MSM service users, members, workers, & friends...

Service User Locality Meetings

It's been a taxing 18 month journey for MSM: dead in the water when we 'lost' funding; changing direction as we sought to become community orientated, accessible, & offer more personal contacts; encouraging the maintenance & development of some highly valued activities (Badminton Club, Music Group, Stafford Women's Group, Wombourne peer support), whilst seeing the successful launch of more (Work Clubs, Arts & Drama, the WISH Project, Cannock Women's Group).

But it ain't all plain sailing... Change hasn't proved universally acceptable, & some felt unable to join us on this latter leg of our travels. Some funding bids were turned down, & we have seek a cash injection to fuel the engines that drive our organisation.

We have positive aspirations, some great ideas & plans for the development of MSM. Given change & flexibility are central to this future, we have plenty to talk about, so we are holding a series of Service User Locality Meetings for folk to meet with Trustees of the Charity to chat about risks, hopes, & fears.

Saturday 20^th October 11.00am @ Quest, Tipping St, Stafford

Monday 22^nd October 11.30am @ Mind, Manor Ave, Cannock

Wednesday 31^st October 2.00pm @ Community Fire Station, Wombourne

If you want to come along, attend to suit your availability, it doesn't have to be the meeting in the MSM locality within which you live.  

MSM opening times

Monday:

Stafford - WorkClub @ Signpost Centre: 10am - 1pm

Cannock - 'Creativity' Drama & Music: 1pm - 4pm

Cannock - Out of Hours: 5pm - 8pm

Tuesday:

Stafford - 'Creativity' Arts & Crafts @ Trinity Church: 10am - 1pm

Cannock - Badminton @ Leisure Centre: 2pm - 4pm

Wednesday:

Cannock - WorkClub @ Cannock Library: 10am - 1pm

Wombourne - Peer Support: 1pm - 4pm

Thursday:

Cannock: Out of Hours: 5pm - 8pm

Friday:

Cannock - Women’s Group: 1pm -4pm

Saturday:

Stafford - Out of Hours @ Quest:10am - 4pm 

for more info ring (01543) 462907 or email midstaffsmind@gmail.com 

 

Language & Stigma

Everyday language is peppered with amusing, ironic, pejorative, abusive words & phrases about mental illness and the mentally ill. Those who experience psychological & emotional distress are amongst the few societal 'groups' still deemed acceptable targets as the butt of joke, disrespect, & exclusion.

A recent, if wordy, guest blog by David Steele in the Guardian online raises some very interesting discussion points (click here). In light of MSM's re-commitment to the Time to Change agenda, this is a conversation we may well be having in our groups & localities.

Check out the Time to Change website to explore ideas / activities of destigmatisation & inclusion of the 'mental health community'.

  

You just might LOL!

A researcher in the US found texting has a mental health application: as a form of treatment or support for people experiencing mental health issues.

Prof. Adrian Aguilera, clinical psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, has devised a text messaging service for patients with depression & other mental disorders. People are sent automated messages asking them to think & reply about their mood, about their responses to both positive & negative daily interactions, as well as reminding them to take their medication.

When the service was stopped after a few weeks, 75% of the recipients requested they continue to receive messages; one person reported the service made them feel 'cared for & supported' when stressed or in difficulty.

Aguilera's patients are mainly low-income Latinos, who experience significant challenges in their daily lives, & often lack ready access to alternatives. He says the texting concept was mix of technology and therapy; many of his patients had a mobile phone on a prepaid monthly plan, & many had trouble translating the lessons of therapy into their daily lives. In addition, finances denied a lot of patients regular internet access... 'so I thought about using mobile phones to send text messages to remind them to practice the skills covered in therapy sessions'.

The psychologist added the patient response demonstrates the positive impact of regular contact with their support team - even if it’s nothing more than a 140-character hello: 'we are harnessing a technology that people use in their everyday lives to improve mental health in low-income, under-served communities'. 

 

Mind CEO quits Government panel

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, quit his government role in protest against the flawed Dept for Work & Pensions reforms in assessing benefit claimants fitness to work. Farmer, Mind's representative on the 4-man panel appointed to improve the Work Capability Assessment, said his position was 'no longer tenable' (Guardian article).

In a blog outlining his reasons for resigning, Paul writes... In July 2010, I joined a the Harrington Scrutiny Panel, set up to oversee the work of the WCA Independent Review team. My role was to give advice & criticism regarding the areas the review was looking at & the changes they are recommending.

