Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

A invitation for families, carers and patients who are involved in mental health services to participate in a research study. The study aims to develop a family focused intervention for people experiencing an acute episode of a mental illness under the care of a crisis resolution home treatment team. Participants must: Be over 18 years old Have supported someone who has been admitted to a Crisis Resolution Home Treatment team as a result of a psychotic illness in the past two years Interviews will held either in your own home or at a place arranged by the researcher, which is at a convenient time for you. Each interview will be confidential and will take about 60-90 minutes. All expenses will be reimbursed. This is an important study as the findings may enable us to identify your needs as a family member/carer when supporting someone through an acute mental health episode. The study is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and supported by Manchester Mental

Below is some information about an event taking place in Manchester on the 17th May... Come and join the conversation about Recovery and mental health services in Manchester. The first meeting of the Supporting Recovery in Manchester Network will be held on 17th May 2012 at the Friends Meeting House on Lloyd Street, Manchester. This event is open to anyone who is interested in Recovery, staff, service users, carers and anyone involved with voluntary sector/partner organisation/ Manchester City Council. Professor Rachel Perkins and a peer expert from the national ImROC programme, http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/recovery/recovery_project_team.aspx , will provide a presentation on Co-production: Working Together for Recovery. In the afternoon there will be an opportunity to discuss some of the key themes for the Supporting Recovery in Manchester programme: * Peer support * Recovery Education College * Risk and Recovery * The development of Recovery Pledges for the

It's our next meeting this Wednesday 11th April, from 6 – 7.45pm at Manchester Carers Centre . As well as having a cup of tea and a bite to eat we have guest speaker Valerie Minns who will be taking us through the DWP’s Employment and Support Allowance forms. Please arrive at 6pm as we’ll be starting prompt. If you are travelling by public transport or by foot, a ‘walking bus’ will leave from the taxi rank at Manchester Piccadilly station at 5:30pm. Please call Lindsey Cree on 07757 082976 to let us know you will be coming, so we know to wait for you. If you are travelling by car then free parking is available on Pollard Street after 6pm. If you can't make the meeting you can access a range of information and guidance about ESA on the Rethink Mental Illness website .

For anyone interested in the Schizophrenia Commission, a number of the commissioners recently visited a service delivered by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust to support recovery from a serious mental illness. The services - called Start - is based on the use of art therapy to facilitate a 'journey of self discovery'. You can read more about the service here .