Please see below information regarding the Personality Disorder Awareness Training– four extra dates added on for other agencies. If you would like to book onto a course, please email the 2g Admin Team (2gnft.CollingwoodAdmin@nhs.net or 01452 894091/3).

Aim:

To enable staff to develop and enhance their awareness of Personality Disorder.

Learning Outcomes:

•To understand what Personality Disorder is and how it may manifest / be recognised.

•To understand the principles of the causes, diagnosis, treatment and effective management of Personality Disorder including NICE guidance.

•To dispel myths, develop skills and build confidence in working with those with Personality Disorder.

•To recognise interventions that can be utilised to support people with Personality Disorder and minimise the impact of negative behaviours.

Course Overview:

A one day course designed to develop awareness for staff working in 2gether NHSFT. This course is designed to develop knowledge and skills for both registered and unregistered staff

Assessment:

Assessment of skill acquisition will be through trainer monitoring and reflection as well as feedback from team managers and others. The design of the course will allow for capture of changes in understanding, skills and attitudes.

Dates, Times and Locations

Monday 25th June 2018

Gloucester Farmers Club Ltd. Agriculture House, Greville Close, Sandhurst Road, Gloucester GL2 9RG

09.15 – 16.30

Monday 30th July 2018

Clinical Skills Room Dowty Sports and Social Club Down Hatherley Lane, Down Hatherley, Gloucester GL2 9QH

09.15 - 16.30

Friday 7th September 2018

Clinical Skills Room Dowty Sports and Social Club Down Hatherley Lane, Down Hatherley, Gloucester GL2 9QH

09.15 - 16.30

Monday 15th October 2018

Gloucester Farmers Club Ltd. Agriculture House, Greville Close, Sandhurst Road, Gloucester GL2 9RG

09.15 - 16.30

Funding Officer Gloucestershire and Wiltshire – see attached

Training & CPD Events at Gloucestershire Counselling Service

Introduction to Listening & Counselling Skills Training.  Boost your listening skills at work or at home. A great course too if you are thinking of training to be a counsellor. Upcoming courses: June 16^th & 17^th in Cheltenham and The GCS Summer School in Stroud Aug 6^th – 10^th Visit: www.gloscounselling.org.uk/training

CPD & Specialist Training Events:led by top trainers in their field, including: Body Talkby Suzanna McKenzie & Madeleine Woof June 23^rd exploring the sexual relationship in couples, Attachment Theory & The Internal Working Models of Childrenby Niki Reeves June 2^nd & 23^rd, Understanding the Effects of Attachment Style on the Teenage Yearsalso by Niki Reeves July 7^thvisit: www.gloscounselling.org.uk/events-and-workshops

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust would like to make Gloucester a happier and healthier place to live for all of its residents (people and wildlife). We are co-developing plans with many organisations and individuals to look at what changes could be made to neighbourhoods in and around the city. However we would like all residents and workers in Gloucester to have their say on changes that could be made, and how people’s lives could be improved.

Please us the link below to answer a short survey and ensure you have your say. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7PCJ67K

Next week the Mental Health Foundation will kick off Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), running 14-20 May. This year the campaign is leading with the theme of stress, asking the question, ‘Stress: are we coping?’. It will seek to highlight the impact stress has on us all, and the connection between stress and our health – both mental and physical.

The Address Your Stress Toolkit
To support the campaign, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England are today launching the Address Your Stress Toolkit: a set of practical resources designed to help people better understand and manage stress.

This toolkit is free for you to download from our campaign page right now, and includes infographics and shareable GIFs on stress and self-care, as well as a signature banner you can see below. Why not get started and show your support by adding this to your email signature right now? 

Dear Members and Supporters,

The NSPA is going out to tender for support to develop its workstream around people with lived experience of suicide and suicidal behaviour.  We believe that there needs to be a stronger voice of these groups of people in the development of suicide prevention policy and practice, locally, regionally and nationally. Following some initial scoping work, our next step is to work with people with lived experience to explore what role NSPA could play to support and enable a network of people across the country.

We invite you to consider submitting a bid for this work – the full details are in the attached document, and the deadline for submission of proposals is 9.00am on Friday 25th May.

Regards,

Penny Fosten
Executive Lead NSPA

National Suicide Prevention Alliance, The Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 2AF
Telephone: 020 8394 8381 | Switchboard: 020 8394 8300 | E-mail: p.fosten@nspa.org.uk | Web: www.nspa.org.uk

Programme for the Masaf-Lin Conference now available – see attached

My Life,  My Plan

A free workshop for any VCSE organisation, large or small, commissioned or non-commissioned, that is involved in improving the health and wellbeing of people in the community. Places are limited to no more than 2 people per organisation.

This workshop will help you:
Identify the value of your organisation within a commissioning environment
Collect data using a structured methodology and approach that best suits the people you work with
Use this data as a starting point to produce the evidence required in bid-writing for statutory and grant funding streams

This event organised in partnership between the VCS Alliance, Clinical Commissioning Group and Gloucestershire County Council.

Date and time: On Tuesday 27 February from 10.30am-3pm. Lunch is provided – please advise any dietary requirements when you book.
Where: The Conservatory, Oxstalls Sports Park, Plock Court, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester GL2 9DW. There is plenty of parking on site.

The workshop will be delivered by Spice Innovations Ltd, a registered charity and social enterprise association with the NHS IPC (Integrated Personal Commissioning) programme.

To book please email: info@glosvcsalliance.org.uk

Sunflowers Suicide Support – attached newsletter

A few bits of news and information from MHELO  - please share widely!

