Monmouthshire Mental Health Service User and Carer Network

Mental Health Service User and Carer

Network Meeting

 

 

Date:    Wed 10th Dec 2008

 

Time:   1:30pm – 3:30pm (mince pies included)

 

Location: Mental Health Resource Room,

Sessions House, Usk, NP15 1AD

 

 

Agenda:   

 

1) Discussion with Jill Jones from the Genesis Project

         

2) Consultation on the ‘Talk To Me’ Suicide and Self harm national action plan

 

3) Discussion around service user and carer representatives on the Adult Mental Health Strategic Planning Group

 

4) Any Other Business

                  

 

Monmouthshire Mental Health Internet Blog: SpeakEasy in Mons

SpeakEasy is an internet ‘Blog’ which also doubles as a web resource for information, links, discussion, and events.  It contains a substantial list of Help Line information, and links to sites for specific issues for young people, adults, older adults and carers.

To reach the ‘Blog’ type SpeakEasy in Mons into the Google search bar.  It also registers on NTL Broadband, MSN, and Yahoo. Try it, use it, send in your comments on what is already there, and write your own piece about anything to do with mental health. You can also feed back any comments or suggestions for improvement.

Library and Self Help Resources at the MH Resource Room, Sessions House, Usk.

A resource of books, cd-roms, videos and dvd’s supporting people with mental ill health and their carers and families is available for individual loan or to discussion groups, and is being continually enlarged.   A portable dvd player can also be borrowed.  Contact Richard or Jen on 01291-673728 for info (answerphone).

Bullying in the workplace – YouGov poll result for the TUC.

According to a YouGov poll, published on Friday 5^th September, and carried out on behalf of the Trades Union Congress, 1 in 7 employees, or 3.5 million people, say that they have been bullied in their present job, and I in 5 say that bullying is an issue where they work.   Although this Blog often receives interest from people who are being bullied at work, the number of people claiming to have this damaging experience is greater that was expected.

 

The General Secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber, commented that the percentage of people being bullied at work is ‘completely unacceptable’.  Mr Barber also said that it is particularly worrying that the greatest number of people complaining are employed in the public sector.  And the urgent action that Mr Barber wants to see implemented now?   ‘ Every organisation needs to have an anti-bullying policy, and every manager should ensure that there is zero-tolerance of bullying either by line managers or workmates.’      Well said, but will it become reality?

So, what are the figures for different groups of employers?    The research shows that while about 8% of workers in the voluntary sector complain, it is 12% for the private sector, and a whopping 19% in the public sector.   Gender is also a factor, with 16% of men complaining as opposed to 12% of women.  The relationship with age is that 19% of 45 – 54 year olds and 17% of 35 – 44 year olds are the most likely to be bullied.    Perhaps surprisingly only 8% of the 25 – 34 age group complained.  Could it be that the source of bullying lies more heavily with the younger group in relation to older colleagues?     The research also claims that the people most likely to be bullied are in professional and similar jobs.   It also points out that there is a large professional grouping in jobs such as teaching and health services which may influence the figures obtained.   So what about salary influences?  Well, it may surprise you to know that 17% of those earning between £20 – £60k report bullying or, again, is this the largest responding group?

Whayever, bullying in the workplace, at school, at home and in the community is totally unacceptable and that message needs to be endlessly repeated for those with cloth ears.

Elsewhere on this Blog, under Links, I have previously provided a link to the Andrea Adams Trust – which campaigns ceaselessly against the bullying issue and also offers help and support to those who are suffering.   This year the Ban Bullying at Work Day will be held on 7 November.   Also, if you use the link to the TUC website you will find resources and encouragement to take part in activities of 7^th November, and to challenge the bullies who may be making your lives a misery.

Here is the link:  http://www.tuc.org.uk/

Fourth All Wales Conference – Eating Disorders.

For parents and carers:  Friday 24th October 2008

 

 

Conference Venue: – Marriot St Pierre Golf & Country Club, Chepstow, Gwent,

Registration – 9.15 am  Conference end – 4.30 pm

 

Launching

 

Beat Cymru

 

 

 

Our very own branch of Beat working with us to beat

 

eating disorder in Wales

 

Are you a parent or carer of someone with an eating disorder like Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating? Your role is vital in supporting your loved ones and promoting and maintaining their recovery.

 

This year’s conference has been designed in response to last year’s delegates’ requests. 

 

Conference will be opened by Assembly Member Bethan Jenkins

We will have a presentation from an eating disorder survivor.

An introduction to ‘Beat Cymru’

Workshops to identify your ideas for Beat Cymru.

Small discussion groups to share your challenges, successes and expertise.

 

There will be no cost to you as funding is provided by the Welsh Assembly Government Mental health Carers’ Grant for Monmouthshire.

 

Conference is hosted by Gwent Eating Disorders Sufferer Carer Support group in partnership with the Monmouthshire Primary Mental Health Team, Monmouthshire Social Services and Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. 

