NSUN news

Members Blogs

Sent to Atos - Patient from Hell, whom we've already heard from in a previous ebulletin, returns this week with a blog about an experience many can relate to. Earlier this month, Patient From Hell got a letter notifying her that ' the DWP has referred her claim to the now infamous Atos Healthcare for a consultation with a ‘health care professional’

NSUN members action needed to save Number Ten

The Number Ten project is a service user led initiative based in Hounslow.

It is last of its kind, the Hounslow area having seen three similar projects forced into closure due to funding cuts and location redevelopment. Please show your solidarity with other user led projects by taking three steps online.

Support and sign up to 4Pi, the National Involvement Standards

Developed and produced by people with experience of mental ill health, 4Pi (which stands for principles, purpose, presence, process and impact) is a framework for the involvement of service users and carers:  in our own care, in our communities, in service delivery and evaluation and in organisational governance and strategy.  Over 60 orgsanisations have already adopted the standards. To find out who they are, read case studies about 4Pi in practice, and get the resource pack please visit here.

 

Previously shared information available online

Please visit our website to find members projects, 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.

 

Complex dissociation training in Durham

This training is organised by First Person Plural, a small UK-wide registered charity led by abuse survivors with first hand experience of complex dissociative distress.
First Person Plural’s experienced trainers Melanie Goodwin & Kathryn Livingston deliver this two day course to provide an understanding about complex dissociative conditions (DID and related) and explore practical ways of recognising and supporting people who have dissociative identity disorder or similar.

The course runs on 22 and 23 September. For more information please visit First Person Plural's dedicated page

 

Leicester City CCG needs your views on its Equality and Diversity Strategy

 

Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is in the process of developing its new Equality and Diversity Strategy, 'Developing a Vision and Equality objectives'. After a period of Community Engagement, it has developed a draft Vision and a number of equality objectives which will form part of this strategy.

The CCG would like to consult with patients, carers and members of the public on the vision and which equality objectives it should prioritise. The consultation concludes on midnight on 16 September 2016. You can give your views online here.

If you require the survey in another format, please contact Jo Ryder on 0116 295 1123.

 

Chill and Chat Amber Valley

Chill and Chat is a Derbyshire based drop in group for people who due to being alone or isolated find it hard to socialise and find they become housebound.

Chill and Chat now have 35+ membership where they can participate in keep fit, games, visiting advice, support services, day outings and special evening events in a safeand friendly environment.

They accept all referrals from mental health teams, local homes and groups.

Chill and Chat's success continues to grow. They have already enabled people previously unable to use Public Transport to now be able to travel alone or with company.

Next meet up: 25 August, 10.30am to 1.30pm at Mansfield Road Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7JJ - there are more meet up dates planed, please visit this page for more information and contact details.

 

Project DARE! workshops

Project DARE! is a South London based organisation with courses running in Lambeth/ Southwark and Croydon, however participants do not need to live in these boroughs to book a place on the course.

Project DARE! Is a not-for-profit organisation specialising in providing workshops that get participants feeling confident, proud of their body and of course, uber Daring... specialising in working with people experiencing low self-esteem and/or body confidence issues.

The project have workshops due to run in Lambeth and Croydon. For more information, please click here

 

Have you had, or care for someone with, cancer and experience of mental ill health? Share your story!

Macmillan Cancer Support is working to gather personal stories from people living with, or caring for someone with both mental health problems and cancer.

Cancer affects nearly 1 in 2 people during their lifetime, and mental health/emotional wellbeing problems affect 1 in 4 adults during any one year, so there will be lots of people out there with this dual lived experience.

Macmillan’s Mental Health and Cancer Taskforce aims to better understand the needs and ideas for change of people affected by both cancer and mental health problems. The overall aims are to

  • Improve and innovate services, through input of and creative collaboration between experts by experience, Macmillan staff and health professionals
  • Build evidence of the need for better integration of mental and physical health care
  • Raise awareness and influence nationally on these issues

Interested? MacMillan are looking for people who

  • have lived experience of mental health problems and cancer, either living with both themselves, or caring for/having cared for someone who has both themselves
  • are happy to share their story via telephone or email, with a view to improving things for others with mental health problems and cancer in the future
  • would be willing to share their story via interview or e-mail

For more information and a contact email please take a look here

 

Short term courses at Blackfriars Settlement

Free for Southwark residents only: Whole Health Club Tuesdays 9.30-2pm,  starts  Tuesday 23 August 2016 (12 weeks).

Includes 6 weeks of ‘Healthy Cook & Eat programme’ & Access to Gym.  Next course will start in November 2016.

·        Free for anyone on benefits across London:  Writing for Wellbeing Mondays 10am-12 course starts 5th September 2016  (12 weeks)

·        Free for anyone on benefits across London:  Tai Chi Tuesdays 10am-11.15am  course starts  13th September 2016 – (12 weeks)

·        Free for anyone:  Photoshop for Fun Wednesdays 1.30 - 3.30pm  ongoing weekly small group tutorials.

Blackfriars Settlement is located at 1 Rushworth Street, London, SE1 ORB. for more information please contact Renuka Bhakta, mental health and wellbeing project officer, 020 7928 9521 or email

 

Open Dialogue film screening

Open Dialogue is a radical approach to mental illness pioneered in Finland, where initial research has shown high rates of recovery for service users. There is growing interest in the UK, and it is now being extensively trialled in the NHS.

A screening of a documentary film on Open Dialogue has been organised at St George’s Medical School (St George’s Hospital).

Dr Russell Razzaque (Consultant Psychiatrist & Associate Medical Director, NELFT), who is leading one of the teams in the UK pioneering this approach, will give a short introduction on Open Dialogue.

All are welcome!

  • Date: 26 August
  • Time: Please arrive for 18:30. Event begins at 1900. Finish 21:00
  • Venue: Lecture Theatre A, Ground Floor, Hunter Wing, St George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE
 

Help Mind develop a survey

Help Mind better understand people’s experiences of accessing and using primary care and third sector/voluntary mental health services.

Mind plans to run a survey each year to find out where services and access to services need to be improved, and to campaign for improvements where they are needed.

To develop the survey, the Picker Institute (an independent healthcare research charity) is holding a series of discussion groups in Middlesbrough, Stockton, London (Hackney and Lewisham) and Carmarthen, and telephone interviews nationally to explore people’s views of accessing and using these services.

If you would like to apply to take part please follow these instructions

 

Carey Mulligan aims to change global attitudes towards dementia

Actress Carey Mulligan has been appointed first UK Global Dementia Friends Ambassador by Alzheimer’s Society and Jeremy Hunt.
In her new role, Carey will bring both international attention to the benefits of making communities dementia friendly, and a renewed focus on the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme in England.

 

#NSUNthrive campaign

It is 10 years since the 'Doing it for ourselves’ service user conference in Birmingham.  It was at this conference in 2006 that the vision of the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) was taken forward, leading to funding in 2007 and becoming a fully independent organisation in May 2010.

We have survived!  To enable us to continue to connect, communicate and influence, we need your help. Please spread the word to help raise funds to continue our work through our #NSUNthrive10 campaign. You can also raise money by shopping online with the  Giving Machine