1) SPARK JOY - Decluttering for inner calm

The next MHELO Network session will take place on Wednesday 21st February 2018 from 5PM to 7PM (approx.) at The Manor House, 162 Barnwood Road, Gloucester, GL4 3JX. Denise Holder will present a talk about her experiences of decluttering for inner calm  - please find a link to the MHELO website here and our Facebook page here

MHELO events are completely FREE and for anyone with lived experience of mental health difficulties, their support networks and local professionals. 

Do let us know if you're able to make it so we can make sure we've enough drinks and biscuits for everyone. 

****************************************************************************************************************8

2) Nutrition for good mental health and wellbeing

In March we're looking forward to welcoming Kate Birch-Scanlan who will talk about Mental Health and Nutrition. 

Kate will discuss a wide range of topics linked to food and mental health -
•The impact of the western diet on our mental wellbeing.
•Gut health, our microbiome and inflammation and how they can influence mental ill health.
•How we can improve our gut microbiome and decrease inflammation.
•Why sometimes it's very hard to break the habit of eating junk food.
•And also show how you can make some simple swaps to your diet to improve your mental wellbeing.

Come and join us on Wednesday 21st March 2018 from 5PM to 7PM (approx.) at The Manor House, 162 Barnwood Road, Gloucester, GL4 3JX. 

The event is listed on our website here and on Facebook here

​As above all MHELO events are completely free and open to people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, their support networks and local professionals. Please share with anyone you think might like to come along. ​

**************************************************************************************************

2) MHELO Steering Group

MHELO is looking for people with lived experience of mental health difficulties to join it's Steering Group. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at The Manor House, 162 Barnwood Road, GL4 3JX usually for a few hours from 4PM to 6PM. Steering members guide MHELO's work and plan for the future, so if you'd like to have a say in how to improve the local offer please get in touch with us - info@mhelo.co.uk 

*****************************************************************************************************

3) MHELO members were involved in a consultation led by the Care Quality Commission which highlights a “system under strain” as one of the causes in the rise in detentions made under the Mental Health Act, but identifies other factors too -  here

**************************************************************************************************

4) And finally...some of you may have already read this report regarding 'adverse childhood experiences and the risk mental illness throughout life' by Public Health Wales. Link here FYI

A free workshop for any VCSE organisation, large or small, commissioned or non-commissioned, that is involved in improving the health and wellbeing of people in the community. Places are limited to no more than 2 people per organisation.

This workshop will help you:

• Identify the value of your organisation within a commissioning environment
• Collect data using a structured methodology and approach that best suits the people you work with
• Use this data as a starting point to produce the evidence required in bid-writing for statutory and grant funding streams

This event is organised in partnership between the VCS Alliance, Clinical Commissioning Group and Gloucestershire County Council.

Date and time: On Tuesday 27 February from 10.30am-3pm. Lunch is provided – please advise any dietary requirements when you book.

Where: The Conservatory, Oxstalls Sports Park, Plock Court, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester GL2 9DW. There is plenty of parking on site.

The workshop will be delivered by Spice Innovations Ltd, a registered charity and social enterprise association with the NHS IPC (Integrated Personal Commissioning) programme. 

To book please email: info@glosvcsalliance.org.uk

Gloucestershire Counselling have spaces remaining for up-coming CPD Courses, please contact Rachael to make bookings: training@gloscounselling.org.uk  

• Endings by Ally Kessler: February 17^th half-day event - in this half-day workshop participants will think together about their clinical experiences
  of endings and the assumptions that underlie our practice; you will explore the difficulties and questions that arise for patient and therapist,
  as you consider the question: how much time is enough?
  contact Rachael to book: training@gloscounselling.org.uk

• Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy: The principles of Psychoanalytic & Psychodynamic Couple Therapy - by Suzanna McKenzie & Madeleine Woof (Feb 17^th, March 17^th, April 14^th & May 19^th)
  This four-day course aims to develop and integrate the use of fundamental couple therapy theories into practice, working with couples and families.
  The main approach will be psychoanalytic couple psychotherapy but will incorporate other approaches and theoretical bases including neuropsychoanalysis,
  systemic thinking, behavioural approaches and attachment theory.
  contact Rachael to book: training@gloscounselling.org.uk

MHELO and Kingfisher Trust are co-hosting an event on Wednesday 17th January from 3.30to 5.30PM at Chuckaboos (The Cavern) for anyone with lived experience of Mental Health Difficulties (including those close to them) to 'feedback on their experiences of local community and voluntary services'.

It's a free event and refreshments will be available on the day, as will help with transport costs – see attached.

Please find attached details of a safeTALK course we’re organising for January – please could you pass this onto colleagues/contacts who may find it useful.

Note that places are limited and only those in the public sector, community and voluntary sectors are eligible to attend this free course.

FREE: Face to Face Energy Efficiency Advice for Vulnerable Consumers – Limited time Only

Until March 2018, Warm and Well are delivering an outreach programme as part of the Big Energy Saving Network.

We are offering face to face energy advice and assistance to vulnerable consumers on tariff switching and accessing funding and support.

We are interested in coming along to existing events you may have planned, where we could engage with vulnerable people, including people over 60, people on low incomes and/or on benefits, people with disabilities or long term health conditions, and those without internet access.

We can offer 1-1 advice as well as short interactive presentations -ideally you will have 20 or more participants.

To book a session, please email Warm and Well on warmandwell@severnwye.org.uk, including a few dates and times to suit you. We will then contact you to make a firm booking.

