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South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health: The Service User’s Network
www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk
Inside this issue
Suzanne’s Update……………………… 2
Keri’s Random Mumblings…………… 3
Volunteer News ……….……………….. 4
Tracey Reaches Out…………………… 5
Social Care & Health Consultation .... 6
Llama Project….…………………………7
101 Number ..….…………………………7
Inpatient Services Consultation …...8-9
Brendan House ……………………….. 9
Food 4 Thought Café ….. …………...10
SSNMH Members Forums ……….…. 11
Information Directory ………..…12—15
Noticeboard………………………...…. 16
RECYCLE
When you have finished with this
magazine
PLEASE pass it on or recycle it.
NETWORK
NEWS NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTEREST IN MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE
ISSUE 41 Winter 2011
2
Welcome to the Winter issue of
Network News!
I am pleased to report that I have
now been the project
coordinator here at SSNMH for
over a year now. How time flies! I
have met some wonderful people
since coming into post. We are
also pleased to be starting our
own members forums in the new
year (see page 11), so I hope to
meet some more of our members
there! If you are not a member still
come along and join us—it‘s free!
As our development worker Keri
Lawrence reports, 2011 has been
a year of change for mental
health services in Staffordshire.
The biggest forthcoming potential
change being discussed presently
is the proposed change to the
number of inpatient beds— there
is currently a public consultation
taking place. Make sure you have
your say by 5pm, 16th January
2012 and if you are a service
user or carer (and able to get to
Burton) come along to our own
event on 10th January 2012. (see
more info on page 8)
Staffordshire County Council
are also conducting a
consultation about proposed
changes to Health & Social
Care particularly to way they
interact with patients and listen to
their views. This also ends on
16th January 2012, with events in
the new year. See more
information on page 6.
I had a wonderful time at the
llama project celebration day on
3rd October 2011—see the
pictures on page 7. As usual Anna
and team from National Forest
Llama Treks made all project
participants and
visitors very
welcome and fed
us all very nicely!
As I worry people
might think I am
getting a little
obsessed with
putting llamas in the Network
News, as it is the festive season I
have gone for a reindeer this time
(haha)!
I also feel that I should personally
recommend the new Food 4
Thought café in Stafford run by
Quest Day Opportunities, I have
been several times taking all sorts
of people from volunteers,
colleagues, family and friends and
none of us have ever been
disappointed and have scoffed
some very lovely food!
You can see more about
it on page 10.
We are now up to 63
people joining us on our
Facebook page. ‗Liking‘ our page
will mean you get the latest
updates and reminders directly on
your news feed. Visit us on
www.facebook.com/
ssnmentalhealth. Alternatively if
you are a tweeter (like me) then
you can also follow us on Twitter
@ssnmentalhealth. If you
message us via either of these
mechanisms you are likely to
reach me—and I would very much
like hearing from you!
So you are aware, we are
closed from Fri 23rd December
2011 and re-open at 9am on
Tues 3rd January 2012.
I understand this time of year is
not easy for some people,
therefore so you know what is
open over the season we have
enclosed a special Christmas
opening hours schedule with this
issue of Network News. However,
if you do happen to find yourself in
distress please remember that the
Staffordshire Mental Health
Helpline is open as usual and you
can call them for free and
confidentially on 0808 800 2234.
They open 7pm –2am weekdays
and 2pm—2am on weekends.
Finally I wish you all on behalf of
everyone at South Staffordshire
Network for Mental Health a
peaceful festive season and a
happy new year.
Suzanne Cole—Project
Coordinator
Write to me at: South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health, FREEPOST MID 23594, Lichfield,
Staffordshire WS13 6LL or email me on [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP WITH SSNMH IS 100% FREE. JOIN US TODAY!
3
Keri’s Random Mumblings
What a year!!
Back in Issue 36, Autumn 2010,
we reported that we would see a
lot of changes in mental health
services in 2011. Were we wrong?
We‘ll continue to see change in
2012 and we‘ll let you know as
information becomes available. Of
course, the most talked about
potential change is currently the
Consultation on the number of
Inpatient Beds in the area (don‘t
forget to have your say before 16
January 2012 – see page 8). But
hopefully, things will calm down a
bit…
We might see further
improvements too with the
creation of an acute day hospital
service, further provision from
Changes and Richmond
Fellowship as their bank of trained
volunteers grows, introduction of
Wellness Plans by the Trust, and
our new Member‘s Forums – see
p. 11.
I wonder if now is a good time for
people to really have a good think
about who and how they are
getting support with their mental
illness...
This will be useful in two ways –
perhaps there are new services to
you, such as Richmond
Fellowship‘s Life Links, and
Changes:12 Steps to Mental
Health, or new and existing
support groups, like Mid Staffs
Mind, Open Door of Hope
(Lichfield), A Plus & All Saint‘s
Church (Burton).
There might be other things you
haven‘t considered before, such
as Quest (the new café Food 4
Thought is brilliant – fantastic
oatcakes!), Brendan House, Crisis
Resolution & Home Treatment (if
you become very unwell – we
have had mixed reviews, but the
positives are very positive), or
primary mental health (particularly
if you know things aren‘t right, but
don‘t need secondary care).
