Autumn 2014 Is this email not displaying correctly?

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A message from RobWelcome to Healthwatch Southampton’s Mental Health themed newsletter – published to coincide with World Mental Health Day.

It seems mental health has been making headlines recently. There has been a trend in some quarters of the media to comment on the state of funding within mental health services, when compared to physical health services, and this week we have seen national politicians promising extra funding for mental health, to bring down waiting times.

Mental Health is one of the issues prioritised by HWS Strategic Group earlier this year; and I’m pleased to report we’ve made some significant steps forward. Through membership of Southampton’s Health & Wellbeing Board I have been able to raise the concerns that the public, Healthwatch members and local community groups have brought to our attention. The Health & Wellbeing Board have now recommended that this is an area that needs further investigation and plans are now underway to hold a strategic overview later in the year.

This will be an opportunity to bring together the key stakeholders, including service users and their carers, to look at the entirety of the city’s mental health provision, and how it works as a system. The findings from this exercise will inform the commissioning of future services. Healthwatch Southampton will be undertaking a piece of service user research to feed into this review. More information will follow on how you can get involved in this and ensure that your views are heard.

Another area Healthwatch Southampton is involved with is the redesign of the Psychosis Care Pathway, which is being led by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and supported through Wessex Academic Health Science Network. This work aims to improve outcomes for people experiencing psychosis; taking some of the learning from a recent redesign of the stroke care pathway which has greatly improved outcomes for patients.

Healthwatch’s role within this project is to collaborate with Southern Health to ensure meaningful engagement of service users and carers and that their views, experiences and suggestions play a central role within the redesign.

In this issue we are taking the opportunity to highlight positive stories about local people and local action, showing how people can recover from mental health problems and help others to improve their lives.

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Rob KurnHealthwatch Southampton Manager

This thing called hope Life has improved for Julie Hull as she starts on a college course and new job at Southampton’s Recovery College. She tells Healthwatch how her experience of mental health problems and diagnosis of type two bipolar disorder seven years ago have shaped who she is today.

"I have suffered with depression and, since I was 25, had periods of being well and ill. I didn’t realise they were the highs and lows of bipolar.” Julie was diagnosed after a “complete breakdown” which followed erratic behaviour like re-mortgaging the house, going travelling and “other bits and pieces”. The pressures of work and tiredness were all factors in making Julie unwell with the final straw being a relationship breakdown which “pushed me over the edge.”

Julie’s experiences of mental health services in Southampton seems to have been mixed. Initially there were several changes to medication, accompanied side effects including weight gain and a having to see number of different locums. Eventually she was assigned a regular psychiatrist and together they worked on finding suitable medication. “I did a lot of research about bipolar. I would take it to the psychiatrist and I would say this medication isn’t working, what about trying this? Or he would suggest something and I would go away and read up on it and then go back and say whether I was happy to go on it. That helped me make informed decisions.”

It wasn’t until after March 2013 that things began to improve. She had taken a decision to have ECT because she felt she had “nothing else to lose” and had found it to be beneficial. “You go to sleep. You wake up. You feel perfectly normal”. Over 12 treatments and after about a month her depression got better.

Another step forward was going on a Recovery College course called: ‘What is this thing called Hope?’ She was inspired by the course and came away hoping and believing she could get well and would stop fighting the illness. “I finally accepted the bipolar wasn’t going away and I had to live with it.”

“Basically, everything was upwards from then.” She redid her Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), volunteered more and enrolled on an NVQ course. Recently, she applied for, and got, a job as a WRAP Project Support Worker at the Recovery College. She now delivers courses from both a professional and lived experience perspective. “My life has been up and down the whole time. Now it’s stable, it’s so much nicer.”

For more information on the Recovery College visit: http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/health-and-wellbeing/recovery/college/ or phone 023 8082 1229

What is happening on World Mental Health Day? 

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘Living with Schizophrenia’ and there are events happening around the city to raise awareness and debunk stereotypes about the illness.