Please also remember: We offer free energy advice and home visits, and grants for insulation, heating and boiler replacements (subject to funding and eligibility criteria).

The Warm and Well advice line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm - 0800 500 3076

Please forward this information to colleagues who may be interested. Thank you.

Time to Change Children and Young People (CYP) team is now recruiting for eight part time paid positions. 

We are seeking Regional CYP Co-ordinators who will carry out vital local campaigning work to grow the movement and act as leaders by example for young champions (campaigners with personal experience of mental health problems).

This is an exciting opportunity to make a huge difference to the lives of young people through local campaigning for a leading social movement that is changing attitudes around mental health across England. 

Successful candidates will have personal experience of mental health problems, be willing to travel around the country when needed and will be able to work flexibly.

If you know someone who wants to use their personal experience of mental health problems to be a passionate campaigner for and with young people, please make sure they see this advert.  We are keen to spread the word in local regions countrywide.

Full details about the 8 roles are available here

Pre-Christmas MHELO Network session on Laughter Therapy - see attached poster.

The event is free and there will be a small Christmas party to accompany - nothing too extravagant!

The event is open to anyone with lived experience of mental ill-health and we'd ask they email info@mhelo.co.uk to book a space. 

‘Free Intro to Listening and Counselling skills’ Bishops Cleeve – see attached

Message from Inclusion Gloucestershire

Thank you so much to those who have contributed to the framework of questions that we are planning to use for the new mental health quality checks. Your input has been invaluable and is fundamental  to creating something that works and makes a difference for people with mental ill health.

Next step – testing it out!

We agreed at the focus group that the next step is to do some informal roleplay to test out the questions that we have. This will take place here at the Manor House, 162 Barnwood Road, Gloucester, GL4 3Jx at 3pm on 22^nd November. We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to play the part of answering the questions. Answers given do not need to be real, but if you do feel able to talk about real experiences that’s great.

Also taking part in this session will be people who have applied for the role of Quality Checker so it is a really good chance to meet them.

Interviews

If you are planning to apply but haven’t yet, please keep free between 12 and 4pm on the 22^nd as we may invite you for a short, informal interview then. (Job description and application form attached).

Finally…we think it is really important for a MHELO member to be on the interview panel. Obviously this has to be someone who is not planning to apply too! You will be needed between 11 and 4pm on the 22^nd.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.  Many thanks,

Vicci Livingstone-Thompson

Deputy Chief Executive

01452 623120

Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Awareness Workshop (PIMH) – see attached

Rethink

Mindful Employer

It’s well recognised that one of the most important areas involved in supporting staff who have a mental health condition is about enabling employees to feel able to talk and managers to know how to respond. There’s no reason at all why a manager should automatically know what to do so we produced a range of publications to help all concerned and also a film which illustrates the difficulties which arise through not talking and the benefits of having that conversation.

Advance Notice : Mental Health & Wellbeing Stakeholder Event September 2017

Following many requests from our stakeholders, we are in the process of arranging the next stakeholder event on the topic of Personality Disorder.  Further details will follow when our keynote speaker Rex Haigh FRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed his availability.  It is expected that Rex will be accompanied by one or two experts by experience/peer mentors.

Would you please let me know if you have any suggestions in terms of what you think would be valuable at the event?  Karen.taylor29@nhs.net

FREE TWO DAY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE FOR VOLUNTARY, COMMUNITY & PUBLIC SECTOR

Funded by Public Health Gloucestershire

Course: Mental Health First Aid

Date: 26^th and 28^th July 2017 (Wed & Fri)

Venue: The Growth Hub, Oxstalls Campus, Oxstalls Lane, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 9HW

Times: 9.30 to 4.30 both days

Trainer: Jem Sweet (accredited by MHFA England)

This is what MHFA England say about the course:

Our Adult MHFA Two Day course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider.

Mental Health First Aiders have:

• An in depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support - whether that’s self-help resources, through their employer, the NHS, or a mix

For further information see https://mhfaengland.org/individuals/adult/2-day/

Free workbook and manual to use on the course and keep for future reference

NB the course is likely to be of most benefit to those with little or no previous experience or training about this topic

To register interest or book a place phone 07870 334553 or email: info@trustinyou.org.uk

Our free accredited training “Introduction to energy use in the home and Fuel Poverty Awareness” is now available

• FREE - funded by all the local authorities in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, through the Warm and Well project
• For frontline staff, volunteers and councillors who interact with vulnerable clients including:

o   health and social care sector

o   disability and mental health services

o   child and family services

o   black and minority ethnic groups

o   advisory services

o   community and voluntary sector

o   education

o   public sector

o   housing providers

o   local councillors

o   others who may be interested…

• Fully accredited by the CPD Certification Service and will count towards any CPD goals of staff/volunteers
• Only 120 minutes long and can be run as an extended team meeting or as an event in its own right

Participants will

• understand the main uses of energy in the home
• understand what is meant by fuel poverty, how it is measured, and its causes
• understand the effects of fuel poverty, how these can be minimised, and identify those at risk

• be able to signpost and refer householders to appropriate support
• learn how to assist clients/patients save energy and money while keeping warmer and healthier at home

Venue options:

• You can host a training session - ideally you will have 10 or more participants. Warm and Well will come to you. All you need to do is provide a room!
• Other options are being arranged. We will contact again about these.

To book a training session, please email Warm and Well on warmandwell@severnwye.org.uk, including a few dates and times to suit you. We will then contact you to make a firm booking.

Message from MIND

The Queen officially opened Parliament with a speech which outlined the laws the Government hopes to introduce over the next two years.

