpt from The Foolish Optimism Report “…Foolish …
This episode was recorded at the Care Review Roadshow in Dundee by Leigh Addis on 28th September 2019. Foolish Optimism has been a frequent contributor to the care review, and it was great to get an opportunity to talk to some of the most influential voices on what was, for many of us, home turf. …
This post contains powerful imagery which may be distressing for some readers. Zoe is one of the voices featured in the original Foolish Optimism film, and in the follow-up Hello Again. In my mind there’s no such thing as ‘recovered’, only ‘recovering’. Because once something has weaselled its way into your life, starting out guising …
Hello Again is the fourth film in the Hope in Action suite of films. In this film, we get an update from the three young people whose stories were shared so powerfully in the original Foolish Optimism film. Zoe, Chris, and Andrew have each been on their own journeys in the past 12 months, and …
…Your days are like pages, the chapters unread, you have to keep turning, your book has no end… Glass Hearts, Of Mice and Men These lyrics have always struck a chord with me, sitting in the coffee shop I frequent almost more than some of the staff, watching people living their lives. Stories being shared …
Featuring Leigh Addis and Michael Elliot with Dylan Hood and Becca Grieg of Art Angel exploring Hope (Do It Yourself). Art Angel is an arts mental health charity based in Dundee. Recorded at Art Angel Dundee on 19 of September 2019, and produced by Erin Schepers.
An Artist can show things that other people are terrified of expressing Louise Bourgeois Art gives people the opportunity to express themselves, their feelings or internal thoughts where the spoken word feels uncomfortable; it is another form of communication. My practice looks at the themes of mental health through personal poetry, printmaking and installations. Over the …
When I was asked to share my thoughts on hope, I started where anyone else would start. The dictionary! OK, so maybe not where everyone else would start, but it’s where my mind went first, and I think it worked out pretty well. The definition of hope I ended up with was this: A few …
Hope in Action is a film written and narrated by Marc Ferguson, which aims to provide some insight into the practical steps we can take to bring hope into our lives. Hope, Marc says, is not an emotion…but an action. It’s something you do, not something that just happens to you. Take some time to …
Since September 2018, the Foolish Optimism Working Group have been working together to promote open and frank discussion of mental health. From promoting the launch of Foolish Optimism, to touring Scotland together, to continuing the discussion in our communities, we have also become close friends. For many, it has been a profound experience. We asked …