Organisations including Southampton City Council, the Health and Wellbeing Board, Healthwatch, Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group and health service providers like Southern Health NHS Trust are all involved, recognising the city-wide need to improve understanding and reduce stigma about mental health.When people hear the word schizophrenia, it often conjures up extreme images from films or TV. Actually, schizophrenia is treatable and with the right support people can manage their symptoms and live the life they want.But shockingly, people with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia live up to 20 years less than national average. This is because they are less likely to access support for their physical health.Events on and around World Mental Health Day in Southampton:

• A discussion with mental health workers from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust about schizophrenia on BBC Radio Solent, starting at 7:30am.

• A walk through the common and down to the Central Baptist Church for people with schizophrenia, their friends and carers

• A lunch and debate on mental health, led by Healthwatch, at Central Baptist Church from 12 until 2pm.

• Tea and Talk, and a Recovery Choir – where singing is used to increase wellbeing, at Sembal House in the Polygon from 2.30pm

• An exhibition of information about mental health and schizophrenia, in the Civic Centre all week.

Facts about schizophrenia

• Around 2,700 people live with schizophrenia in Southampton• Around the world, about 1 in 100 people will experience schizophrenia• Schizophrenia could affect anyone, and there are many different factors which could cause

schizophrenia to develop• Schizophrenia usually starts in early adulthood• It does NOT mean you have a ‘split personality’ or that you are likely to be violent• Symptoms of schizophrenia include experiencing things that are not real (hallucinations) or

having unusual beliefs (delusions). Other symptoms include lack of motivation and becoming more withdrawn (it is these symptoms that can have the biggest impact on health, as people are less likely to access support for their physical health).

• Schizophrenia can be treated successfully by medication and therapy

More information about schizophrenia can be found here:http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/S/schizophreniahttp://www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/conditions/schizophrenia

Adult Social Care consultationSouthampton City Council is currently consulting on the way some of its directly provided services, commissioned respite and day care services are delivered.

Consultation affects the following services:

• The closure of Woodside Lodge Residential Home• The re-provision of respite care services for adults with a learning disability, currently provided at Kentish Road• Redesign and re-provision of all the council's in-house day services for those with a learning or physical disability or mental health conditions. This affects a number of services, including those run by the council and independently.

Consultation closes on 23 October 2014

For more information and for ways you can contribute, please visit:

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/health-social-care/consultation.aspx

Herbert Collins House, 5 Northleigh Corner, Wide Lane, Southampton, SO18 2HR

Phone: Adults Customer Services Team on 023 8083 3003Email: providerservices.consultation@southampton.gov.uk

Capable Creatures

Help with mental and physical health can come in many shapes and forms. Over a walk on theCommon, Lise Marron told Healthwatch how she has benefited from being a dog lover to Daithí, a four year old Tricolour Cavalier King Charles.

“Before I got Daithí I was extremely depressed and feeling a complete failure, a waste of space, not caring if I did not wake up in the morning and intensely suicidal. I was struggling to get out of bed in the morning or care for myself as I did not feel I had a purpose or anything to give. I was also feeling very disconnected from the world and unable to interact with others.”

Today, walking through the Common on a sunny autumn day, Lise tells how her anxiety has decreased in recent years and her confidence has grown, which she says is very much down to Daithí and what he has brought to her life. “Daithí’s physical touch and affection helps me feel connected to the world and, in turn, able to participate, whereas before I felt disconnected, isolated and lonely. I find I am more able to interact socially and having him gives me responsibility and a reason to get up.”

Guides for the mind - assistance dogs

Lise now wants others who are affected by mental health conditions to have the opportunity to use and train

dogs as a way to alleviate their disabling symptoms and barriers towards living an independent, fulfilling life.

She has set up a user-led organisation called Capable Creatures, working to develop and implement a

‘Guides for the Mind’ assistance dog programme. Currently, mental health assistance dogs are not

recognised in the UK and this is something Lise wants to see changed. “A dog performing what

are currently classed as ‘emotional supportive tasks’ are not given the same rights as assistance

dogs. Emotional supportive tasks, such as acting as a ‘social lubricant’ to reduce anxiety, need to be

recognised as ‘assistive tasks’, if they mitigate disabling symptoms."