There might be gaps here – there
might be times where you are not
sure where to go or what to do. If
there are gaps, please talk to your
Care Coordinator (this might be
your CPN) or your GP, social
worker or your Community Link
Worker (if you use Richmond
Fellowship‘s service) or a member
of the Changes Team.
Also, please feed those gaps or
concerns to us so we can feed
this back to the NHS Trusts and
the County Council who fund and
commission many of the services
available to you.
If you would like to speak to me
directly, I visit most of the services
routinely; there will be poster
somewhere at your local service –
talk to the staff or phone our
office, or check the website where
we‘ll let you know the dates/times.
We can also arrange additional
meetings inside or outside of
service venues, if required.
Things I’m currently up to:
Visiting groups on a routine basis – and adding new groups to this list!
Promoting the Consultation on Inpatient Beds – trying to ensure everyone I meet knows about the consultation, the options being discussed and how to feedback
Working on a final meeting regarding the above Consultation in the Burton area, see p. 8
Working towards getting Quest service users information about how the new ‗Contributions‘ Policy may affect them.
Delivering the ‗Jigsaw: Overview of Mental Health Services‘ training on request to groups
Working on a new ‗workshop‘ which may be called ‗Toolbox‘ which explores some of the ideas mentioned above about where people look for support and the potential gaps.
Building closer and stronger partnerships with some of the organisations we work with, supporting them to develop more effective channels of service user involvement.
Keri Lawrence—Development
Worker
4
Camilla, Involvement Champion
– East Staffs District
Camilla leads on a meeting for
inpatients at the Margaret
Stanhope Centre at Burton. This
is a chance for people on the ward
to talk about the services provided
there, things like the catering,
information available, and
activities people can do on the
ward. Camilla is also very active in
the community and wears many
hats in and around Burton!
Stella, Awareness Champion—
Patch Wide
Stella has delivered her fantastic
talk –Fighting Fear and
Discrimination Together‘ to 160
students at Burton & South
Derbyshire College as part of
Mental Health Awareness Week.
She has also trained Tracey to
deliver the talks as you‘ll read
about on the next page.
Stella also supports Camilla with
the Inpatient Meetings at Margaret
Stanhope!
Mark, Information Champion –
Patch Wide
Mark‘s been a volunteer for many
years, supporting with our old
local branch at Penkridge. Now
this group has finished, Mark will
be our Information Champion,
making sure we don‘t miss out on
useful and relevant policies,
strategies and documents that
affect services used by people
with mental illness.
Quynh, Involvement Champion
– Tamworth Borough
―Since I have completed my
degree, I thought it would be best
if I really got involved in the
practical side of things. I have
mainly been attending inpatient
meetings at Margaret Stanhope in
Burton. It has been a brilliant
experience to be able to listen to
what service users think. I have
learnt so much from volunteering
like the inner workings of how
mental health service operate in
South Staffordshire. I hope that I
can continue to learn and apply
my own knowledge as I feel there
is much more to achieve in the
current mental health service. I
am enjoying my time as a
volunteer and I have really
appreciated the positive
encouragement I have been
given.‖
Fred, Involvement Champion –
Stafford Borough
Fred has recently changed his
role to ‗Involvement Champion‘
and is taking the role very
seriously, shadowing Keri on his
visits to Stafford based services. If
you use services in Stafford, you
will start to see more of Fred, who
is friendly, passionate and
informative in the near future.
Mandie, Involvement Champion
– Patch Wide
Mandie is a veteran of the
Network and has many roles and
supporting on lots of different
things, currently Mandie is an
‗Involvement Champion‘ and will
be supporting on our new
Members Forums in the new year
– we‘ll be leaning on her wisdom
and experience to make sure we
get these as useful as possible.
Sarah and Rachel, Roving
Reporters– South Staffs District
These guys have published a
fantastic report on the issues with
travelling around and outside the
district to get to appointments,
meetings and other places to help
manage mental health. This report
has already opened some new
channels for SSNMH and many
people have been interested in
finding out more about it – if you‘d
like to see this, contact the
Network Office or download from
http://
www.ssnmentalhealth.btck.co.uk/
NetworkNewsOtherDownloads
Sarah also gave an impromptu
presentation on Brendan House at
our AGM and has now joined the
Brendan House Steering Group!
Both Rachel and Sarah continue
to support people in the
Wombourne area to have their
views heard.
We are also very excited to have
some new volunteers currently
being trained and starting new
roles in the New Year – we’ll have
an update on their progress in the
next issue!!
Welcome to our new regular feature which makes sure we mention all the
great stuff our committed and fantastic volunteers have been up to!
5
Tracey “Reaches Out” Hi everyone, I‘ve had a great couple of months since my last article. Here‘s what I‘ve been up to: I‘ve been to 3 South Staffordshire community voice forums in Penkridge, Essington and Brewood, which are network opportunities for local groups to get together and share ideas etc. I took copies of the fantastic rural transport report which two of our volunteers Rachel and Sarah have done showing how difficult it can be using public transport in South Staffordshire. The report is written from the perspective of someone with mental health problems who may have been asked to attend an appointment, sign-posted to a service/agency, or has arranged something to support social inclusion. View the report on our website www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk. I have given it to the rural transport partnership and South Staffordshire District Council and I‘m pleased to say it looks as though real consideration of this
report will be taken into account when looking at the planning of rural transport in South Staffs. I‘ve also been supporting Stella with her brilliant ‗fighting fear and discrimination‘ talks and started to deliver them myself. I‘ve also had a meeting with the healthy college manager for South Staffordshire colleges about delivering the talk to learners at all four colleges which I think is a fantastic opportunity to talk about mental health and stigma to young people. I‘m going to meet up with a learner and get some advice about adjusting the talk so it really engages young people and will start rolling this out at the beginning of the year. If anyone knows of any groups (particularly in rural localities) who would be interested in hearing the talk, then please get in touch either by calling me at the office on 01543 301139 (Wed/Thurs), or send me an email at [email protected] . A diary full of these talks would be great, and the more people we can reach, the more awareness we can spread.
