Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

In just two days, on Tuesday 14th, we're holding a special Wellbeing and Fundraising event at Manchester Carers Centre. We've gots lots of stall holders with information on their services, a fantastic raffle, a bring and buy sale (so don't forget to bring something), tasty nibbles and lots of taster sessions including confidence booster sessions and mini massages. Come along any time between 11.30 and 4.30. Hope to see you there!

The NHS North West Board has approved the capital funding for Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust's Inpatient Pathway Redesign (IPR) Project. See the Trust's website for more information about this . This means that the Trust will now proceed with plans to relocate its inpatient services to two sites from the current three. The change will result in the inpatient beds that are currently at Edale House at Manchester Royal Infirmary being relocated to Park House on the North Manchester General Hospital site. The Trust says: "This will give us unprecedented opportunities to improve care to our service users and their carers." When the Trust announced its intention to close the inpatient unit at MRI we wrote to the Manchester Evening News to express our concerns about the extra burden this would place on some carers in terms of extra travelling time. The Trust's latest communication about the IPR states that: "The work in addressing concerns about ...

The world of mental health can sometimes feel full of debate about service provision with little space left for creativity and free thinking. That's why I always enjoy hearing from organisations like Asylum or arts organisations that open up debate and challenge thinking in ways that conversations about statutory services - however important - just can't. So I was interested to find an email in my inbox this week from an outfit called Laced Banana. They describe themselves as "a theatre production company creating socially relevant theatre that aims to educate, inform and open minds." They've just finished a production called Blowing Whistles, a play about what it's like to be a gay man in 2011.They're now on the look out for people who have had experience of mental health problems to help put together their next production. Here are the details on exactly what Amy and the team at Laced Banana would like your help on: 1. A new full-length verbatim p...

CareLoop: a mobile phone system for monitoring mental health and supporting self-management It’s common for service users with severe mental health problems to experience a range of distressing symptoms, which can change depending on levels of stress and a range of things. When these symptoms become worse it’s often hard to monitor them, it can be difficult to access help, and sometimes results in you having to go into hospital. This study is seeing whether you can monitor your mental health through the use of telephones. Normally you would see a doctor, nurse or other health professional every few weeks and they would ask you questions about how you are feeling. This means sometimes things are forgotten. It is hoped that with a telephone system symptoms are recorded as they are happening (like a living diary). This might it easier to discuss your thoughts and feelings with health care workers; it might also mean that when you are becoming unwell more support could be provided to s...

Apologies, but I've lifted the text of this post from NHS Manchester's website, the current commissioning body in the city. You can read the full article here . GPs in Manchester would like to hear from local people who want to become involved in designing the future of health services in the city National NHS reforms are changing the way health services in Manchester will be planned, arranged and funded in the future. Local GPs are forming ‘Clinical Commissioning Groups’ which will work closely with hospitals, community health services and social care services to organise and develop health services which improve the quality of care available in the city. There are 3 ways people can get involved: 1) Apply to join Patient and Public Advisory Groups. Situated within the Clinical Commissioning Groups and reporting to the Board, these bodies will consist of approximately 12 people who will represent the views of the local community and comment on plans and developments bei...

One of our group members, Irene Harris, is going to lead presentation at our meeting on Wednesday 13 th July . Its subject is how people who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia want to be treated by other people and how the recovery approach can improve the lives of people with psychosis.  It’s about love, hope, the right treatment and support and what we can all do to help. It’s mainly in DVD form with people, service users & carers, speaking for themselves. The presentation will follow with an open discussion so we can share our thoughts. Come and join us from 6 – 7:45pm at Manchester Carers Centre . A ‘walking bus’ leaves from by the taxi rank at Manchester Piccadilly station at 5:30pm.

On Wednesday 8 th June our Rethink Carers group held a ‘Celebration of Self Help’ at The Manchester Carers Centre. Our aim was to invite anyone interested or affected by mental illness to drop in and find out about what we and other groups have to offer in the Manchester area. There was a fantastic turnout and it appeared that those who came along got something out of it – from accessing information, having a free therapy massage or confidence coaching session, or some of the sumptuous food on offer. We even had a ‘sticky wall’ where people wrote on little notes about what it is that makes them feel good and stuck them onto the ‘wall’ For my part, I had amazing day! I gave 1-1 confidence coaching sessions to a number of service users and carers.  What struck me most was how each person’s uniqueness shone through. And even more, how each one of them had shown an incredible inner strength in finding ways to deal with life’s adversities. For example, one person was coming to t...