The DWP has committed to making some changes arising from the Independent Review, but these will take time, & some fundamental changes required haven’t even started to be addressed. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people are being reassessed using a test which is still not fit for purpose. Around 50% of people are appealing against the decision, & a remarkable half of those appeals are being upheld, meaning as many as one in four tests are wrong. The cost to the taxpayer of the tribunal system alone is £50m, around a half of the £100m a year being spent on reassessment.

I spent some time last week at Mind’s InfoLine. Call after call was coming in from individuals with a mental health problem, or a member of their family, anxious about the reassessment letter, concerned about having to appeal & the potential impact on their lives. We’ve heard about Job Centres who are shocked when someone who is clearly unwell turns up having been told they are fit for work.

The callers to our line were not benefit scroungers - they were ordinary people whose health had put them in a very vulnerable state. Ordinary people desperate to recover & be able to work, but who just weren’t yet well enough. Instead of offering support & help to recover, then find & stay in work, the WCA process is making their health worse & so, ironically, the prospect of a job even less likely.

We at MSM meet a lot of folk who are truly fearful of the threat these reforms might bring to their lives, if you have such concerns, or just want to know a little more, the Mind website goes into why the WCA isn't working.

British Summer Time

 “Spring forward, Fall back.”

British Summer Time (BST) starts each year on the last Sunday in March & ends on the last Sunday in October. In 2012, on Sunday 25th March the clocks will go forward at 1.00am, meaning we lose an hour; BST ends on Sunday 28th October. 

Summer time changes on standard dates throughout the EU, so Britain & Ireland constantly remain an hour behind most of Central Europe.

In 1907, Englishman William Willett, campaigned to advance clocks by 80 minutes. He wanted to see four moves of 20 minutes at the beginning of the spring & summer months, with a return to Greenwich Mean Time in a similar manner each autumn. The following year, the House of Commons rejected a Bill to advance the clocks by one hour during the spring & summer months.
 
Summer time was first defined by Act of Parliament in 1916: clocks were moved one hour ahead of GMT from the spring to the autumn.  During the Second World War, double summer time - two hours in advance of GMT - was introduced & lasted until July 1945.  Since the 1980s all of western & central Europe co-ordinate the date & time of their clock changes; accounting for Britain & Ireland maintaining their hour behind.

2012: 25th March & 28th October. 
2013: 31st March & 27th Oct. 
2014: 30th March & 26th Oct

MSM April ECM & BIG Walk change

The building work, school holidays, & Easter Monday Bank Holiday impact directly a number of Mid Staffs Mind activities & have led to the following date changes:

Executive Committee meeting will take place Monday 16th April, instead of Monday 9th.

MSM BIG Walk will take place Friday 27th April, instead of Monday 2nd.

Cannock building disruption

Due to building work to upgrade disabled facilities at Mid Staffs Mind's Cannock base, from Monday 27th Feb to Monday 12th March our services in Cannock will be relocated as follows:

@ Cannock Community Fire Station...

Monday 27th Feb 5.00 - 8.00pm Out of Hours+Plus Service
Referral only: please see your GP or CMHT for details

Thursday 1st March 10.00am - 1.00pm Oasis

Saturday 3rd 10.00am - 1.00pm Out of Hours+PLUS Service
Referral only: please see your GP or CMHT for details

Monday 5th 5.00 - 8.00pm Out of Hours+PLUS Service
Referral only: please see your GP or CMHT for details

Thursday 8th 10.00am - 1.00pm Oasis

Saturday 10th 10.00am - 1.00pm Out of Hours+PLUS Service
Referral only: please see your GP or CMHT for details

@ Cannock Library...

Wednesday 28th 10.00am - 1.00pm Work Club

Wednesday 7th March 10.00am - 1.00pm Work Club

… as of Monday 12th March we anticipate returning to our previous service pattern.

NB: the Badminton Club will continue getting together for a weekly social contact, prior to badminton commencing again at Cannock Leisure Centre on Tuesday 20th March.

Phil G's tune - at long last!

Sometimes you need to acknowledge an unsung hero - so here's to a great bloke, who had good taste in music, great respect for people, & was sharp as a snake... if you knew him, you'll know why, if you didn't - just enjoy... click

Schizophrenia & Allied Disorders

Oi, enduring or severely mentally ill people, their friends &/or carers, have a look at this!

