Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

Today I've spoken about our Mental Health Wish List campaign at an event organised by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust . The Wish List is our four top priorities for improving services in Manchester - see an earlier blog post that explains it in more detail . We've been asking commissioners and providers to respond. We got nothing from local councillors and had a meeting with commissioners NHS Manchester (who are set to be abolished under the government's health reform plans). However, the most productive response has been from Manchester Mental Health Trust. They're putting together a formal written response, we spoke about the Wish List at their recent AGM, and today have been at their 'Effectiveness Day' to do the same. The best part about today for me was getting new wishes from the audience. Here they are: Wishes about services... Continuity of service – the cumulative impact of closure, such as losing established relationships, are are often ...

In celebration of World Mental Health Day this October, we’re organising an evening event all about putting carers and service users at the heart of mental health. With the government promising to ‘put the patient at the heart’ of healthcare, increasing political interest in professionals, service users and carers working together to ‘co-design’ services, and changes at a local level with the launch of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, the issue of carer and service user involvement is a hot topic. But what will these changes mean in practice and how can carers and service users influence this agenda? Come along to find out more, discuss the issues and input into our campaign for service user and carer involvement. Wednesday 13th October 2010, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Manchester Carers Centre , Vulcan Mill, Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7AN Everyone welcome, food and drink provided Speakers include: Patrick Cahoon from Manchester Mental Heath and Social Care Trust, on the Trust’s new...

Over the past year we've been lobbying mental health providers on four ‘wishes’ for improving services in the area. We’ve been delighted at the response: not only have carers, service users and professionals from across Manchester signed up in support of it, but Manchester Mental Heath and Social Care Trust have agreed to write a formal response. One of the wishes - putting carers and services users at the heart of service design – is high on the political agenda right now with talk of ‘co-design’ of services and the Health White Paper promising to put patients at the heart of our healthcare provision. To explore what this means in practice and how carers and service users can influence this agenda, we're holding an event, ‘Mental health: putting carers and service users at the centre’. With speakers from Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust and more this is a chance to get informed, discuss issues and take part in our campaigning work. The free event will take place...

Next Wednesday, 12th May, we're holding an information evening to explore different perspectives on recovery and how people can recovery - and be supported to recover - from a mental illness. We're delighted to have speakers from The Roby and from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust talk about the work they are doing to support the process of recovery. Meet and socialise with other people who are affected by mental illness, either personally or through a caring or family connection. Everyone welcome – food and drink will be provided. Wednesday 12th May 2010 5:30pm – 7pm Followed by our AGM 7pm – 8pm (all welcome) Manchester Carers Centre Beswick House, Beswick Row Manchester, M4 4PR For more information call Manchester Carers Centre on 0161 835 4090 or email Mary Rayner on maryrayner@hotmail.com . The event is part of our 'Wish List' campaign. We have four wishes for improving services in Manchester...promoting recovery, making services users and carers central to the imp...

At our Christmas party this week we launched our wish list for mental health services in Manchester. We're calling on service users, carers and people who work with us to sign up in support of the wish list. Here's how you can show your support: 1. Follow this link to download the wish list 2. Save it to your computer 3. Add in any comments you have and sign your name (just typing is fine - no need to sign in pen) 4. Email it to me or post it to Ruth Hannan, Manchester Carers Centre, Beswick Row, Manchester M4 4PR At the end of January we'll collect up all the signed wish lists and send them to Manchester City Council, NHS Manchester and Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. The document I've linked to above is a summary version of the wish list, because we thought that not everyone has the time to read through a 10 page document! If you'd like to read the full wish list, click here to download . We don't claim that the wish list is comprehensive or re...

To celebrate the end of 2009 Rethink Manchester Carers in Action have put together a ‘wish list’ of what we’d like mental health provision to look like in Manchester, covering areas such as use of the recovery model and involving carers and service users in staff training. We want to know what else you think should be on the list and would particularly like service users' views. After the event we will be handing the wish list to Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. So whether you’re a service user, carer or professional, we hope you can come along, tell us what else you want on the wish list and join our festive celebration. Wednesday 9th December 2009, 6-8pm Manchester Carers Centre Beswick Row, M4 4PR Buffet food and drinks will be provided Please let us know if you’d like to come Email Mary Rayner, Group Co ordinator: maryrayner@hotmail.com Or call Manchester Carers Centre on 0161 835 4090