For any readers of this blog who are interested in the progress of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust's Foundation Trust application, the news is that they have just passed the Department of Health stage. There are various hurdles to overcome to gain Foundation Trust status and this means that the Trust will now progress on to the next one, which is financial scrutiny by Monitor, the regulator for Foundation Trusts in England. More information about all this is available in MMHSCT's latest newsletter. More information about what becoming a Foundation Trust means is available on MMHSCT's Foundation Trust microsite as well as on the Monitor website.
We had our 'Bring and Share' event tonight and as well as eating too much chocolate (again) I've come away feeling really inspired. We talked about all the skills, experience and knowledge that we've gained by either coping with having a mental illness, or though caring for a loved one who has been very ill. You can see all the ideas we jotted down from the discussion - from coming to understand your limitations (and that these can change), to developing patience, coping strategies and learning how to think positively. We understand how mental health services work and different illnesses themselves. It struck me, particularly from the people in the room who themselves have to deal with what can be devastating mental illnesses, that we're a pretty skilled bunch of people. For some, mental illness forces a process of self examination - and eventually self awareness - that is painful but hugely illuminating. It's a process that many of us won't have to go throu...
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