I‘ve
been out
and
about
with my
rural outreach posters and
membership forms and have
recently sent them out onto 3 of
the mobile libraries in
Staffordshire, which I‘m really
pleased about as they go to lots of
rural locations and will hopefully
get picked up by quite a few
people. I‘m also on the lookout for
as many community events in
rural locations as possible
happening next year so I can go
along and promote SSNMH, so
again, please get in touch with me
if you hear of any.
Thank you for any ideas and
support you may be able to offer
and for all the support I‘ve had so
far and for making me feel so
welcome.
Supported by Lloyds TSB
Foundation for England &
Wales
Our Annual General Meeting took
place on 2nd November 2011 at
Wade Street Church, Lichfield. A
big thank you
to everyone
who
attended.
Attendees
heard a
presentation
from Debbie Haydon from
Richmond Fellowship (pictured)
about the reality of Brendan
House—a project very dear to our
hearts as it was campaigned for
and named after the late
Brendan Commons our very
first project coordinator.
Anna Otton from National
Forest Llama Treks also
spoke about using llamas for
green therapy which
attendees found very interesting
but I think a few were secretly a
little disappointed there was no
real living llama in attendance!
Sean Hambridge, Chair of
SSNMH said, ―The AGM is a
fantastic opportunity to showcase
the good work the organisation
does every year and meet the
people for whom we serve and
work alongside‖.
Hope you can all make it next
year!
SSNMH’s Annual General Meeting
6
People in Staffordshire are
being asked to make their
views known on radical
new proposals to change
the way the biggest NHS
and social care services in
the county interact and
listen to patients‘ views.
A public consultation on
proposals which could see
a transformation in the
way complaints,
information and feedback
from across Staffordshire‘s
heath and care sector is
handled is underway. The
consultation has been
extended until January
due to high demand.
Staffordshire County
Council is coordinating the
consultation with partners
across the health sector.
Due to a high level of
interest three face to face
consultation events have
now been arranged and
also the closing date for
consultation responses
has been extended to 16th
January 2012 to ensure
everyone has the
opportunity to have their
say.
CANNOCK Monday 9th
January 2012, 6pm start.
The Civic Ball Room,
Beecroft Road, Cannock,
WS12 9SA.
LICHFIELD Tuesday 10th
January 2012, 2pm start,
King Edward VI School,
Upper St John Street,
Lichfield. WS14 9EE
STAFFORD Wednesday
11th January 2012, 6pm
start The David Jones
Centre, 96a Stone Road,
Stafford ST16 2RS
It is important to book your
place in advance on 01785
277502 or email
healthandsocialcareconsultati
You can also take part in
the consultation by filling in
a survey on-line at http://
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/
healthandsocialcareconsul
tation, or emailing your
comments to
healthandsocialcareconsultati
posting it to Health and
Social Care Consultation,
Policy and Performance,
Wedgwood Building,
Tipping Street, Stafford,
ST16 2DH.
Read
er S
ub
mis
sio
n
by C
R (S
ep
t 20
11
)
Helpline
What has the day has got in store Medication for breakfast
And copious amounts of tea The morning dragged on forever
Nothing on TV
The afternoon got no better Anxiousness filled my head Why do people dislike me? That‘s what I seem to fear
The mood hadn‘t changed by evening
Despair took hold again I tried to control my feelings My thoughts raced on again
Later on that evening
I reached inside my bag Pulled out a little card
It said they would listen
And support me when I need them most
Ringing the free phone number Of 0808 800 2234
A friendly voice then answered And listened to what I said
Now feeling well supported
Not judged or criticised My mood now seems more stable
And relax a little more
They said that I could ring them Each night from 7 till 2
Weekend times are different From 2 p.m. till 2
Do you want real
clout for your health
and care?
Remember if you move house or
change any of your contact details you
must let us know so our records are up
to date. Otherwise you will no longer
receive Network News or other
important mailings from SSNMH.
If this applies to you, please let et Karen
know on 01543 301139 or email
7
Staffordshire Police has a new number – 101 - for non-emergency calls.
101 offers one easy way to contact your local police to report non-emergency crimes and disorder or to speak to your local police officers.
Use 101 to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. Such as:
if your car has been stolen
if your property has been damaged or vandalised
where you suspect drug use
or dealing
if you want to report a minor
traffic collision
if you want to provide
information about crime. Calls to 101 (from both landlines
and mobile networks) cost
15 pence per call, no
matter what time of day
you call, or how long you
are on the phone.