Don't shout at me - this is a great website has useful information, advice, & explanation to offer - as to their 'psycho-political' position? That's nowt to do with us... click here

Hearing Voices

Pretty cool & informative animation about hearing voices: I hear I hear what you don't hear

... check out Hearing Voices Network & InterVoice websites (as in our Link list). The site of Marius Romme & Sandra Escher about accepting & making sense of voices is also well worth a look @ Hearing Voices.com

Is everything an illness?

Fears are being expressed that a new American manual for diagnosing mental illness & mental health problems will enable just about every behaviour to be deemed a potential 'disorder' & amenable to psychiatric diagnosis... Guardian article

For Rob & Rugby: 6 Nations 2012

The story so far...
Sat Feb 4: France 30 - Italy 12; Scotland 6 - England 13
Sun Feb 5: Ireland 21 - Wales 23
Sat Feb 11: Italy 15 - England 19; France P - Ireland P
Sun Feb 12: Wales 27 - Scotland 13
Sat February 25: Ireland 42 - Italy 10; England 12 - Wales 19
Sun February 26: Scotland 17 - France 23


Sun March 4: France 17 - Ireland 17
Sat March 10: Wales 24 - Italy 3; Ireland 32 - Scotland 14
Sun March 11: France 22 - England 24


The tale to come...




Super Saturday March 17: 
Italy v Scotland 12.30pm; Wales v France; 2.45pm; England v Ireland, 5pm

* All games live on BBC.

MSM Badminton Club get lazy!

Well, waddya know, yesterday (Tuesday 31st Jan) the guys played their last game at Cannock Leisure Centre for 6 weeks.  Internal building work will be affecting the Sports Hall, so there are no courts on which to play.  They hope to get back on-court Tuesday 20th March.

Concerned the long lay-off might make it difficult for some folk to get-back-through-the-door once the Badminton starts up again, the Club intends to offer some type of social contact or activity each week the Leisure Centre is closed to them - e.g. snooker, walks, lunch, quiz - have a word with Darren, Neil, Rob, or Terry, or ring MSM (01543) 462907 for further information.

Potential members remain welcome, & can be referred &/or introduced to the Club during this Badminton drought!  

I wonder if any of'em will go to the All England Badminton Championships at the NIA Birmingham 6th - 11th March 2012?

60,000 families to lose Children's Centres

The scale of cuts & closures to Sure Start Children Centres has highlighted 250 at risk of closing, 2,000 cutting back services, & 1,000 issuing ‘risk of redundancy notices' to staff. Findings of a survey of Sure Start Centre Managers across England, by 4Children & Daycare Trust, provides nationwide data on the impact of cuts. The feedback prompted charities to warn that closing Children's Centres risks crucial support for families at a time of increased financial hardship, unemployment, & social stress - this when there is growing consensus that giving children positive support in their early years helps tackle intergenerational disadvantage & reduces the cost of social 'failure'.

The charities are calling on Local Authorities to do more to prioritise funding for Sure Start Children's Centres - whose overall budget was protected in cash terms in Government's Spending Review, but that money was no longer ring-fenced! The survey suggests over the next 12 months:

* 250 (7%) will close or are expected to close, affecting an estimated 60,000 families
* 2,000 (56%) will provide a reduced service
* 3,100 (86%) will have a decreased budget
* Staff at 1,000 (28%) issued with ‘at risk of redundancy' notices

Staffordshire County Council is currently consulting on critical changes, so if this is a service you or your family uses, or is likely to use, or if you are interested in the 'modernisation' of local services, go along to one of the informational sessions or respond to the public consultation document online:

Children's Centre Consultation meetings in our localities:
Cannock Chase Childrens Centre     Monday 30th January 5.30 to 6.30 p.m.
Charnwood Childrens Centre     Tuesday 31st Jan 5.30 to 6.30 p.m.
Landywood Childrens Centre     Wednesday 1st February 5.30  to 6.30 p.m.
Hednesford (at Hednesford Nursery)     Monday 6th Feb 9.30 to 10.30 a.m.
Brewood Library     Tuesday 7th Feb 9.30 to 10.30 a.m.
Boney Hay Childrens Centre     Tuesday 7th Feb 9.30 to 10.30 a.m.
Willows Childrens Centre     Friday 10th Feb 9.30 to 10.30 a.m
Wombourne Library     Monday 13th Feb 9.30 to 10.30 a.m
Stafford Childrens Centre     Monday 13th Feb 10.00 to 11.00 a.m.
Featherstone Childrens Centre     Thursday 16th Feb  9.30 to 10.30 a.m.
Cannock Chase Childrens Centre     Thursday 16th Feb 9.30 to 10.30 a.m.
Stafford (at Holmcroft Comm. Centre)     Thursday 16th Feb 11.00 to 12.00 p.m.