 

For further information and to book your place please contact:

 

Katie White Conference Administration on 01633 436975 or email: katie.white@gwent.wales.nhs.uk

or

Joy Jones, Specialist Eating Disorders Lead, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust on 01633 436831 or email:  joy.jones@gwent.wales.nhs.uk

 

Mental Health Services in Gwent.

The meeting being held on 11th March (see below) is important and was originally requested by the service users and carers in the Monmouthshire Mental Health Forum.   At a Forum meeting held in the Autumn of 2007, during which members held an open discussion with Rhian Lewis, Patient’s Panel Co-ordinator and the Chair of the Panel, seven Forum members volunteered to become panel members in order to represent mental health interests.   Following that meeting this one (11th March) has been arranged and will be attended by senior members of the Gwent NHS Trust.  All mental health carers and service users are strongly encouraged to try to find time to attend.  Places are limited (25) and if you are a carer or service user who has been, or still are receiving services, and who has a view on what needs to be done to improve these services, then you need to attend.  If you pass up this chance then you may well be ‘kicking’ yourself in the months ahead as new changes take place.  Is a member of your family about to move from children’s mental health services to adult services, or an adult member about to move to older adult services – and do you have worries about this?  What do you feel about mixed wards and facilities?  About services for Eating Disorders?   Do you self harm – and how have you been received and treated in A&E?    There are many issues for discussion – go along and have your say.   Phone Rhian for help with transport or anything else that you need, and you can also phone or speak to Jen Pearce or Tony Rigby if you prefer.  01291-673728   What is important is to fill those 25 seats and take the chance to talk with those who make the decisions.           

Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust

Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust wants to hear your views on

‘Mental Health Services in Gwent’ 

f you are a service user, carer or advocate the Patients’ Panel would like you to join them at a special meeting to discuss mental health services.   

Date:               Tuesday 11th March 2008

Time:              10am – 3.15pm

Venue:           YMCA, Mendalgief Road, Newport 

Numbers are limited, so if you would like to book a place, please contact Rhian Lewis, Patients’ Panel Co-ordinator by 4th March:     01633 623812 or 01633 623465Or e-mail to:  rhian.lewis@gwent.wales.nhs.uk 

What is the Patients’ Panel?    The Patients Panel is a very active group of about 60 patients, carers and members of the public whose aim is to work with the Trust to improve health services for all patients in Gwent.  There are four main meetings a year and panel members also contribute to many committees and working groups within the Trust and further afield.   In the four years since it was set up, the panel has become a very valued resource for the Trust and has gained a reputation for the positive contribution its members make. 

What is the purpose of this special panel meeting?  This panel meeting has been arranged to provide an opportunity for you to get your voices heard.  Senior members of the Trust will be there to listen and respond to the views expressed.   The Patients’ Panel is also keen to recruit more members who have direct experience of mental health services.  Information will be provided about how to join the panel. 

Format of the day… 

10.00 am       Tea/Coffee 

10.30 am       Welcome & introductions                                                                             

10.40 am       Presentation on the history of Psychiatry in Gwent                                    

11.10 am       What are your burning issues?                                                                         

11.40 am       Tea / Coffee                                                                                                   

12.10 am       Small group discussions (based on the hottest ‘burning issues’)                  

1.15 pm          Lunch                                                                                                                

2.00 pm          Feedback and questions from small groups to staff panel                             

3.00 pm          Closing comments 

3.15 pm          Tea / Coffee 

Please inform us of any support / access requirements that we can assist you with, e.g. ·        Dietary requirements·        Disabled parking·        Assistance in the car park·        Assistance with transport·        Hearing loop·        Information in large font·        Interpreter (please let us know which type)·        Wish to attend with a friend/carer?

Any other support required?

Monmouthshire Mental Health Service User and Carer Forum

The next meeting of this Forum will be at The Sessions House, 43 Maryport Street, Usk on Wednesday 20th February, 1.30 – 3.45 with a break in the middle.  You are welcome to arrive from 1pm onwards for a hot drink and a chat before the meeting starts.

As the Forum now meets once every two months it is important to take this opportunity to meet with others and talk about developments in our services and other matters.   Also, on this day there will be an opportunity to meet Jennifer Berry, the newly appointed Joint Commissioner for Mental Health in Monmouthshire.   Jennifer Berry has taken over the post recently vacated by Bernard Boniface, and this would be a good time to welcome her and also find out about her hopes for mental health services in our County.  Karen Vowles, Assistant Director, Health and Social Care, GAVO also hopes to come along.  

The Agenda is:    Minutes of the meeting of 28th November 2007 – the last joint meeting of the Forum and Network;

                               Welcome to Jennifer Berry and informal general service discussion;

                               Changes in Welfare Rights Service provision in Monmouthshire -  important as this will affect your current services

                               Planning for Gwent wide anti-stigma and discrimination event - April.

                               Discussion with Independent Police Complaint’s Commission (IPCC) representative with intention of further meeting.

                               Update on developments – Jen Pearce, GAVO MHDO.  

You can see that this meeting needs your attendance and support – please come if you can.  As always, help can be given with transport.  Need more information or support? – please call 01291-673728.

