NSUN news

Booking is now closed for our annual gathering in Birmingham on 8 June. We're keeping a waiting list in case people cancel. Everyone at NSUN is looking forwards to seeing you at the event.

Member Blogs

52 Small steps to happiness - Vittoria De Meo is a Motivational Speaker (Engage*Empower*Inspire), an Advisor to West London Mental Health Commissioning Board and a member of our leadership group Mad Alliance (where 'mad' is a tongue-in-cheek acronym for 'making a difference'). Recently, she attended a presentation by an author who just published a book on happiness. Vittoria shares her enthusiasm about the writer and the book.

Doctor induced addictions - Bob Johnson went to listen to anti psychiatry activist and journalist Robert Whitaker, who was invited by the Chy Sawel organisation to make a presentation. The speech covered a recent history of doctor induced addictions. Bob Johnson shares his notes.

#NSUNthrive10 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. We want to continue to communicate weekly with over 5000 people. 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

 

Healthy Lives London project

How do you think improvements can be made to the physical health and physical wellbeing of people diagnosed with serious (enduring) mental illnesses?

NSUN has been commissioned by the Healthy London Partnership mental health programme to create an engagement opportunity with Londoners.

This is a paid opportunity to influence guidance and best practice documentation designed to improve people’s physical health.

Are you someone who has been diagnosed with a serious (enduring) mental illness, or are a family member or unpaid carer, live in London?

If you are available to attend two workshop days with health professionals on the following dates:

Wednesday 15th June
Wednesday 8th July

To find out more and to apply click here.

There is also an opportunity to complete a questionnaire.

Please complete this if questionnaire you are someone who has been diagnosed with a serious (enduring) mental illness.

Please complete this questionnaire if you are a family member or unpaid carer.

 

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.

 

Peer Academy open for applications

NHS England’s Personal Health Budget Team and the Integrated Personal Commissioning Programme are currently welcoming applications from patients, carers and families to join their Peer Leadership Academy for 2016/17.

Closing date: 6 June.

For more information please click here

 

Important research projects and upcoming events

We already shared these with you in previous editions. You can still take part in the research projects and register for the events. Don't miss out! Click on the titles for more information.

Reasearch / involvement projects:

Events - some with discounts for NSUN members:

 

Study: physical health care planning in mental health services

Many mental health policy documents state that involving service users and carers in care planning is fundamental to improving the quality of their care. However, there is substantial evidence that this does not always happen.

The aim of this study is to develop a questionnaire or ‘measure’ to help find out if you have been adequately involved in your physical health care plan in mental health services (or the care plan of somebody you care for).

For more information and how to take part, please take a look here

 

Coproduction in mental health international seminar

Middlesex University Centre for Co-production in Mental Health Inaugural International Seminar: ‘Insider, Outsider, Impostor?’ Perspectives of mental health service user and survivor researchers and teachers on co-production in academia.

Date: Monday 18 July
Venue: Room C114, College Building, Hendon Campus, Middlesex University London NW4 4BT

Service users and survivors are vital partners in mental health research and teaching. Experiential expertise is more important than ever for creating effective, inclusive mental health support. Co-production is emerging as a powerful way to approach equal partnership working between practitioners and service users across mental health.

This international seminar launches the Centre for Co-Production in Mental Health at Middlesex University and explores the wide range of issues and agendas for co-production in mental health and academia.

For more information  and book your place please visit here

 

Employment opportunity: Community Navigators

Employer: Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust
Department: Community Navigation
Location: St Pancras Hospital (CDAT Team), London
Salary: £23,375 to £26,949 pa pro rata incl HCAS

Are you:
• Friendly, positive and good at connecting with other people?
• Skilled and experienced at supporting people?
• Good at finding local resources and activities?

If so, a job as a Community Navigator may be for you. These innovative posts involve supporting people to become less lonely and to develop more social contact. Lived experience of mental health problems, or experience of working in services which support people with mental health problems, are assets for this work.

More details and how to apply: please visit here

 

Introducing Keychanges

Keychanges provide music engagement and recovery services in hospitals and the community for young people and adults experiencing mental health problems.

  • Activities including music production and sound recording, songwriting, composition, vocal technique and performance skills
  • Culturally relevant musical genres including hip hop, reggae, grime, rock, folk, soul, dubstep, r'n'b, and everything in between!
  • Delivered in fully equipped professional rehearsal and recording studios by specially trained music industry mentors
  • Concerts and events at mainstream venues and festivals
  • Progression routes to continuing study, volunteering opportunities, work experience and employment

Based in London, Keychanges work in partnership with NHS and other health and social care agencies and provide services for over 1500 people each year.

For more information, please visit the website

 

Recovery Devon: how IT helps recovery project

Recovery Devon are planning an open day for August 2016 in which we will share some of the best internet resources which support mental well-being and recovery.

If you have a 'go to' website, Recovery Devon would like you to share it - just use the form here.

The website can be anything:

  • Resources about mental health
  • Inspiration
  • Tools for assessing or supporting others
  • Tools to support 'self-help'

Serious, useful, light-hearted - if it helps people undergoing mental-health difficulties Recovery Devon wants to hear about it.

Recovery Devon will be announcing dates and venues for the open day soon. The organisation will also include the websites in a list on this site and in print so that everyone can find the best help, information and support available online.

 

Report: preventing prison suicide

The last two years have seen a marked increase in the number of suicides in English and Welsh prisons, with 89 prisoners taking their own lives in both 2014 and 2015. This was the highest number of suicides since 2007.

In this series of briefings, the Centre for Mental Health has worked with the Howard League for Penal Reform to explore how prisons and healthcare providers can collaborate to prevent suicide in prisons.

You can download the full report below the highlight summary on this page

 

Enhancing staff supervision in health and adult social care

  • Date: 14 June
  • Venue: Ort House Conference Centre, London

This conference provides delegates with an in-depth understanding of how effective supervision is key to supporting professionals working in social work, social care, and health.

For more information and booking, please take a look here

 

Mental health on the web

Eighteen pubs and clubs across the London borough of Sutton have signed up to a project to promote mental health awareness among their staff.

Exam stress 'among teen suicide causes' says research

Open letter to Minister Michelle O'Neill on Northern Ireland's poor treatment of mental health

Scotland's First Mental Health Minister outlines plans

 

Petition

To examine the DWP, ATOS & Maximus's culpability for deaths of benefit claimants

There's been a marked increase in the number of deaths and suicides of claimants recently found "fit for work" by work capability assessments, possibly implying those benefits entitlements were removed hastily and that the DWP, ATOS & Maximus failed in its duty of care to vulnerable benefit claimants. The full petition is here.

 

 

New funding for local HIV prevention

Public Health England (PHE) has announced an HIV Prevention Innovation Fund for 2016 to 2017 of up to £600,000 for local prevention initiatives.

Lansley: NHS not sustainable on current funding

Former health secretary Lord Lansley has warned the NHS will not be able to transform care using its current resources and told Parliament the proportion of GDP spent on the NHS cannot keep falling.

Universal Credit guidance

The support that is available for Universal Credit claimants who have a disability or health condition. Find out more here.