In her speech, the Queen said the Government will reform mental health legislation, including the Mental Health Act, and ensure that mental health is prioritised in the NHS in England.

We’re pleased the Government has made these commitments and we’ll be holding them to account to make sure they deliver on these promises.

Mental health services have been underfunded for decades. For too long, those of us with mental health problems have had to put up with second-rate, second-class services.

We will campaign for mental health services that offer everyone the treatment and support they need, when they need it. Changing the Mental Health Act is a mammoth task, so we’ll be watching to see that it’s done properly. We’ll be pushing for legislation that gives people choice, control and dignity.

The Queens speech stated that the government will now begin to consider what further reform of mental health legislation is necessary, including changes in how the Mental Health Act is implemented on the ground. As part of this they will review the mental health legislative landscape and publish recommendations on "where new policy could provide greater rights for those experiencing mental health problems so they can live lives free from discrimination." 

If you would like some more information on the Queen's speech the NHS Confederation has put together a briefing which summarises the main points for the health and care sector.

RCPsych event on Urgent and Emergency Mental Health pathways

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) are holding an event on Friday 14 July on achieving better access to 24/7 urgent and emergency mental health care.

The one day event, chaired by Jim Symington, national advisor to the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, will bring together CCGs, emergency service professionals, experts by experience, professionals from crisis teams and liaison psychiatry. The discussion will focus on NHS England's implementation guides to help prepare and support services and CCGs, as well as sharing practical ideas on improving access, delivering compassionate and person-centred care and improving the care pathway. 

Places are free but spaces are limited. If you would like to attend please email aba.emergbl@rcpsych.ac.uk.

Survey for professionals only

Dear Colleague

As you may know, Gloucestershire County Council commissions a community based service for people living with serious mental illness, called the “Independence Trust Mental Health and Wellbeing Service”. This is provided by the Independence Trust, part of the Hereford Housing group. We are starting to review this service, and initially would like to hear from people who either refer clients into the service, or work with the Independence Trust to provide some of the wider community delivery.

Please can you complete a survey using the following link, and cascade to people within your teams who do or could refer into the service, or work in partnership with the service.  https://gloucestershire-consult.objective.co.uk/public/health/wellbeingservices/wellbeingservices

This survey is not for service users or carers, and will be followed by a separate consultation for this group.

Please contact me if you have any queries

Frances Clark-Stone

Outcome Manager – Mental Health Commissioning

 Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

 Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

T: Telephone: 01452 328608

E: frances.clark-stone@gloucestershire.gov.uk

You're Welcome Workshops are back!

Barnwood Trust, alongside partners, is launching its latest phase of free, fun and inspiring workshops for people living and working across Gloucestershire. They will run April - July 2017. 

The workshops are designed to support people to grow more welcoming and inclusive communities. A short description of each of the workshops can be found below.

Time to Change have launched a new national campaign, aimed at children and young people.   This marks the next phase of our work with young people and has been developed following research carried out over the last year. 

In any given year 1 in 10 children will fight a mental health problem.

Our research revealed that while awareness of mental health problems is improving, understanding is still poor in this age group. It also showed that young people have a strong impulse to help and support a friend who might be struggling 

Using a series of short films, the In Your Corner campaign shows young people how they can easily support a mate if they are struggling.

Free resources 

Watch the campaign videos 

Download and use posters, email signatures and social media graphics 

Read our guide for parents

 Share the campaign with young people you work with and ensure they are in their friends' corner.

Free e-Learning package for all university Staff  For students experiencing depression, anxiety, homesickness or low self-esteem, that first conversation can make all the difference.

For students in distress, the first point of contact is often with non-specialist university staff such as porters, domestic staff, bar staff, security, academic tutors or maintenance staff. The first conversation students have with a member of staff like this can be vital – in ensuring they receive a warm, empathic and understanding response to help them immediately, and that they are then signposted, if necessary, to receive help from a mental health specialist.   Developed by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust,this new e-learning package is designed to give non-specialist staff the skills, knowledge and confidence to offer this first line of support.   Introduced by well-known TV presenter Alexander Armstrong, the package consists of six, easy-to-follow 20-minute sessions, including:

 ·         Signs to look out for

·         Key helping skills

·         Knowing who else to involve

·         Supporting students at risk or in crisis

Student mental health is a growing area of concern, with increasing numbers of students struggling with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide risk. There is no doubt that equipping staff with the necessary skills and confidence will put students in a better position to be supported with their mental health issues at an earlier point.

Visit http://learning.cwmt.org.uk to access the e-learning or find out more.   If you would like to promote the e-learning in your university Posters and palm cards are also available to order: please call 01635 869754 or email amy.neal@cwmt.orgto order these.

Young people 'fear stigma' if they ask for mental health help

The Prince’s Trust has published part 2 of the Youth Index 2017 which looks at the views and outlooks of young people aged 16 to 25 in the UK. Findings from an online survey of 2,215 young people conducted by YouGov include: 78% of young people think there is a stigma attached to mental health issues; 24% of young people would not confide in someone if they thought they were experiencing a mental health problem; 56% of young people who said they have experienced a mental health problem didn’t believe in themselves when they were at school.   Source: The Prince’s Trust  Date: 01 March 2017

Further information: Youth index 2017 

Young men and self harm

YoungMinds reports on a survey looking at the self harm behaviours of young men. The survey, commissioned by The Mix, Self-Harm UK and Young Minds and carried out by YouGov, finds that: 24% of 16-24-year-old men in the UK have intentionally hurt themselves; and 22% have considered self harm as a way of coping with a difficult situation or emotion.