Contact your local team—The teams include police sergeants, constables, police community support officers (PCSOs) and special constables, who work closely with local authority colleagues to make your community an even safer place to live.
It's easy to keep in touch with your local beat bobby or PCSO via their digital Airwave radio. Simply:
dial 0300 123 2345 and listen
to the instructions
when prompted enter their
Airwave number (shown next to their photo)
a recorded message asks you
to 'state your name so the call can be announced' - just say your name so the officer knows who's calling
If the officer is on duty, their radio rings like a mobile phone and you'll be connected. If they're off duty or dealing with victims, witnesses or offenders, your call goes to the officer's individual voicemail box.
Remember, in an emergency
dial 999.
The highly successful llama
project has now come to an end.
(Boo hoo!) We held a celebration
event on 3rd October 2011 where
funders of the project Shelley
Brough and Josephine Bowen
from Staffordshire County
Council‘s Community Well-being
Fund came along to meet project
participants and the llamas.
The project allowed 16 people at
Quest Day Opportunities to visit
National Forest Llama Treks in
Barton-under-Needwood once a
week to take part in various
outdoor activities including
feeding, grooming and walking
llamas, caring for other small
animals such as bunnies,
gardening, growing plants and
vegetables, as well cooking
healthy meals with the home-
grown vegetables and many
more other activities.
I know many people have
been disappointed they
could not be involved in
this project, mainly
because they love llamas
but you can visit the
llamas yourself by making
a private booking for a
reasonable charge.
To find out more
information call Anna at
National Forest Llama
Treks on 01283 711702 or 07970
601373, email her on
[email protected] or visit
the website on
www.nationalforesllamatreks.co.uk
More pictures are available on our
facebook page
www,facebook.com/
ssnmentalhealth.
A project funded by:
Keeping
calmer
with
llamas...
8
The much anticipated consultation
for the proposed changes to
mental health inpatient care in
South Staffordshire has finally
arrived. South Staffordshire
Primary Care Trust (PCT) is
working in partnership with South
Staffordshire & Shropshire NHS
Foundation Trust (SSSFT) to
collect opinions from service
users, carers, professionals,
organisations, general public on
their thoughts of the proposed
changes to inpatient services. It
will run from now until 16th
January 2012, any comments
submitted after this date will not
be considered in the analysis.
The document demonstrates the
consideration of various options
for change that (depending on the
option) would affect St Georges
Hospital in Stafford, George Bryan
Centre in Tamworth and Margaret
Stanhope Centre in Burton on
Trent. However, the preferred
option is the removal of all beds at
the Margaret Stanhope Centre.
You can read the full consultation
information and find out how to
have your say by visiting
http://
www.southstaffordshirepct.nhs.uk/
HaveYourSay/form/mental-health-
inpatient-services.asp
If you need to request a printed
copy, please contact 0845 602
6772 ext. 1529 or email
There were three scheduled
public events, where people
attended to find out more and
discuss the proposals.
Up to now, most of the debate has
been surrounding Burton area but
we wish to emphasise that these
proposals affect all of Southern
Staffordshire and encourage
people living in all areas of South
Staffordshire to participate.
We are hosting a Service Users
& Carers meeting on Tuesday
10th January 2012 at 3.30pm—
5.30pm at Burton Caribbean
Association, 346 Uxbridge
Street, Burton upon Trent DE14
3JS for service users and
carers who have not have the
opportunity to have their say,
have thought of something else
to say or simply felt too
uncomfortable to attend the
larger public events.
It will not run like the public
meetings but will act like an
informal drop-in event. Call in,
have a cuppa, have your say
and then you can leave, you do
not have to stay the entire two
hours.
This is a partnership event
between SSNMH, Carers
Association South Staffordshire
and Staffordshire LINk. South
Staffordshire PCT and the JCU
will be there to answer any
questions you may have.
It would be great if you could let
us know if you intend to come
for catering purposes. To
register your interest, or for
more information, please let
Karen know on 01543 301139 or
Things to think about when
having your say
Your views can be positive,
negative or indifferent –
everyone‘s view is entitled
to be heard during the
consultation.
Remember feelings and
facts are different. Of course
feelings are very important,
but if you can, add
examples of what would
happen to you or someone
you care for if any one of the
proposed options happened.
Try to consider how all the
options would affect you, as
well as the preferred option.
Think outside of inpatient
care, the modernisation of
local mental health services
is also about treating more
people in their own homes –
is Crisis Resolution & Home
Treatment Team working for
you or someone you care
for?
IT’S THE LAST CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY! Public consultation on proposed changes to mental health inpatient care
9
For clarification
South Staffordshire Network for
Mental Health is not acting as a
pressure group in this
consultation. It is not our role to
form an opinion; we act as an
independent charity to represent
and feedback service user‘s views
in the most appropriate way.
We attended all public events and
will feedback any comments
captured into the consultation in
the most appropriate way.
We were not be the official
facilitator of the events; SSNMH
will be contributing separately to
this. For an example of how we
have done this in the past, please
view our submission to the PCT
for the consultation of the closure
of Day Centres. http://
www.ssnmentalhealth.btck.co.uk/
Campaign/
EngagementonTrustDayServices
If you want to let us know your
views please get in touch,
however, we encourage all our
members and interested people to
submit your own comments and
suggestions directly to the PCT
via the listed channels in the
consultation document as this will
have the most impact.