To get involved:

Lise meets dog owners of dog lovers for a walk on the Common at Hawthorns every 4th Tuesday of the

month at 11.45am.

If you would like further information feel free to contact Lise on 023 80559163 or

capablecreatures@btinternet.com

‘One Change’ campaignHealthwatch Southampton has now had over 250 replies to our ‘One Change’ campaign which we launched earlier this

summer. We want to know ‘one change that would improve my health’ in an effort to discover how people think their health can be improved and how this can be supported.

Results so far show that most people think that changes to diet and exercise (see graph below) will most improve their health. The question Healthwatch Southampton aims to ask next is: "What are our services doing to support people to make their changes a reality?"

Thank you for your answers. Please keep them coming by telling us here.

Results so far...

Service User Feedback EventHave you ever experienced psychosis, cared for someone with psychosis or are you a healthcare professional who looks after people with psychosis?

If you can answer yes to any of the above, we really want to hear how you think services could be improved, so that it can help shape future care and change the life of others

We are holding an event on:Date: Friday 17th October 2014Time: 10am -2pmVenue: Southampton Voluntary ServicesKingsland SquareSouthamptonSO14 1NW

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Travel expenses will be reimbursed on the day (please show your ticket)

Please confirm your attendance with: Carolyn Asher, Patient, Carer and PublicInvolvement and Engagement Co-ordinatorTel: 02380 475373 / 02380 475258Mobile: 07795823106Email: Carolyn.Asher@southernhealth.nhs.ukGetting there: http://www.southamptonvs.org.uk/SVS/Voluntary-Action-Centre/How-to-Find-Us

Couch to 5k: more than runningPersonal Story by Janette Smith, Healthwatch Southampton

“Lose weight or we will have to increase your medication.” Those words from my GP were the incentive I needed. I was taking 2 different types of medication to control my hypertension and one for high cholesterol, but my blood pressure was still creeping up.

My diet was pretty healthy - low fat and lots of fruit but like many others I knew that I didn’t do enough exercise. Searching around the internet I discovered the NHS Choices website and in particular the Couch to 5k initiative. The plan is a nine week course of podcasts which gently lead you in a programme 3 times a week, gradually building up your stamina.

So, my husband, Paul, and I took the challenge. The first week began with a brisk 5-minute walk, then alternate 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking, for a total of 20 minutes. One minute of running was a struggle and by the end of the first week we thought we would never make it. But as the

weeks went on it became easier and easier. By about the 6th week we could happily run for an entire 20 minutes. By the end of the course 30 minutes didn’t seem long enough and, it may not have been Olympic standard but, we went on to run five miles easily and even entered a 10K fun run.

Apart from losing two stones in weight and feeling so much fitter I also felt much happier in myself. The biggest benefit, though, was the reduction in my blood pressure. Now I only need to take one tablet to control it and my cholesterol level has also lowered.

Visit http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx for podcasts and further support.

Do you have a story to share?Stories are great encouragers. Why contact us with your story and

encourage someone else.

healthwatch@southamptonvs.org.uk

Mental Health Groups in SouthamptonSouthampton Service User NetworkRepresenting mental health service users across the Southampton area.Venue: Sembal House, Handel Terrace, Polygon, SO15 2FHemail: Info@ssun.org,uk

Depression AllianceMeets every Tuesday 7pm-9pmVenue:Unity 12 CIC, 9-19 Rose Road, Southampton SO14 6TEBryan Palmer. Contact details 07545 187188 - dasouthampton@gmail.com

Bipolar UK – Southampton Support Group

Meets every 2nd Thursday of the monthMeeting time: 7.30pmVenue: St Winifred’s School, 17-19 Winn Road, Portswood, Southampton, SO17 1EJ

Southampton East Ladies Support Group Meets at Bitterne Library on Fridays providing a place for mutual support.If you are interested in finding out more, please contact:Debbie Mussett on sdn99@btinternet.com

SOCO Music ProjectThrough their Adult Learning Programme SOCO Music provide a mental health music groupWeb: http://www.socomusicproject.org.uk/?page_id=182

Creative OptionsA community based project aimed at providing support, encouragement, mentoring, training and opportunities to people with diagnosed mental health issues and others experiencing psychological and emotional distress living in the community. Web: http://www.creativeoptions.btck.co.uk/

HWS Out and About...