Source: Young Minds  Date: 01 March 2017

Active Gloucestershire and the VCS Alliance will be holding a ‘Mental Health, sport and physical activity’ meeting on Wednesday 29^th March between 2pm and 4.30pm at The Manor House, 162 Barnwood rd, Gloucester GL4 3JX. The aims of the meeting are:

To help us mapout what is currently available in the county

To provide information on existing opportunities

To identify what works and what needs to improve to ensure that people with mental health difficulties can access sport and physical activities.

The meeting is open to all but may be of particular interest to:

People with lived experience of mental health difficulties (past or present.)

Organisations working with people with mental health difficulties.

Activity providers, deliverers or facility providers.

Health and well- being professionals.

Community and voluntary groups.

Teas and coffee and refreshments are provided. In order to help us plan for numbers could you please confirm your attendance by registering at the Eventbrite link  - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-sport-and-physical-activity-forum-tickets-32436162435. 

Message from MHELO

Dear friend, Have a look at this: http://bit.ly/2moNJYr

The government’s changing the rules so that people with mental health problems can’t get an essential financial support called Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This is money that helps people pay for carers or therapy sessions. In other words, money needed to live with dignity. 

The government’s sneaking through the changes next week without a vote. But there’s a last-minute way that thousands of us could stop this cut happening. The plan is to use a special parliamentary process to force a proper vote in the House of Commons - and the bigger the public outcry, the more likely it is to happen.

Will you join me and sign the petition to demand the government continue funding mental health benefits? 
http://bit.ly/2moNJYr

Message from the Independence Trust

Please find attached details of the free “First Steps – Get Ready” course running over 2 weeks on a Tuesday and Thursday 10am-1pm. 

You are invited to enrol for the first programme on Monday 20^th March between 10am and 1pm at Independence Trust, 1 Mill Place, Bristol Road, Gloucester, GL1 5SQ.  Thereafter, enrolment for further programmes will take place every Monday at the same time and place (except for bank holidays).

Would you kindly circulate this invitation to any of your contacts who may be interested.

We look forward to welcoming you very soon.

Improving Mental Health in the Workplace Wednesday 17th May 2017 – Central London

Mental health in STPs

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) have analysed NHS England's latest mental health dashboard, looking at mental health spend by STP region. They found that of the 44 STP areas, four are investing less in mental health care this year (2016-17) compared to last year (2015-16). You can see the interactive map they've put together on this. 

RCPsych have focused on the percentage change in aggregate mental health planned spend as a proportion of overall CCG allocation from 2015/16 to 2016/17 by STP. This means the figures are based on the average of the comparable figures for each CCG in that STP area - if one CCG performs particularly well or badly it can set the tone for the whole area.

The HSJ ran a story on this and I provided a comment emphasisng that commissioners are serious and ambitious about improving mental health services and achieving parity of esteem but we are working in an incredibly financially challenged climate. The range of high priority and competing demands that CCGs have on their budgets can make it difficult to deliver transformation, in spite of their clear desire to do so. Read the full article.

Mental Health Workforce Roundtable - 5 May

Centre for Mental Health has been commissioned by the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network to assess the future workforce for mental health. They are exploring the challenges faced by the current workforce and the workforce that will be required in the future to meet people’s needs longer term.
 
A consultation event is being held on Friday 5 May in London to speak to, and get feedback from, people who work in mental health, including commissioners and other stakeholders. The discussion will focus on four areas:

• Capacity – meeting growing demand with limited (maybe shrinking) resources.
• Culture – changing aspirations and attitudes.
• Skills – to work in different ways.
• Knowledge – of new and emerging approaches.

If you would like to attend this event please get in touch via s.connor@nhscc.org and we will confirm the details with you.

Mental Health, Sport and Physical Activity
 
Active Gloucestershire and the VCS Alliance will be holding a Mental Health, sport and physical activity meeting on Wednesday 29 March from 2pm-4.30pm at The Manor House, 162 Barnwood Road, Gloucester GL4 3JX.

• The aims of the meeting are: to help us map out what is currently available in the county; to provide information on existing opportunities; to identify what works and what needs to improve to ensure that people with mental health difficulties can access sport and physical activities.
• The meeting is open to all but may be of particular interest to: people with lived experience of mental health difficulties (past or present); organisations working with people with mental health difficulties; activity providers, deliverers or facility providers; health and wellbeing professionals; community and voluntary groups.

Please confirm your attendance by registering on Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-sport-and-physical-activity-forum-tickets-32436162435.

Mental Health First Aid Lite Course
 
For the voluntary, community and public sector on 30 March at St Mary’s Congregational Church Hall, Gloucester GL1 2QS from 9.15am to 12.30pm. Funded by Public Health Gloucestershire. Course instructors, accredited by MHFA England: Jem Sweet and Christine Sweet of Trust in You CIC.
 
By the end of the course you'll be able to:

• Define mental health and some common mental health issues
• Identify stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues
• Relate to people's experiences and support people in distress
• Look after your own mental health.

The course is of most benefit to those with little or no previous experience or training about this topic.  To book a place phone 07870 334553 or email info@trustinyou.org.uk.

Mental Health First Aid Lite Course

Mental Health First Aid Lite is a respected national learning programme.  The course is a three hour introductory mental health awareness course which will enable you to:

• Gain a wider understanding of the issues surrounding mental health
• Work more effectively with people experiencing mental health problems
• Identify the discrimination surrounding mental health
• Define mental health and some mental health problems
• Relate to people’s experiences
• Look after your own mental health

Aimed at anyone who is in a situation where they feel they may benefit from increased awareness of mental health issues, particularly carers, family and friends.