We understand in the past
SSNMH has collated views, any
information we have collected up
until now will be submitted to the
PCT for consideration. However, it
is important to continue to submit
your current up-to-date opinions
and stories.
If you wish to be involved in
pressure group activity against the
proposed closure of Margaret
Stanhope Centre, the community
organisation Friends of Margaret
Stanhope are taking this role. You
can contact them through Dr Long
on 07983 864114. The Burton
Mail newspaper is also running a
campaign to ‗save‘ the Margaret
Stanhope Centre.
If there are any pressure groups
acting for St Georges Hospital or
George Bryan Centre, please
make us aware.
I thought I would like to tell you all
of my experience at Brendan
House in the Network News.
When I first arrived there I felt
anxious but
as soon as I
arrived I
was put at
ease by the
member of
staff on duty
and soon
felt at home.
My room
was very nice and the bed was
very good and clean.
The staff have time for you and if
you need to talk to someone they
do not rush you. I found the staff
very kind and caring. When I
really got upset the member of
staff on duty kept an eye on me.
I did not know how much I needed
this stay but if Brendan House
was not there I feel that my bad
time would have got worse.
I would have no hesitation
in going again if needed and
I would recommend
Brendan House to other
service users.
Brendan House is a short term
intervention service offering a
safe space or sanctuary for
people aged 18—65years
living in South Staffs in mental
distress where hospital admission is
not appropriate. People can say there
for 3 nights but must be referred in
the first instance.
For more information please call
Debbie or any of the Brendan House
team at Richmond Fellowship on
01543 899465 or email
brendan.house@richmondfellowship.
org.uk
By Sarah Latham
LET US KNOW WHAT
YOU WANT FROM A
SERVICE USER
INFORMATION PACK
We are just testing the water…
if you were given a service
user information pack:
What sort of things would you
like to see in it?
What format would you want it
in—printed, CD, website?
Let us know your thoughts...
Email us on [email protected]
Telephone 01543 301139
10
Eulogy: Dad The disease of the mind is hard to define
An island separated by an ocean in turmoil
That stops your mind meeting mine
In the early days we swam in a calm blue sea
my sister, my brother and me
We would swim to the shore and rest on the softest
sand
A family together
United hand and hand
But one cold and thunderous volatile grey day
The ocean became angry and swept the family away
A wild and destructive wave came sweeping over me
A family all drowning in sadness
and unpredictability
In your final years and your final days
the sea became calm, we swam through the waves
To rest on the shore on the soft, soft sand
at last we could reach you
united we stand.
I turn to my sister as a bright light begins to shine
I say to her
―I have waited,
it has taken a lifetime
to capture this moment
a moment to sublime.‖
That precious moment when
At last
Dads mind meets mine.
This poem written by Sharon Rose, a published
author from the Tamworth area, is about the life of
her father who from the age of 39 was diagnosed
with schizophrenia, the last two years of his life the
family were able to reach him again as the dad they
knew many years ago. He died at the age of 81 on
18th June this year. This poem was written for his
funeral as part of his Eulogy.
Our Rural Outreach Worker Tracey Hackett met
Sharon on World Mental Health Day at the event at
Tamworth Library.
Visit Sharon‘s website at
www.singlesalsasurvivor.com
If you are having a
wander round Stafford
town centre and in dire
need of a cuppa why not
go and visit the new
Food 4 Thought café on
Tipping Street?
The exciting new project
is run by Quest Day
Opportunities, allowing
up to 48 people
recovering from mental
health issues to work in
the café at one time.
But it‘s not just serving
drinks and food, but also
involvement in
marketing and
promotion, and sourcing
local produce.
On 7th November 2011,
Suzanne Cole our
project coordinator
attended the official
launch where the mayor
of Stafford Councillor
Stan Highfield and
Councillor Matthew Ellis
attended.
Sue Wyke, coordinator
of Quest Day
Opportunities and staff
were very proud of the
service user involvement
in this project and two
service users became a
double-act to give a
touching speech about
how Quest
and this
specific project
has helped
them on the
road to
recovery.
Since the
event,
Suzanne has
visited the café many
times, taking colleagues,
volunteers, friends and
family to experience the
super-tasty food ,
especially the lovely
cake! The atmosphere
and décor in the café is
very modern and
friendly, a home from
home. All food and drink
is reasonably priced.
Food 4 Thought are
experimenting with
opening days and times
to see what suits at the
moment, but every time
Suzanne visits its very
popular which is a good
sign!
01785 249251
11
Christmas Comes
Christmas comes and brings good cheer
With the sound of carols we can hear
The feeling is strong of goodwill
With good intentions that we can instil
Children‘s needs increase to compete
With expensive presents not just for the elite
We share our emotions at this time
When the meals are cooked for us to dine
But have we got the right impression?
In this time of deep recession
When the children sing and rejoice
We all seem to have a single voice
Changing times make one thing clear
That to be left alone is what we fear
Christmas presents and food galore
Prove expensive in fact more than before
Timely reminders of how things should be
Like the shining lights on the Christmas Tree
More faith and respect we should give
For without our Lord we would not live
Praise be for baby Jesus born this time
For one so glorious, for one so fine
Read
er S
ub
mis
sio
n
by M
ike
We
tso
n
Unhappy Birthday
Schizophrenia
It is 100 years since the term
‗schizophrenia‘ was coined. In 1911
Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler coined the
name to describe a distinct condition.
