Okay... we've moved!

There has been kicking & screaming... there havebeen tears, recrimination, & regret... but, the deed is done & we've moved all groups / activities to community venues & our administrative base to an office complex across town.

Good? Bad? Neutral?

Let's see how things pan out. There are some great things going on within our locality groups... there are some great ideas on our drawing boards... & the hiatus of the last few months are behind us! Our only way is up!

Anyway, just to keep you up-to-date... our main office is now to be found at:

Mid Staffs Mind

Point South

Park Plaza

Hayes Way

Cannock

WS12 2 DB

tel: (01543) 496876

email: midstaffsmind@gmail.com

NB: the office really is just that... an office... the heart of Mid Staffs Mind is still to be found in the volunteers, service users, staff members, groups & activities that we have going on around & about all through our localities.

Keep in touch; we'll be using the website & this blog, but send us email, give us a ring, or grab an MSM worker if you've any concerns, questions, or ideas.

MSM Board Statement of Intent

As many will be aware, the Board of Mid Staffs Mind have taken the decision - outlined & discussed in the service user, volunteer & extraordinary general meetings - to sell our base in Manor Avenue, Cannock.

This decision was taken as a business measure to simplify & reduce our core costs, whilst pursuing our strategy of decentralisation & locality orientation. No services, groups or activities will be lost as a result of this move; indeed, the process should result in individual groups & activities becoming more independent, flexible & sustainable.

To scotch any rumours to the contrary, I can categorically state, on behalf of the Board of Trustees that Mid Staffs Mind is not closing, nor do we anticipate closure in the foreseable future.

Mid Staffs Mind is here - seeking to be more active, responsive & of greater benefit within our host communities - & we intend to stay.

Anthony M. Downes

Chair of Trustees, Mid Staffs Mind

Personal Independant Payments replaces DLA April 2013

We are advising folk to take a good look at the link below to get some insight into the Personal Independence Payment which will replace Disabled Living Allowance from April 2013

The toolkit offers information / guidance to individuals, and organisations directly supporting people claiming DLA, by providing initial advice on PIP &/or directing folk to other sources of information & help. There is a easy-read link...

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/pip-toolkit/

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'.