Survey at Itchen College enrolment dayHealthwatch Southampton was invited to be part of this year's enrolment day for sixth formers at Itchen College on Monday 8th September.

Thirty young people were asked five questions regarding their health. Sam and Janette took the opportunity to carry out a small health survey whilst making known the work of Healthwatch.

The results are below:

• 8 out of 30 said they didn't have or didn't know if they had a GP• A third said they didn't think at all or much about their health• Getting appointments when they want them was the top answer with regard to better services• Most said they would go to their GP or family for help with their health• Most said their 'One Change' to improve health is diet

Mental Health Awareness Training available Healthwatch Southampton is organising a Mental Health Awareness Training day on Friday 28th November from 9.30am to 3.30pm at Southampton Voluntary Services. It will be delivered by raise! a unique Mental Health and Training and Consultancy company where everyone has experience of mental illness. The aims of the day will be to raise the awareness of mental illness and the stigma surrounding it as well as the impact of a Mental Health diagnoses on individuals within society. The course also looks at promoting and maintaining positive mental health. Healthwatch Southampton has a very limited number of places available for Voluntary and Community Sector members. If you think the day could be of use to you, please get in touch with us. 

Minor Injury Unit

A big thank you to Care UK for making changes

suggested by Healthwatch Southampton to their

leaflet promoting the Minor Injury Unit. The new

leaflet now includes a bigger map, less medical

terms and is generally clearer to read.  Care UK is

currently distributing many thousands of leaflets to

promote the Minor Injury Unit and hopefully one

will be arriving through your letterbox. For further

information, please

visit www.royalsouthhantsmiu.nhs.uk

healthwatch@southamptonvs.org,uk

Working together

Healthwatch Southampton now has an Easy Read leaflet thanks to the lovely members of Busy People at Choices Advocacy. We worked together to produce the above leaflet and are all very pleased with the result.

If you would like some of these leaflets or any other Healthwatch materials please contact us.

Keeping Pace with PainMany thanks to the Southampton based chronic pain support group ‘Keeping Pace With Pain’ for giving Sam the opportunity to visit them and talk about Healthwatch Southampton. The group has been running for 10 years and meets every 3rd Thursday of each month between 1pm and 3pm. They offer an informal setting, guest speaker, easy parking, disabled access and refreshments. All members old and new are welcome.

People needing PeopleFrom time to time we get requests from groups asking for help. Currently Bournemouth University Dementia Institute are looking for people with dementia and their carers to take part in a focus group in Southampton. Click here for more information.

Personal Health Budgets

Did you know that Southampton now has a Personal Health Budgets Advisor? Sonya Collins is based at Southampton Centre for Independent Living Continuing Care(SCILCC) and can help if you would like to find out more about receiving a Personal Health Budget. Please download the leaflet below for more information or contact:

Sonya CollinsTel. 02380 202 2933Fax: 02380 202 945, Minicom: 02380 202 649Email: sonya.collins@southamptoncil.co.uk

Address:SCILCC, unity 12, 9-19 Rose Road, Southampton, SO14 6TE

Please advise if brail, large print, easy read or other language is required.

Please click here for more information.

For more information, please visit their fantastic website - www.keepingpace.co.uk Healthy Southampton

Check out the new Healthy Southampton pages and feeds on Facebook and Twitter...

Giving you and your family some top tips you need to keep healthy. From Public Health at Southampton City Council in partnership with Change4Life.

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