Here are some photos from our Celebration of Self Help event. We have the wonderful ladies from the Wai Yin Chinese Women Society Tai Chi group, us getting the all-important cake stand ready, and the lovely Lindsey Cree and her daughter! In a moment I'll post all the self-help ideas you can see on the blue sticky wall at the back of the room.

Wednesday 8th June, 2 - 5pm, Manchester Carers Centre Vulcan Mill, Pollard Street M4 7AN Come and join us to celebrate all that Manchester has to offer to help those of us affected by mental illness help ourselves through the bad times and the good! It's a free event and open to anyone with an interest in mental health. No need to book - just turn up. Just drop in any time for: information stalls from Rethink , The Ann Lee Centre , Self Help Services , Anxiety UK , Making Space , Wai Yin Chinese Women Society , Asylum Magazine , Partners of Prisoners and Crazy Diamond Training and Consultancy . healthy snacks and drinks from the wonderful Good Mood Food free coaching and confidence building sessions from Lindsey Cree free massage therapy ...and lots more! For more information call Mary Patel on 07816 754 032 or Manchester Carers Centre on 0161 272 7270.

Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust is supporting a major piece of research at the moment looking at medications adherence/recovery etc. As part of this work they are very keen to involve service users and carers and are looking at this time for expressions of interest from service users to become involved as peer researchers to test out levels of service user satisfaction around specific medications. This would be a really exciting opportunity, and no particular skills or experience is necessary other than an interest in research and a commitment to engaging with other service users as part of the programme. For more information or to register contact: Patrick Cahoon, Associate Director - Service User and Carer Engagement Chorlton House 70 Manchester Road Chorlton-cum-Hardy Manchester M21 9UN Tel: 0161 882 1103 patrick.cahoon@mhsc.nhs.uk

Come and join us to celebrate all that Manchester has to offer to help those of us affected by mental illness help ourselves through the bad times and the good! Wednesday 8th June, 2 - 5pm, Manchester Carers Centre Vulcan Mill, Pollard Street M4 7AN Just drop in any time for: information stalls healthy snacks and drinks free coaching and confidence building sessions free massage therapy ...and lots more! For more information call Mary Patel on 07816 754 032 or Manchester Carers Centre on 0161 272 7270. FREE - display information about your group or offer an activity session Are you a mental health self-help support group in Manchester? Or a statutory, community or voluntary sector provider that offers services to support people to help themselves? Or can you offer an activity session that you think would benefit someone with a mental illness, or carers, such as art, poetry or exercise? We have a limited number of table-top stands for you to display information and a roo...

Despite having high risk factors for life-threatening diseases, people are not getting the health checks or the support they need. In fact, service-users’ physical symptoms often get dismissed by healthcare staff. Service-users have even been denied physical treatment in mainstream facilities because of their mental illness. If you want to take action locally on this issue, the Rethink Campaigns Team is here to help. Come to a Campaign Skills Day where you’ll meet fellow activists, learn about campaign planning, getting your message across, and find out more about the link between physical health and mental health. A skills day is running at The Ethical Property Company, Oldham St, central Manchester, 11am – 4pm on the 4th June. Travel expenses paid. To sign up or find out more visit www.rethink.org/PH email campaigns@rethink.org or call 020 7840 3147.

Our next meeting is this Wednesday, 13th April from 6:00 - 7:45pm, at Manchester Carers Centre. If you are coming into town by public transport then come and meet us by the taxi rank at Manchester Piccadilly station (Fairfield Street side) at 5:30pm. Let Mary know if you are meeting there so we know to look out for you. Number to call is 07816754032. As well as some time for a cup of tea and a chat with other people whose lives are affected by mental illness, we'll be taking a look at what the budget cuts might mean for mental health in Manchester, and help us plan for our AGM in May. Hope to see you there!

Are you affected by mental illness and concerned about budget cuts proposed by Manchester City Council? We are working with Irwin Mitchell solicitors to identify any individuals who are concerned that they will be badly affected by the budget cuts proposed by Manchester City Council. You may be an adult who is: experiencing serious mental health problem or has a physical or learning disabilities and is in receipt of income support the carer of someone in this situation or the parent of a child with physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems. If you are concerned that the proposed cuts might affect the support you receive we would like to hear from you. If you would like to discuss your situation with Irwin Mitchell on an informal basis please contact Mathieu Culverhouse on 0161 838 2390 or by email . Any information you provide will be treated confidentially. As a group we provide a meeting space, support and information for anyone affected by severe mental illness. We...