Bleuler‘s term derives from Greek and translates
literally as ‗splitting the mind‘/ He‘d intended it to
describe a separation of functions between
personality, thinking, memory and perception.
Unfortunately schizophrenia is often misinterpreted
as meaning ‗split‘ or ‗multiple‘ personality which is
actually quite a different and very rare mental illness.
A century on from Bleuler‘s important work there is
more understanding of the condition and its effects
but there is still a long way to go. Many individuals
and families affected are still faced with stigma and
discrimination. As part of the 100th anniversary
of the term ‗schizophrenia‘ Rethink Mental
Illness have launched an awareness raising
campaign ‗Unhappy Birthday‘. For further
information visit www.rethink.org/
unhappybirthday
We are very pleased to inform you
that South Staffordshire Network
for Mental Health are starting
membership forums in the new
year. Following a good response
from our Annual Survey, the board
of trustees have agreed for us to
host six meetings per year,
rotating around each local
authority district.
If you are a member of SSNMH
you can come along and give your
views and experiences of local
mental health services, listen to
guest speakers on topics that
matter to you, have input in the
future direction of our
organisation, as well as meet
other members.
Suzanne Cole, our project
coordinator said ―We want to give
our membership the opportunity to
have greater involvement in the
design and delivery of our own
service, these planned forums are
just one mechanism in SSNMH‘s
future development to allow this.‖
If you are not a member of
SSNMH, do not worry, come
along and join on the day.
Membership is 100% free!
The very first meeting will be
held on Monday 27th February
2012, 2.45pm-4.45pm at
Cannock Community Fire
Station, Old Hednesford Road,
Cannock WS11 6LD
We are hoping that at our very
first forum we will be able to
officially sign up to
the Time to
Change campaign—considering
we have been supporting this
national campaign for many years
we thought it was about time we
did!
The dates for 2012 will be
advertised in the spring edition of
Network News. If you have any
ideas or requests for topics to
focus on, please let us know and
we will consider these in our
plans.
For further information, please call
us on 01543 301139 or email us
on
Launching our new Members Forums
12
Mental Health Helpline — Brighter Futures Freephone from landlines and most mobile phones. Time provided for you to talk about your worries and concerns in complete
confidence . Ring Out Service also available through referral.
0808 800 2234 Weekdays 7pm– 2am Weekends 2pm—2am
Work4You Employment Service — Making Space Making Space Work4you is a mental health employment service, covering the whole of Staffordshire (excluding Stoke on Trent) to
help individuals who wish to gain or retain paid work. We will support people who are not yet in employment but wish to do so.
We will also support individuals who are at risk of losing their job because of mental ill health to maintain that role. We offer
training to employers to raise awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with mental ill health in the
workplace.
Staffordshire Business Village, Dyson Way, Stafford. Staffordshire, ST18 0TW 01785 887813
Employment Works — SSSHFT Supporting a stepped approach to employment for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Referral through Care Coordinator only
Foundation House, St George's Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3AG 01785 257888
Brendan House Short Term Intervention Service — Richmond Fellowship Provides a safe space and support in a non medical setting for a short period of up to 3 nights. Offers service users who are in
personal crisis help, support and the opportunity to talk. First stay is Referral Only.
5 Lockett Court, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 5FZ 01543 899465 [email protected]
Asist Advocacy Service One to one support in having your views and opinions heard and understood
CVS Buildings Arthur Street, Chadsmoor, Cannock, WS11 2HD
Chadsmoor: 01543 468588 Burton on Trent: 01283 564772
Stafford: 01785 246709 www.asist.co.uk
Quest Referral Only 2-3 Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2LL, 01785 356784 Office open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
Mid Staffs Mind at Arthur Finlay Centre, 96a Stone Road, Stafford, ST16 2RS
You can drop in to Peer Support on weekdays, Weekend by referral only,
Richmond Fellowship: Stafford Office Suite 2, St. Johns House, Weston Road, Stafford ST16 3RZ, 01785 227 020
Also at Holmcroft Youth & Community Centre, Newland Ave, Stafford,, ST16 1NL
Stone Frank Jordan Hall, Lichfield Street, Stone, ST15 8NE
NFORMATION DIRECTORY—From Dec 2011
Please note: If a service is listed as Referral Only, please contact your GP or Care Coordinator in order to access the service.
All times & venues subject to change, please check with Service Provider before attending for first time.
Stafford Borough
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Mid Staffs
Mind
10am—1pm
Peer Support,
Arthur Finlay
Centre
1.30pm –4,30pm
Women‘s Group
Arthur Finlay Centre
10am—1pm
at Quest
(Referral
10am—1pm
at Quest
(Referral 10am—1pm
Joint Peer
Support,
St Johns
House
Richmond
Fellowship
Life Links
Stafford
Holmcroft
Community
Centre
10am-1pm
Stafford,
10am-1pm
Stone
Stafford
Holmcroft
Community
Centre
1pm—4pm
13
Chase District Mid Staffs Mind Cannock: 28 Manor Avenue, Cannock WS11 1AA, 01543 462907
You can drop in to Peer Support on weekdays, Weekend by Referral Only.