Mons Mental Health User and Carer Network Meeting.

  Not just a talking shop…….we get ’stuck in’…

Next Wednesday, 23rd January, at The Sessions House, Usk – as usual.   Ipm for coffee/tea and start at 1.30pm.   Meeting should end by 3.30pm.   Please note that there is no Forum  that day (see next paragraph) as this meeting will be an extended discussion with Mike Collins, Senior Nurse, who will be focussing on area services and in-patient provision.  We are hoping that as many people as possible will take the opportunity for this question and answer session with Mike Collins.

We are trying a different approach to the Network and Forum meetings over the next few months, after which there will be a review.   People sometimes find that having both meetings on the same afternoon means that discussions have to be limited, and that this is not satisfactory.   Therefore we will be holding the Network this month; the Forum in February; Network in March – and so on. Let’s see if this is an improvement.  Making this change raises a ‘touchy’ issue.  Our tradition is that the Forum meetings are open to anyone with an interest in mental health services in Monmouthshire – be they professional workers, carers, helpers, service users, or members of the public.   However, the Network has been kept as a meeting for service users and carers with their Monmouthshire involvement and development workers, and anyone else can only attend by invitation of this group.   To be a member you have to be aged over 18, living in Monmouthshire, and currently receiving mental health services, or directly caring for a person currently receiving mental health services.   If you are not receiving services you can’t be a member.   However, you are welcome to come to the Forum.  Hopefully this will clear any misunderstandings.

Don’t forget that the CONCUR newsletter can be found under ‘Pages’ on this site, and also the Notes of the most recent meetings of the Forum.  

Come along on the 23rd if you can.

  

World Aids Day update – Friday 30th November.

World Aids Day is officially tomorrow, Saturday 1st December, but then some people have to be away from Cardiff for various reasons.  So, despite the generally terrible weather, this group of ‘braves’ managed to find a weather window around 12.30pm, near to the Senydd, and ‘make’ this picture.  The shape wasn’t quite that of the red ribbon, but then the photographer was high in the air on a Cardiff Fire Service aerial platform.   Wonder what that felt like in the wind!  He was shouting instructions to the group many feet below – so it was hardly surprising if they became difficult to act on.    Still, it is good that a group of people, from different interests and employments came together.  City Councillors were also present and addressing the group – but apparently no-one managed to make it the few hundred yards from the Senydd.   Wonder why that was?  Perhaps they didn’t have anything red to wear, tho’ that shouldn’t have been a problem for the Labour AM’s.   Hey Ho, and to think that Wales has rising numbers of HIV infections for both men and women.   The report of the Health Protection Agency, supported by the National Public Health Service presents the following key findings:

KEY FINDINGS

Rates of HIV continuing to increase in Wales

‘Particular concern’ is continuing transmission among men who have sex with men

This group at risk of an overlapping HIV, syphilis and hepatitis epidemic emerging in Europe

Most cases of gonorrhoea and chlamydia occurring in young heterosexuals

Across the UK, heterosexual women account for 35% of new diagnoses of HIV – nearly twice figure in 1996

Heterosexuals represent 54% of new HIV diagnoses, with 85% infections acquired outside UK

Source: Health Protection Agency

 

Hmm, seems to me that some AM’s should have made the effort to join the awareness raising demonstration to show their concern about these findings.

World AIDS Day

  

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but also about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2007

World AIDS Day was originally organised by UNAIDS, who chose the theme after consultation with other organisations. In 2005 UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign (WAC).

The WAC’s slogan for their work is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”. This is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and especially the promise of universal access to HIV treatment, care, support and prevention services by 2010. This campaign will run until 2010, with a related theme chosen for World AIDS Day each year.

The 2007 theme, “leadership”, highlights the need for innovation, vision and perseverance in the face of the AIDS challenge. The campaign calls on all sectors of society such as families, communities and civil society organisations – rather than just governments – to take the initiative and provide leadership on AIDS.

Stop AIDS in Children

In line with this year’s theme, AVERT is running the Stop AIDS in Children campaign to call for urgent action in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Currently only 9% of pregnant women living with HIV in the developing world are provided with drugs to prevent the virus being transmitted to their babies. As a result, nearly half a million children become infected with HIV every year. The Stop AIDS in Children campaign is calling on governments and international agencies to urgently improve PMTCT coverage worldwide.

All the above information has been provided by Avert and if you would like to read more, the link to their site is below.

http://www.avert.org/worldaid.htm

In Wales there will be a demonstration at the Senydd in Cardiff at 12.30 this Friday 30th November.   If you have the time to go along in support, please wear something red. 

What Difference Does It Make?

Friday 7th December 10 – 1pm at the Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth.

 Service users and carers are invited to join us at this special event to let us know what else we can do to involve service users and carers in planning and delivering training for employees and make Monmouthshire’s Social Care Services the best they can be.

If you have comments and suggestions to make about the care services that you receive, then this is an event for you.  Come along and let people know about your experiences, negative and positive, and discuss how things could be improved for everyone.