As part of our commitment to supporting organisations to manage mental health in the workplace, we also offer places to employers.  These will provide greater opportunity to discuss how and why positive and negative mental health affects business and develop a business case for promoting positive mental health in the workplace.

You’ll receive a certificate of attendance and a manual with further information and resources.  Please note that numbers enrolling from any one organisation may be restricted if demand is high.

It will be held on Monday 27^th March 2017, 11.00am – 2.00pm

Where: The Council Chamber, Cotswold District Council, High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0AZ

To book please telephone: 01452 894204 or email jackie.baker7@nhs.net

The Let’s Talk service has a new website.

The Let’s Talk is a service for adults experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. An individual can be referred into the service via their GP or they can self-refer themselves.

The site can be accessed through the same link – www.talk2gether.nhs.uk – however it has an updated look, improved layout and a wide range of improved functionality.

This includes:

•           A quick self-assessment tool which uses the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and Generalised Anxiety Disorders (GAD) questionnaire to give a quick guide to the person’s level of depression and/or anxiety.
•           A self-referral form linking directly to IAPTus (the clinical system used within Let’s Talk). This will streamline self-referral and be a helpful option for those people who prefer to book online, rather than speak to someone on the telephone.
•           Sections on each of the health conditions Let’s Talk treats, including further reading and resources.
•           A password protected area for service users, giving them access to online learning materials and self-help workbooks.

The site also features a series of short films, giving an overview of the service and sharing the personal experiences of service users who have benefitted from the support Let’s Talk provides.

Please circulate and raise awareness.

Family Lives is looking for Volunteer Mental Health Buddies
 
Can you offer someone recovering from a mental illness support to:

• Improve self-management and coping skills
• Reduce social isolation
• Increase physical and social activity?

Call Rebecca Wheatley: 07587 373 436 email RebeccaW@Familylives.org.uk

Please find attached details of the latest Positive Caring Programme Sessions in Cheltenham for carers.  Please signpost/circulate where appropriate.

Citizens Advice is looking looking to recruit a  Trainee Mental Health Money Advice Worker

(22.5 hrs/week) to work in our busy Stroud Office

The successful candidate will be a qualified mental health practitioner who will be given full training to become a fully qualified money adviser working within our busy Debt Team to support people experiencing mental health and money difficulties.

Salary: £20,661 pro rata whilst training, rising to £25,952 pro rata once qualified.  1 year contract initially

For more information and a job pack, go to

www.citizensadvice-stroudandcotswold.org.uk/stroud-cab-news.php or email denise.stride@ca-scd.org.uk or phone 01453 758252 ex 311.

Closing date: Friday March 24th

Interviews: Monday April 3rd

We welcome and encourage enquiries and applications from people that reflect the diversity of the communities which we serve.

The new Time to Change campaign has been launched. In Your Corner shows the easy ways anyone can step in and support a mate by being in their corner. 

Over the last eight years there have been positive changes in the way people across England think and act about mental health. 3.4 million people have improved attitudes since Time to Change started. 

BBC had a health week where they covered all manner of NHS news. It focused on the key challenges the health and care system is facing and, as you would expect, mental health featured heavily. As part of this BBC's Panorama ran a dedicated programme looking at the current state of mental health services including the challenges around funding.

Then this week saw the first year anniversary of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, the much welcomed road map setting out a ten year journey for mental health transformation. There's still much to be done but one year on we're making some good progress. As the MHCN, we will continue to support you and will make sure we're doing all we can to keep up the momentum on this agenda.

Thrive Plan from the West Midlands Mental Health Commission 
As you may have seen the West Midlands Combined Authority Mental Health Commission (WMCA) has recently launched the Thrive West Midlands plan in which CCGs and other key organisations across the region have agreed a series of actions and pledges to promote good mental health. The commission was chaired by Norman Lamb MP, who speaking at the launch about the plan said:  “I have seen recommendations made and then nothing changes…instead we have come up with concrete actions that people have signed up to.”

Call for case studies - mental health and primary care
We're producing a new report highlighting how CCGs are working to deliver more for patients in primary care when it comes to their mental health. As part of this we are looking for case studies so please do get in touch if you are doing work that we could feature – I know that there’s a lot of good practice in this critical area taking place across the country!  

We’ll be using the report to help spread learning and raise awareness of best practice. We’ll also use it to lobby and inform and influence national bodies, government, parliament, the media and other key stakeholders.

For further information or to let us know about case studies please email Sinéad Connor, Network and Project Manager, via s.connor@nhscc.org by Friday 3 March – at this stage we just need brief details including, where applicable, any positive results that  you have seen to date. You can see our last case studies report around early intervention on the NHSCC website.

New Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service goes live

Social care and health charity Change, Grow, Live (CGL) has opened a new Community Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service in Gloucestershire. The service, commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council, will provide treatment and support options to individuals struggling with substance misuse.

CGL is working with a number of partners across Gloucestershire to deliver a holistic and comprehensive range of services to people in local communities. Partners include Barnardo’s, Young Gloucestershire, ARA, Emerging Futures, Intuitive Thinking, Lloyds Pharmacy and local children and adult’s social care services and criminal justice partners. The service will also develop innovative education, training and employment solutions with local private sector company The Commercial Group.

The new service is operating from a range of hubs, with office bases in central Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud. There are also a number of discreet community venues across the county, ensuring services are accessible for everyone. Updates will be posted at https://www.changegrowlive.org/content/cgl-gloucestershire.