NHS must spend more on adult social care, say MPs

 communitycare.co.uk article

Have your say on good medical practice

Good Medical Practice is the core guidance for doctors, setting out the principles & values on which good practice is founded, & which together describe medical professionalism in action. The guidance is addressed to doctors, but is also intended to let the public know what they can expect from doctors. Last published in 2006, the General Medical Council review the guidance every 5 years ensuring it reflects practice across the UK, & what doctors, patients, employers, educators & others believe are important issues.

The 2012 consultation is open to anyone who wishes to respond to the issues in the Good Medical Practice 2012 draft - this is a chance to have your say by completing online a short patient / public questionnaire. Once the consultation closes, the GMC will analyse the responses & publish a new edition in late 2012.

The consultation closes on Friday 10th February 2012 so crack on with it!

Limited impact of 'No Health Without Mental Health'

The coalition Government’s 2011 mental health strategy has had little effect on the commissioning & providing of mental health support & services. A recent study states there are few indications this strategy is guiding local decision-making at all. The Mental Health Foundation, Mind, Rethink, & the Centre for Mental Health identify key themes received from members & highlight the pressures on mental health services across the country resulting from cuts in spending & rising demand. They conclude the mental health strategy objectives outlined in No Health Without Mental Health must be properly prioritised if they are to be of any real value, especially as we move towards GP consortia commissioning.

An easy-read version of No Health Without Mental Health is also available.

DLA campaign supported by Mind

The Responsible Reform report by disabled campaigners, exposes a true lack of understanding in Government plans to reform Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The report is entirely written, researched, funded & supported by sick & disabled people, carers & friends, including prominent campaigners Sue Marsh (blogging at Diary of a Benefit Scrounger) & Kaliya Franklin (The Broken of Britain) - it's become known as the Spartacus Report


Based on a Freedom of Information request eliciting 500+ responses to formal consultation on DLA reform, the report argues the Government simply plays down the level of concern & opposition by disabled groups, carers, charities & others. It shows the rising recent caseload, which the Government says is DLA running out of control, is largely due to better access to DLA for folk with mental health problems. This questions Government arguments for trying to cut overall DLA by 20%. 

A broad church of campaigners are calling for any changes to be delayed 6 months so the arguments & consequences can be better considered and understood. Mind is actively supporting this demand.

Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said the report: “is essential reading... a vital contribution to the debate on reform and a huge achievement for the volunteers who have produced it... shows much of the rise in claimants over recent years has been down to better access to the benefit for people with mental health problems, whose needs are often fluctuating and invisible. Rather than getting out of control as the Government claims, DLA has been increasingly going to people who really need it. The proposed 20% cut to the budget will have an enormous impact on many people with illnesses and disabilities, and we remain very concerned about the unintended consequences... “

An easy-read version of Responsible Reform is also available.

Government said consultation responses supported reform - not true, just 7% do. The consultation did not meet Government’s own Code of Practice - it was too short & ended 2 days after they presented the Bill to Parliament. Government claims a 30% rise in DLA claims - it's 13%, which they do admit... while yet maintaining the 30% claim! Odd, eh?

In short, this report says Government broke the rules, presented untruths & sticks by them, & tries to deny what is readily proved.

HOPE Project Community Workers

Mid Staffs Mind are looking for local people for a local project and need community workers to deliver our HOPE Project to residents of the coalfield areas of Cannock and Rugeley.

Potential Candidates will have:

·         Good knowledge of the area and local communities.

·         Full, clean driving licence and full use of a car.

·         Good communication and listening skills

·         Experience in dealing with vulnerable adults.

This 12 month contract, funded by the Coalfields RegenerationTrust, will provide practical support  to vulnerable adults in the Cannock Chase area.

3 part time posts: 25, 15, & 15  hours per week, flexibility available

Salary £16,830 - 17,802 pro-rata (NJC scale 17 - 19)

For information / application pack  telephone (01543) 462907, email midstaffsmind@gmail.com or write to

Mid Staffs Mind
28 Manor Avenue
Cannock
Staffs
WS11 1AA               

Website: midstaffsmind.co.uk

Closing date: Friday 3^rd February 2012