Birth Art Group Brereton & Ravenhall Parish Hall, Main Road, WS15 1DS, 07707 392993
Richmond Fellowship Cannock- Avon Community Centre, Cannock, WS11 1LH
New Cannock Office Opening Soon!!!
Rugeley- St Pauls Church, Lichfield Street, Rugeley, WS15 2EH
Richmond Fellowship’s services by appointment and referral only. One to ones sessions and additional support available outside of
these times.
South Staffordshire District Mid Staffs Mind Wombourne: Community Fire Station, Giggetty Lane, Wombourne, WV5 0AX
Richmond Fellowship Wombourne Community Fire Station, Giggetty Lane, Wombourne, WV5 OAX
Great Wyrley Grt Wyrley Community Centre, Landywood Lane, WS6 6JX
Penkridge Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, ST19 9SD
Codsall Codsall Village Hall, Wolverhampton Road, WV8 1PL
Richmond Fellowship’s services by appointment and referral only. One to ones sessions and additional support available outside of
these times.
NFORMATION DIRECTORY - From Dec 2011
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Mid Staffs Mind
Peer Support and Music Group
1pm—4pm
Badminton
2pm-4pm,
Leisure centre
From 5 Jan:
Oasis:Cannock Fire Station 10am –1pm
Peer Support
1pm-4pm
Support (referral only)
10am –2pm
Support
(referral only)
10am –2pm
Richmond Fellowship
Peer Support, 1 to 1 and Activities
Cannock
11am—2pm
Rugeley
10.30am-1.30pm
Cannock
10am—1pm
Cannock
11am—2pm
Rugeley
10.30am-
1.30pm
Cannock
11am—2pm
Birth Art Group
Alternate Thursdays
1pm –3pm
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Mid Staffs
Mind
Peer Support
1pm-4pm
Richmond
Fellowship
Life Links
Wombourne
Fire Community Room
10am—2pm
Great Wyrley
2pm– 4pm
Codsall
9.30—1pm
Penkridge
2pm-4pm
Wombourne
Hand in Hand
Centre
10am—2pm
Please note: If a service is listed as Referral Only, please contact your GP or Care Coordinator in order to access the service.
All times & venues subject to change, please check with Service Provider before attending for first time.
14
Burton On Trent A Plus Self Help New Baptist Church, Derby Street, Burton on Trent, DE14 2LE Burton and District Mind Wood Street, Burton on Trent, DE14 3AA, 01283 566696 [email protected]
Burton Mind run counselling services by appointment and referral only.
Task Group- Referral Only Unit 20, Imex Business Park, Shobnall Road, DE14 2AU, 01283 546754.
Changes Burton on Trent 222 Branston Road, Burton on Trent, DE14 3BT
01283 500805 [email protected]
Uttoxeter and Surrounds Friendship Group Church House, Bagot Street, Abbots Bromley
Art and Soul Town Hall, Uttoxeter
Changes 23 Carter Street, Uttoxeter, ST14 8EY 01889 567436 [email protected]
Rocester: St Michael‘s Church, Church Lane, Rocester, ST14 5JZ
NFORMATION DIRECTORY– From Dec 2011
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Burton
Groups
– No referral
necessary
'Craft and Chat'
Open to all
All Saints Church
Branston Rd
1pm - 3pm
A Plus Self Help
Open to all
Activities and support
11am to 3pm
£1 entry
New Baptist
Church
Open to all
Derby Street,
Burton
10 am to 4 pm
All Saints
Church
Open to all
Branston Rd,
Burton
11am to 3pm
Changes—
Burton
Office Open
Mon– Fri
10am-3pm
All meets at
Office unless
otherwise
stated
Stretton Mutual
Support Group
Priory Centre,
11am-1pm
Social Activities
Office
Open to All
11.30am-
12.30pm
NOCN Coord’s
Training
Open to All
12.00-2.30pm
Social Walk:
See Office
Mutual Support Group
Adult 18+
6.30-8.30pm Winshill Resource Centre
Canterbury Rd DE15 0HD
Wellness
Workshop
Open to All
9.30am –
12.30pm
Office
NOCN Coord’s
Training
Open to All
6.00pm –8.30pm
New course
starts 4 Jan 12
Mutual Support
Group
Waterside
Advice Shop,
Stapenhill
10am—12 noon
Social
Activities
Open to All
12pm-2pm
Mutual Support
Group 16—25
126 New St
3pm—5pm Mutual Support
Group Adult
Mutual Support
Group
Adult / PY
10.00am-
12.00pm
Mutual Support
Group
Burton Fire
Station
Moor St
12noon—2pm
Starts 6 Jan 12
Mutual
Support
Group
10.30am
—
12.30pm
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Community
Groups
Art and Soul
10am—4pm
Friendship Group
12.30pm—2.30pm
Art and Soul
10am—4pm
Art and Soul
10am—4pm
Art and Soul
10am—4pm
Art and Soul
10am—4pm
Changes—
Uttoxeter
Office Open
Mon– Fri
10am-3pm
Time table
commences
from
3 Jan 12
Wellness Workshop
Open to All
12.00-3.00pm
Mutual Support
Group
18-25years
6.30-8.30pm
Advance
Workshop
9:30am –12.30pm
(Week1 10 Jan 12)
SOCIAL at Office
Open to All
1pm—3pm
NOCN Coord’s
Training
6.30pm - 9pm
Office
Wellness
Workshop
11.30am—2.30pm
Mayfield Memorial
Hall, DE6 2HW
(Week1 18 Jan 12)
Mutual Support
Group
Adult 18+
6.30-8.30pm
Office
NOCN Coord’s Training
10am—12.30pm
SOCIAL at Office
Open to All
1pm—3pm
Wellness Workshop
6.00-9.00pm
Office
(Week1 12 Jan12)
Mutual Support
Group
Adult/PY
10.00am-
12.00pm
Friday Music
Club
7pm—9pm
Last Friday of
the month
Mutual
Support
Group
Adult/PY
10.30am-
12.30pm
Office
closes at
1pm
Changes—
Rocester
Mutual Support
Group
Adult/PY
10.30am-12.30pm
Please note: If a service is listed as Referral Only, please contact your GP or Care Coordinator in order to access the service.