Mental Health First Aid Training Courses

Trust in You is offering free two-day mental health first aid training courses for the voluntary/community and public sectors funded by Public Health Gloucestershire.

The course will equip participants to feel confident about helping someone experiencing mental health challenges, providing help on a first aid basis, guiding someone towards the right support and reducing the stigma of mental illness. The course is likely to be of most benefit to those with little or no previous experience or training about this topic.

• 26 and 27 April, Longfield, Minchinhampton, Stroud, 9.30am to 4.30pm both days
• 11 and 12 May, Cotswold District Council, Cirencester, 9.30am to 4.30pm both days

To register interest or book a place, phone 07870 334553 or email info@trustinyou.org.uk

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first-aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.

The course, funded by Public Health Gloucestershire, is free to voluntary, community and public sector workers who support people with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. It is being run in Gloucester on 22 & 23 February, 16 & 17 May and 14 & 15 November 2017. Read more details here. To book, please contact commissioningadmin@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Shaping the integrated Gloucestershire Healthy Lifestyles Service – see attached invitation

Raising Awareness of Abuse within Teenage Relationships

A Half Day Conference facilitated by Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board on 22^nd February 2017, 12:45pm – 16:45pm, The Guildhall, Gloucester

This half day conference has been developed and designed in partnership with GCC ‘Ambassadors for Vulnerable Children and Young People’ and focusses on recent learning from the ‘Lucy’ Serious Case Review

The conference is provided free of charge and places will be offered on a first come, first served basis

If you would like to book a place then please email the GSCB Business Unit mail@gscb.org.uk with your name, job role, organisation, contact phone number and email address.

Please state DA Conference Booking Request in the subject line.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID for the Armed Forces Community CHELTENHAM - Tues 31^st JAN & Wed 1^st FEB 2017 – details previously circulated. Cost is £225 per person.

FREE : ADDITIONAL TWO DAY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE FOR VOLUNTARY, COMMUNITY & PUBLIC SECTOR

Funded by Public Health Gloucestershire

Course: Mental Health First Aid

Date: 16^th and 17^th January 2017

Venue: Gloucester Rugby, Kingsholm Stadium

Times: 9.30 to 4.30 both days

Includes workbook and manual to use during the course and keep for future reference

The course will equip you to feel confident about:

Talking with someone who is experiencing mental health challenges
Providing help on a first aid basis
Guiding someone towards the right support
Reducing the stigma of mental illness

For information about course content see http://mhfaengland.org/first-aid-courses/adult-mhfa/

NB the course is likely to be of most benefit to those with little or no previous experience or training about this topic

Course instructor, accredited by MHFA England: Jem Sweet of Trust in You Community Interest Company

To register interest or book a place phone 07870 334553 or email: info@trustinyou.org.uk

*Places still available* ASIST Training in January and February

Applied Suicide Prevention Skills Training (ASIST) is an interactive and practical two day course that has been described as a form of ‘suicide first aid’.

Recent delegates on the course have described it as:

“Very good training, very informative and varied range of skills, thank you”

“thank you for a very informative course – easy to understand and well presented”

“I found the training very constructive and it’s given me the confidence to try and help those at risk of suicide”

Free places still available on;

Weds 19, Thurs 20 January 2017

Weds 22, Thurs 23 February 2017

Please see attached flier for more information or book a course by emailing commissioningadmin@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Reminder : You may be aware that the Government issued the Improving Lives green paper last month for consultation – see attached an overview of the key points.

Please circulate to your networks and encourage your customers and service users to get involved - this is a really important consultation and it is important that we feed our views into it.

The link to the full document can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-health-and-disability-improving-lives

Heritage Is for Everyone – Heritage Lottery Fund Funding Information Event for Equalities Groups on 31^st January, 2-4pm at the Growth Hub, Oxstalls Campus, GL29HW

Gloucestershire VCS Alliance and BSWN are working with Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to host an HLF Information Event for equalities groups and organisations. HLF funds a wide range of projects from £3000 and upwards that actively involve people in heritage. This can include

• cultural traditions,
• histories of people, communities, places or events;
• languages and dialects;
• people’s memories and experiences
• and more!

HLF is keen to support the development of projects which achieve outcomes for people, heritage and communities from groups working with people:

• with physical, sensory or learning disabilities or mental health issues
• from black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups, religious groups, Gypsies and Travellers
• from LGBT communities

This event will tell you more about HLF’s grant schemes Sharing Heritage; First World War: then and now; Young Roots and Our Heritage funding programmes and some of the inspiring projects which equalities groups are running using HLF funding.

Presentations will focus on HLF’s grant schemes and cover:

• What is heritage?
• The application and assessment process
• Application tips
• Project outcomes

There will be an opportunity to ask questions, meet other groups and discuss potential heritage project ideas. 1:1 HLF surgeries will be available for groups to discuss specific heritage project ideas. These need to be booked in advance.

To book your place at the event: Email: Info@glosvcsalliance.org.uk

To book a 1:1 surgery: Please email timb@hlf.org.uk by Friday 20^th January

Please let us know of any access requirements

It’s less than two months until Time to Talk Day 2017 which takes place on Thursday 2 February. Time to Talk Day brings the nation together to get talking and break the silence around mental health problems. Since it first launched in 2014, it’s sparked millions of conversations in workplaces, schools, homes, sports clubs, in the media and online.

