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 suzanne.cole@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

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 tracey.hackett@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk . 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

on@staffordshire.gov.uk

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

on@staffordshire.gov.uk or

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

sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

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

thellamalady@hotmail.co.uk 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

consultation@southstaffspct.nhs.uk

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

email

sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

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 sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

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

sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

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 brendan.house@richmondfellowship.org.uk

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 info@burtonmind.co.uk

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 burton@changes.org.uk

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 Uttoxeter@changes.org.uk

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: sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

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

Are you a Service provider?

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