All times & venues subject to change, please check with Service Provider before attending for first time.
15
Lichfield District Changes Burntwood: Unit 8, Old Mining College, Queen St, Chasetown, Burntwood WS7 4QQ 01543 679000
Lichfield: Pavilion, Beacon Park, Beacon Street, WS13 6QZ 01543 309770
Tamworth Trust’s Peer Support Service: Referral Only: C/O Amanda Warman-Bennett, 01827 308820 ext 8626
Changes 6 Lady Bank, Tamworth, B79 7NB 01827 311006
Don’t forget to check our Christmas Supplement which lists the opening
dates of many of the services and groups listed in our directory!
NFORMATION DIRECTORY– From Dec 2011
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Community
Groups
Drop Inn
St John‘s
Community Church
Chase Terrace
Open Door to
Hope
Methodist Church,
Lichfield,
1pm—3pm
Curbourgh
Community Centre
Community Café
9.15am -11.45am
Emmanuel Church
Chase Terrace—not
confirmed
Open Door to Hope
Methodist Church,
7pm –9pm
Methodist
Church
Chase Terrace—
not confirmed
Open Door to
Hope
Methodist
Church, Lichfield,
1pm—3pm
Changes—
Burntwood
Office open
10-3 Mon, Tue
Wed and Fri
Wellness
Programme
12.00noon– 3pm
Adult/PF Peer Sup-
port Group
Adult / PY
10.30am-12.30pm
Social
Activities
10am-12noon
Adult Peer
Support Group
12:30- 2.30pm
Office Closed
Social
Activities
10.00am-
1.00pm
Changes—
Lichfield
Office Open
Mon– Fri
10am-3pm
Wellness
Programme
10.00am - 1.00pm
Social Activities
10am—12noon
Adult/PF Peer Sup-
port Group
Adult / PY
Time for Art
Group
1pm –3pm
Alternate weeks
Adult Peer Sup-
port Group
10.30am-
12.30pm
NOCN
Coordinator
Training
12.30—3 pm
Social
Activities
10.00am-
1.00pm
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Community
Groups
St Editha’s
Church
29 Church St,
Tamworth, B79
7BX
Changes—
Tamworth
Office Open
Mon– Fri
10am-3pm
Mutual Support
Group
(Male Group)
10.30am-12.30pm
Foundation
Wellness
1.00—3.00 pm
Mutual Support
Group
(Female Group)
10am-12noon
NOCN
Coordinator
Training
11.00—1.30 pm
Wellness
Programme
1.30pm—3 pm
Office Open
NOCN
Coordinator
Training
1.15 pm—
3.45pm
Mutual Support
Group (Adult)
5pm - 7pm
Meditation
11am—
12noon
Social
Activities
1pm — pm
Mutual Support
Group (PY/Adult)
10.30am—
12.30pm
Please note: If a service is listed as Referral Only, please contact your GP or Care Coordinator in order to access the service.
All times & venues subject to change, please check with Service Provider before attending for first time.
16
WANTED
NEWS ITEMS, VIEWS, CONCERNS,
IDEAS AND STORIES
This newsletter is the mouthpiece of the
Network, which is read by mental health
service users and providers. As it is
primarily for the mental health service
user, it should reflect this.
Contributions can be made anonymously
if you wish. So if you have anything you
want to say and providing the space and
the laws of libel allow, we will publish it.
Contributions for the next issue of
"Network News" must be received by
9th March 2012.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR ‘NETWORK NEWS’
PROOF READERS FOR YOUR TIME AND
PATIENCE!
Mansell House, 22 Bore Street,
Lichfield, Staffordshire. WS13 6LL
Tel/Fax: (01543) 301139
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk
Registered Charity: 1097461
Company Ltd by Guarantee: 4693666
Comments,
Compliments &
Complaints
We are always trying to improve
on our great work here at the
Network, that means making our ears bigger and our
voices louder!
If you think we can improve on what we do in anyway,
it could regarding the Network News, our visits to
services, the way in which we capture your views or
feedback, or whatever! Our Project Coordinator,
Suzanne Cole, would very much welcome your
thoughts.
Please call the office on 01543 301153
Search for
services, products
and what‘s on
near you.
www.staffordshirecarespurplepages.info
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Staffordshire Network for
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