For 2017 we’re focusing on how positive conversations about mental health change lives, and urging people to start up a conversation, whatever the hour, on Time to Talk Day itself. People will be able to log their conversations on our website and we’ll track how the nation is talking round the clock.

Your help can make sure we reach more people – and that more conversations take place – than ever before. You can support Time to Talk Day in your workplace by using our materials, spreading the word, or hosting an event.

• Download and print free posters, flyers and bunting
• Order top tip cards
• Download your communications pack
• Take a look at our suggested activities
• Spread the word - template press releases to publicise your activity

If you have Champions in your workplace, they will receive an activities pack so please make sure you link in with them.

We'd love to hear what you have planned - please contact us and let us know. Once you’ve arranged your activity please register it on our website to spread the word.

On 22 July 2016 The House of Commons Health Select Committee launched an inquiry into the action which is necessary to improve suicide prevention in England, and in November they took evidence from a wide range of contributors from across the country, including many voices from the South West.

The South West Zero Suicide Collaborative submitted written evidence, alongside Torbay Public Health Team, the RNLI, Samaritans, Suicide Crisis, Papyrus, MIND, Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue and many others. Particular thanks go to Marie Ash who courageously went to give evidence in person on behalf of the Devon Suicide Prevention Alliance, and to Lynden Lynn who wrote her own personal testimony. We look forward to seeing the results of this inquiry in the new year. Links to all the evidence is available here:

Gloucester – ²Gether NHS Foundation Trust and Gloucester SOBS are busy planning their next Conference, in partnership with the South West Zero Suicide Collaborative, to take place on 23rd June 2017

Advance Notice – Mental Health & Wellbeing Stakeholder Event

To be held at 12.45 pm to 4.00 pm on Wednesday 1 March 2017 at the Dowty Sports and Social Club, Down Hatherley Lane, Down Hatherley, Staverton, Gloucester, GL2 9QH. Further details to follow in the New Year.

Heads Up Cheltenham December – see attached

The Family Haven is looking for trustees

The Family Haven is a small local charity based in Spa Road, Gloucester, which provides practical help and support to deprived, disadvantaged and vulnerable families with pre-school children living in the County of Gloucestershire. We predominantly help families living in B&B or unsuitable accommodation, those with mental health issues, victims of domestic abuse and pre-school children with special needs.

We are looking for trustees to help govern and strategically drive The Family Haven to meet its objectives and continue to provide the much needed services to Gloucester’s most marginalised families:

1. Chair of trustees to provide guidance and leadership to the Board
2. Trustee with marketing and communications expertise including social media
3. Trustee with HR, operational management and experience of working within the voluntary sector
4. Trustee with experience of working with and managing volunteers

For further information please call Louise Williams on 07789 482597.

Mental Health Foundation : A study on 2,000 Brits has revealed that average person will say “I’m fine” 14 times a week, but only 19% will actually mean it. This is a surprising statistic - and one which we are challenging. Our ‘I’m Fine’ poster campaign has been launched across a wide network of trains in London to challenge the stigma against mental health, and to “bring back meaning” to our daily conversations.

A video campaign has also been produced to accompany our posters. Control and click to Watch our video campaign

E-bulletin produced by Public Health England South West Health & Wellbeing Team - October 2016 – see attached

This is to inform you that the PHE Guidance on Local Suicide Prevention Planning has been made available via the link below

Suicide prevention: developing a local action plan - Publications - GOV.UK

This will be followed over the next few days by a letter from the Secretary of State to the Chief Executives of each Local Authority encouraging them to use this to develop their local plans.

Other documents are available via the suicide portal: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/suicide-prevention-resources-and-guidance

Time to Change.

Save the date!

​Time to Talk Day 2017 will be on Thursday 2 February. Save the date and look out for more information soon on all the different ways you can get involved and start the conversation about mental health.

We are pleased to announce that Time to Change Employers team have secured funding for a further three years.

Since Time to Change began in 2008, over 400 organisations have committed to change the way they think and act about mental health problems in their workplace by signing the Employer Pledge.

Across the country, Time to Change also work with schools and in communities to change attitudes. While there has been significant progress in improving attitudes, raising awareness and opening up more conversations, it’s not universal. Our national campaigns will be targeted to reach people who have not yet engaged to improve their attitudes and encourage them to be open to mental health.

And we will work with hundreds more organisations, supporting them to implement plans to transform their policies and practices where mental health is concerned.

Do you work in a secondary school or youth organisation? Want to talk about mental health with students or young people you work with but not sure how?

It's not too late to join our 'make time' programme this November. Sign up and you'll receive free session plans and materials to help your students talk about mental health. You'll be joining hundreds of schools across the country taking part.

'The school loved this campaign and the students really engaged with all the work.' Sean Jordan, Youth and Wellbeing worker, Greenwood Academy

'All the staff have generally been very positive about the resources, so the feedback has been really good. The sessions were all well structured and one of the main feedback points has been that the resources are student friendly.' Laura Windebank, Academy Counsellor, Skinners’ Academy, Hackney

Email naomi.russell@rethink.org for more information

Crisis Care Concordat – moving forward

Since it was launched in February 2014, thanks to the support and commitment of everyone involved, the Concordat has gone from strength to strength. Every area in England has an action plan outlining how local organisations will come together to commission and provide better mental health crisis care. As intended, from today, Mind’s role as Concordat Secretariat comes to an end. The Concordat will now be progressed by the Department of Health, the Home Office and NHS England. All signatories remain committed to realising the aims of the Concordat and improving outcomes for everyone who experiences a mental health crisis.

>> Read more about how the Concordat will move forward