Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

Last Wednesday we held a special event to mark Schizophrenia Awareness Week. Dr Richard Drake came to talk to us about his approach to understanding and treating schizophrenia commission, as well as his involvement in the Innovation Network, the follow up to the Schizophrenia Commission.  Here are group members Dawn, Steve, Lindsey, David and Alan all arriving for the event. Richard gave a fascinating and really informative presentation taking lots of questions from the floor. We had lots of feedback from attendees who said how much they enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone who came and asked questions, and to Richard for such an informative evening. Here's our Chair, Lindsey, introducing Richard.

Rethink Manchester Carers in Action invite you to a special event to mark Schizophrenia Awareness Week Understanding Schizophrenia With Guest Speaker Dr Richard Drake Wednesday 13th November 6 - 7:45pm Manchester Carers Centre Vulcan Mill, 12-18 Pollard Street Manchester M4 7AN Two minutes walk from the New Islington Metrolink stop (Droylsden Line) Free parking available on Pollard Street from 6pm Richard Drake is Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester Institute of Brain, Behaviour & Mental Health and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in Rehabilitation at Manchester Mental Health & Social Care NHS Trust. He will be talking about his research, practice, and on-going involvement with the Schizophrenia Commission. Q&A session will follow. Free entry, though voluntary donations towards our group running costs will be welcomed. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Mar...

Central, North and South Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups have recently consulted on their  commissioning intentions for mental health services. We have responded to the consultation and you can read a copy of our response (pdf) her e. The main focus of our response was asking for greater involvement of carers and service users in the mental health system. You can find the original commissioning intentions document here http://www.manchester.nhs.uk/document_uploads/mental_health/MH%20Commissioning%20Intentions%2013-15.pdf and more information at http://www.manchester.nhs.uk/commissioning/mental-health-commissioning-intentions-2013-15.html .

Our friends over at Making Mental Health Positive have put together this inspiring exhibition of postcards to send a positive message about mental health. It's on at the Lowry, Salford Quays, until 7th November. You can find MMHP at www.facebook.com/MakingMentalHealthPositive or on twitter at @MMHPuk.

Just a quick reminder that it's our regular monthly meeting this Wednesday 9th October, from 6-7.45pm at Manchester Carers Centre . Our speaker is Tom Griffiths from the Work Capability Assessment Action Group. All are very welcome! We'll start with a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Trafford Centre for Independent Living (Trafford CIL) has been awarded funding by Skills for Care to provide free Health and Social Care training for Carers, Personal Assistants and their individual employers. As an experienced provider of training for disabled people and their staff, and as the only provider in the North West to be awarded this funding, the organisation is in a unique position to deliver person-centred training focussed on the needs of disabled people and their immediate support networks. Between July and October 2013, Trafford CIL will initially host twice-weekly sessions at their offices in Sale, as well as a number of outreach sessions within Trafford. The courses cover a range of subjects, from Safer Handling of Medicines and Manual Handling to person centred courses such as Autism, Diabetes, Cerebral Palsy and Dementia. All of the courses are CPD certified and use innovative e-l...