Our next meeting takes place on Wednesday 9th March 2011, 6 – 7:45pm at Manchester Carers Centre , Vulcan Mill, Pollard Street, Manchester M4 7AN. 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 me (Mary Patel) on 07816 754 032 to let me know you will be coming, so we know to wait for you. Agenda 6pm – 6.15pm: refreshments and welcomes. 6:15 – 6:30pm: introductions and general discussion. 6:30 – 6:50: Hemlata Fletcher from Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust will give an update on the Trust’s recovery work and answer questions. 6:50 – 7:10 : Zeph Curwen and Patrick Cahoon from Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust will give an update on the Trust’s review of day services and answer questions. 7:10 – 7:40: events and campaigns work over the next couple of months. 7:40 – 7:45: any other business.

Lots of events on at the moment. This one from NHS Manchester about an event that has been rearranged from 16th February to 3rd March: Dear Colleagues, Service Users and Carers Further to our first meeting which was held on 25th October at the Town Hall, we are now holding are second meeting this time at our offices at Parkway M2.1 (Boardroom) (map attached) on 3rd March from 14:30 - 16:30. We have arranged this meeting so that we can listen to your views about the development of the integrated Primary Care Mental Health Service in Manchester, as well as agree a way forward of directly involving users and carers in our decision making processes in the future. Refreshments will be available on the day, also please note that there is limited visitor parking at Parkway. If you would like to park here you must book in advance. Alternatively there are a number of buses from the city centre that stop outside, including the 101, 104, 105 and 109. If you park on surrounding streets please be c...

Just received details of an event you might be interested in. The event, which is free and open to everyone, is part of a series called 'Cafe Scientifique' which aims to foster a dialogue between scientists and the community. The one coming up is called 'Understanding Psychosis'. A professor of clinical psychology will give a short presentation, and then open up the floor for questions from the audience. Date:February 23rd 2011 Time: 6 pm Where: Krobar on Oxford road, corner of Dover street (note - NOT the one near the BBC but the one 10 minutes walk south) Title: Understanding psychosis Speaker: Tony Morrison What is this about? Many people have unusual experiences and beliefs, such as hearing voices, seeing visions or believing that others are trying to harm or control them or put thoughts into their head. Some people are troubled by such experiences; others are not. Can we understand why these experiences occur, why they are associated with distress and disability fo...

I've just skim read the Budget Proposals for Manchester City Council's Adults' Directorate , for 2011 / 12. Richard Leese, Leader of the Council, is quite clear that there will be some very, very hard cuts. With planned savings of £109m there's no way there wouldn't be. I'm very wary of drawing conclusions from a quick read of something, but here are the important bits that I could find relating to the provision of mental health services: Rates for mental health provision: projected saving in 2011/12 is £600,000; projected saving in 2012/13 is £600,000 - making a total projected saving over the next two years of £1.2 million. Ouch. Individual budgets (IBs)propose to restrict the cash IB offer, which will make efficiencies of £1.466m. Create an independent review team to promote independence and reduce dependency with savings identified as up to £1.92m. The budget settlement from central government reduces the Supporting People grant by 35% equating to a £12.6m r...

We're fortunate to have some fantastic third sector / civil society mental health organisations here in Manchester. One of these - YASP - which works with young people experiencing mental health problems, has just released a report about the huge challenges that young people accessing YASP services face. As well as drawing out the many difficulties that these young people including poverty, homelessness, debt and frequent harassment, young people talk about their difficult backgrounds including abuse, domestic violence and needing to seek asylum. Despite all of this, one of the biggest problem young people identify is loneliness. “It’s about lack of friends, lack of confidence, feeling singled out, paranoia about people, don’t know what people are thinking or thinking you are weird” – YASP Service User. “I have had no contact with my family in Angola and at first I was terribly homesick, and I still think a lot about things that happened to me in the past, but with the support and ...

While we all know that this is a tough economic climate, we want to make sure people affected by severe mental illness are not unjustly affected by cuts to mental health spending and services. Councils and health trusts are about to sign off their budgets. In order to build up a national picture of cuts to spending on mental health services, Rethink needs your help. We need volunteers to help us track what is happening across the Greater Manchester area. Please let us know what’s happening near you, by finding out what your council and local health trust’s new spending plans are for mental health. You can find out by: Checking your council and Primary Care Trust’s websites to see if information is readily available Calling your local council and ask them how you find out Asking your local PCT's Patient Advice Liaison Services (PALs) or Patient and Public Involvement team - for advice on how to find out about NHS plans for mental health in your area. If you have any information just...