I have the opportunity to improve my knowledge of my mental health and self care options.
Self care means having the opportunity to be responsible for your own health and to make the most of life and feel fulfilled.
Examples of things that help with this:
· Access to local Expert Patient Programmes. These are self-management courses giving people the confidence, skills and knowledge to manage their condition and be more in control of their lives
· Support to develop a personalised self-care plan or support plan • Information about, and access to, tools and assistive technology (such as touch sensors) that could help people self manage
· Health and social care policies and staff guides about self-care
· Promotion of the role that pharmacies can have in providing self-care support with managing symptoms and medication
· Accessible information about mental health diagnoses and treatment options is available and offered to all
· Information about mainstream activities in the community is made available at the same time as information about more specialist supports and services.
Making it happen in Merseyside and Stockport
I can easily find the information I need about a wide range of things that are available in my locality.
Some people will already be clear what they want to help them live their lives and know where to find it. Other people will need different kinds of help and information to see what opportunities there are and what options they might have beyond their immediate knowledge of services. This might be about where to get help or to take up activities in the wider community (such as leisure activities, employment, or learning). The power to change things can be limited by lack of information. Even if you are clear about what you want, it can be very time consuming and exhausting searching for how and where to find it. This is particularly difficult for anyone who does not speak English, or who has
communication or literacy difficulties (for more information see section on Fairness and Equality) Anyone working with people to help them put together support plans will also need reliable, easy to get at, information.
Examples of things that help with this:
· Partnership work within local authorities, across library and information services and social care services, to plan for and manage the information needs of all
· Websites designed specifically to provide information for people putting together support plans
· Access to information technology and specific training and support to use it
· Dedicated staff who are trained and available to help people use computers and access the internet
· Support for local networks and peer groups for the informal exchange of information
· Meetings and discussion groups on a planned and continuous basis - not just one-off opportunities - so that there is a regular opportunity for people to ask questions and be given up to date information
· use of local radio, community broadcasting and satellite channels that are designed for different communities and audiences
· Information available very locally e.g in local shops, pubs and GP surgeries
· Information related to times in people's lives when help is needed
· Involving people with mental health needs in the design, implementation and evaluation of information services
· Making sure that providers are clear about their responsibility to provide information
· undertaking research into what really gets information to people
• Co-coordinating and managing information and knowledge that is held by service users, staff, organisations and communities.
There are people around who really want to help me fulfill my dreams and potential.
Examples of things that help with this:
· Enthusiasts, supporters and advocates who are positive and have high expectations and encourage people to be hopeful and see a positive future
· Inspirational figures, community entrepreneurs, mentors or leaders who work actively in their communities and organisations to promote mental health self- care and recovery
• Systematic organisation development programmes to promote a culture of positive approaches to mental health
SIGNPOSTS
Self care and self help
1. Self Care Connect. A website with information on courses and materials, facts and figures and a support network. www.self-careconnect.co.uk
2. For research evidence on self care. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080689
3. Common core principles to support self care: a guide to support implementation, Skills for Care/Skills for Health, 2008. www.dh.gov.uk/en/ Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndguidance/ dH_084505
4. Department of Health, Self Care - A real Choice: Self-care support - A Practical Option (2005) Practical ideas and action on how to support self care. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/ PublicationsPolicyAndguidance/dH_4100717
5. The self care challenge: A strategy for pharmacists in England The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (2006). www.rpsgb.org.uk
6. Information about the Expert Patients Programme. www.nhs.uk/conditions/Expert-patients-programme-/Pages/Introduction.aspx
7. Self care training for people with bipolar disorder www.mdf.org.uk. A peer led self care training programme to help people learn to take action to prevent or reduce the severity of an episode.
8. HealthSpace is a free, secure online personal health organiser. It provides information to help people to manage their own health, store important health information securely, or find out about local NHS services. www.healthspace. nhs.uk/visitor/default.aspx
9. HuBB ( Barking and Havering and Brentwood Mental Health user Group) have developed Recovery Plan and Well Being Plan booklets and Recovery courses in partnership with the local PCT. info@hubb.eclipse.co.uk
10. A voice and a choice: Self directed support by people with mental health problems: A discussion paper Rita k Brewis, In Control, 2007. www.in-control. org.uk/site/INcO/Templates/Library.aspx?pageid=331&cc=gb
11. Self-directed support for mental health service users in West Sussex: Project Evaluation Report, Rogers R , 2007 West Sussex County Council/West Sussex PCT. www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/06/26/108631/ personalisation-self-directed-support-in-west-sussex.html
12. Mental Health and Personalisation Agenda: Chaos or empowerment A project to keep people informed and influence the way change towards personalisation happens in the North East. This website also has links to a range of resources about personalisation. www.mhne.co.uk/pge.asp?id=40
enthusiasts and advocates
13. The National Advocacy Qualification is a qualification that has been funded and developed by the Department of Health, together with advocacy organisations and commissioners over the past two years. The introduction of two forms of statutory advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) and Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs) led to the recognition of the need for greater focus on quality and consistency across the advocacy sector. www.nmhdu.org.uk/our-work/improving-mental-health-care-pathways/implementing-the-amended-mental-health-act-1983/independant-mental-health-advocacy-/
14. Transforming adult social care: access to information, advice and advocacy, IdEA, 2009. www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9454439
15. A lesbian and gay, bisexual and transgender mental health advocacy service.
www.pacehealth.org.uk/mental_health_advocacy/
16. Independent mental health advocacy: Guidance for commissioners NIMHE, 2008. This guide outlines the statutory independent mental health advocacy role and discusses good practice for IMHA services and recommended commissioning processes. www.mhact.csip.org.uk/silo/files/imha-guidance-for-commissioners.pdf
17. Mental health advocacy for black and ethnic minority mental health users and carers, 2002, Joseph Rowntree Foundation. www.jrf.org.uk/publications/ mental-health-advocacy-black-and-minority-ethnic-users-and-carers
one stop shop and on-line information
18. Leicestershire County Council provides a website giving information to help people be independent and make their own decisions. The service includes a team to provide support and training for people with little or no previous experience or particular difficulties in using a computer.www.leicscareonline.org.uk
19. Shop4Support is a website that provides information for people developing their own support plans and for those managing their own budgets. It is an internet market place with information about support providers and services with a quality rating and feedback facility for people using them. It also provides ready made systems for managing budgets etc. www.shop4support.com
accessible information
20. The Association of Social Care Communicators aims to develop and improve communication practice. It has a useful website with practical information, regional groups, networks, and a newsletter and runs conferences. www.ascc.me.uk
TV, video and roadshows
21. Southwark TV: Web based community media for all - including mental health groups. www.southwark.tv
22. Community TV: Trust Offers consultation, training, facilitation and production. www.communitytvtrust.org
23.Social care TV: A broadband service on the SCIE website called Social Care TV, that has short videos relating to e.g. personalisation, dementia, mental health. www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv/default.asp
24. NHS South East Coast regional roadshows. www.southeastcoast.nhs.uk/news/ Makingchoicespersonalisingcare.asp
