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NSUN news

Five Year Forward View for mental health: what does it means for us?

The Mental Health Taskforce report was published Monday 15th February following the Prime Minister's 'Life Chances' speech and on the same day that BBC One launched its In The Mind season. NSUN was invited to be a member of the Taskforce and was able to use the Members' Manifesto to feed into the consultation process. We have now produced a more in depth analysis of what the  report means and look at how many of the recommendations suggest new and innovative developments and how many  focus on increasing and improving what exists.  Read more here.

Member Blogs

This week, we were contacted online by Gary, who writes about struggling with addictions: 'after around 3 years of social marijuana and alcohol use and abuse, I suffered from severe psychotic mental illness: very oppressive depression, extreme paranoia about my condition, very poor sleeping, fake enthusiasm, self isolation, hopelessness, attempted suicide etc, which continued for around 7½ year'. You can read Gary's story and view the website he's launched here

The Giving Machine

NSUN is raising money via the Giving Machine.

  • You join for free and choose NSUN as a cause to support.
  • You generate commissions by shopping online (over 1,500 retailers including Amazon, Play.com, John Lewis, eBay, Sainsbury’s and Next).
  • The Giving Machine converts your commissions into donations .  You’re raising funds for free!

Click here for the NSUN page.

Previously shared information available online

Please visit our website to find involvement opportunities, jobs and events we shared in previous e-bulletins. This includes our guides to support involvement in reducing the use of restraint in mental health settings.

 
 

Winchester University to host user-led research meeting

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has an active Research and Development Department, which has a Patient and Public Involvement Initiative. 

On 23 March 2016, there will be a meeting from 2pm to 4pm  about User Led Research hosted by University of Winchester. 

If you are interested in User Led Research where the research is run by Service Users, Patients and the public please contact Carolyn Asher,  the PPI Coordinator for Southern Health PPI, know and she can provide you with more details about the meeting.  You can contact Carolyn on c.asher@nhs.net or on 02380 475258.

Reasonable travel expenses can be reimbursed on completion of a form with receipts after the meeting through direct payment to your bank account.

 
 

McMillan 2nd mental health and cancer taskforce engagement event

Have you had cancer and found that the experience impacted on your emotional and mental health? Or perhaps you had pre-existing mental health problems and then developed cancer as well? Have you cared for someone who experienced both cancer and mental health problems?

McMillan are holding a second engagement event for and with people affected by both cancer and mental health problems, on Saturday 2nd April, to get a deeper sense of the issues people feel are important.

To find out more please click here.

 
 

Job opportunity: Family Support Services Manager

Missing People is a lifeline when someone disappears. The charity provides free 24 hour confidential support, help, advice by phone, email, text and online, including the opportunity to reconnect. Missing People is seeking an experienced manager of support services to vulnerable people. This role will play a key role in managing the frontline team supporting missing people and their families, with a lead on family support. You’ll be passionate about providing emotional, practical and therapeutic support and building a community of people living alongside having a missing loved one.

SALARY: £30,000 - £35,000
HOURS: 35 hours a week
CONTRACT: Permanent
LOCATION: SW London

Closing deadline 21 March

For more information visit:
http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/current-vacancies.html

 
 

A festival of  arts and health

The 5th annual festival of arts and health will bring together artists, clinicians, commissioners and thinkers to explore the myriad ways the arts impact on wellbeing between 13 and 19 June 2016.

The festival is easy to be involved in – you can upload events here: it is a great way to let people know about your work, involve the wider community in what you are doing and generally to celebrate creativity and health.

The deadline for events to be included is 11th March

To find out more please email the organisers |  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook

 
 

CQC strategy consultation

You can still respond to the Care Quality Commission’s consultation on its plans for the next five years as it develops its approach to regulation.

The consultation is open until 14 March. CQC will formally respond to the feedback provided when it publishes its strategy in May.

  • A link to the consultation document Shaping the future can be found here.
  • You can respond to the consultation through this web form or by email strategyconsultation@cqc.org.uk.
  • You can also tweet your thoughts at #cqcstrategy.
 
 

Be ready for RethinkYourMind 2016

Enter this year's visual arts and poetry competition
The next competition launches on World Mental Health Day in October 2016.

The project is free to enter & positive poetry, art & photography will be accepted from this date. You can get more information by getting in touch with RethinkYourMind, using their 'contact us' page

 
 

Unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions reduced in new trial

A trial involving over 1,500 GP practices found that writing to GPs about their antibiotics prescribing resulted in 73,000 fewer prescriptions (a 3.3% reduction) over 6 months. This equates to direct savings of over £92,000 in prescription costs.

Department of Health releases mental health strategic statement

As part of the 'Social work for better mental health' initiative, the Department of Health has released a strategic statement outlining how to improve, develop and sustain social work across the mental health sector. Self-assessment and guidance resources are available alongside the statement document.

 
 

Job opportunity: Employment Support Worker

Healthy Minds Calderdale are currently recruiting for an Employment Support Worker.  Closing date is noon on Friday 18th March 2016.
Job description and person specification are available to download below.

Application process
There are two forms to complete, which must be submitted together:

  1. Monitoring form: this contains your personal details and is kept separate from your application until shortlisting is completed
  2. Application form: please follow directions on the form and address each item on the person specification in your application

You can read more about the role here