HomeImagine are currently redesigning the website.
In the last year the organisation has expanded. Today more than 1000 people use Imagine services, in Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Lancashire, Sefton, London and Greater Manchester.
“Imagine has a positive approach to mental health and works to promote opportunities for people to live a full and independent life
Imagine is fortunate to have the support of many volunteers in addition to over 200 staff members.
What are you doing this week?.....
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 13-19 May and is themed around physical activity and wellbeing.
Physical activity is often described as something we ‘ought to do’ to avoid developing health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. What's less often explained is the huge potential it has to enhance our happiness and quality of life and reduce mental illness. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week aims to shift our motivation for physical activity to something we choose to do to increase our wellbeing.
Imagine are running their latest _ _ _ & latte event as a walk and talk in the beautiful Sefton Park. If you can't make that event but want to join in the fun more details of activities are available on:
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek/
Thanks to all the service users who turned out for
Imagine’s Sing and Latte!!
It was a great confidence builder and a fun way to discuss service user involvement.
Hopefully soon to return!!
The next _ _ _ _ &Latte event will be
Walk and Latte
At Sefton Park, L17 – on Friday 24th May 2013
Flyer can be downloaded – see below!
The next meeting of the Liverpool Consortium Service User Group will take place on:
Monday 13th May 2013
10.00 am - 12.30 pm
Kuumba Imani Centre, 4 Princes Road, Liverpool 8
The Consortium will be reviewing all of its groups over the next 12 months, so the agenda for this meeting will be to begin a review of the Service User Group.
Wellbeing in Hard Times: How is Liverpool responding to recession depression?
At a time when Liverpool is facing some of the most severe cuts in the country with more savings still to be made across the public sector, health and social care provision under pressure across all sectors, ongoing funding cuts to the Third Sector, redundancies and fear of redundancy across all sectors, worries about ATOS assessments and loss of benefits and suicide rates rising nationally – we have some questions.
Liverpool already has one of the highest rates of mental ill-health in the country. So, where’s the sense of urgency? How can we make the best use of available resources to prevent any further decline in Liverpool’s mental health and sense of wellbeing? How can we ensure the widest possible access to advocacy, advice and self-help in our communities? What are we doing to share information and improve knowledge about what support is available?
The Liverpool Mental Health Consortium is hosting a meeting on
Tuesday, 16th April, 9.30am – 3.00pm
Quaker Meeting House
22 School Lane
Liverpool
L1 3BT
Places are limited and must be booked in advance. Contact:
Sarah Butler, Liverpool Mental Health Consortium, on 0151 707 8799 or email sarah@liverpoolmentalhealth.org
Liverpool Mental Health Consortium is moving:-
As from 2nd April 2013 contact details will be:
Liverpool Mental Health Consortium
151 Dale Street
Liverpool L2 2AH
New Telephone No: 0151 237 2688
Development Manager – Claire Stevens Claire.Stevens@liverpoolmentalhealth.org
Involvement Worker – Sarah Butler
sarah@liverpoolmentalhealth.org
Website: www.liverpoolmentalhealth.org
Twitter: @liverpoolmhc
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Film of the week
Time to Change
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The Time to Change campaign, which is led by led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, has released a television advert to encourage people to start conversations about mental illness.
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New Redbridge Service…..
CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF A DAY OPPORTUNITIES SERVICE FOR ADULTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Imagine are delighted to have been awarded the contract for the provision of day opportunities in the London Borough of Redbridge. The new Service will commence on 1st April 2013. This is fantastic news for the charity, and its service users.
Imagine are pleased to announce we will be opening a new Social Inclusion and Independent Living Support service in Wigan in Spring 2013.
'Catastrophic failings' in schizophrenia care.
BBC news report highlights the latest findings by the Schizophrenia Commission
Time to Change mental health pledge
10 October, 2012
On World Mental Health Day, the department of Health has become the first government department to sign up to Time to Change the mental health anti-stigma programme.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/10/mental-health-pledge/
World Mental Health Day
10th October 2012
Imagine took part in the Liverpool Mental Health Surgery, held in Williamson Square, as part of our participation in the annual World Mental Health Day.
The surgery housed a number of mental health organisations and provided advice to the general public on what support is available regarding mental health.
Imagine’s service users were on hand to offer their support and advice which helped make the event such a huge success.
Service Users from Imagine also took part in the human Library exchange and were instrumental in providing the public with a unique source of information about mental health issues. Comments from the public described the advice given as “the light at the end of my tunnel”.
A massive thank you must go out to Chloe Martin and Jackie Inman for all their help – Thanks Ladies you made this day marvellous!!!
The event was sponsored by Time to Change, and aimed to raise awareness of mental health and mental health discrimination. The number of people helped and eager for advice on the day illustrates the need for more local mental health community days in Liverpool.
Leading Mental Health organisations support in welcoming MP vote to scrap outdated, discriminatory laws:...
Posted: Friday 14 September 2012
Leading mental health organisations have come together today to applaud MPs for voting through legislation to scrap outdated laws that discriminate against people with mental health problems.
MPs voted today in favour of the Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill, which will now go through to the Committee stage.
If eventually passed, it will put an end to archaic laws which interfere with the rights of people with mental health problems from participating in jury service and becoming or remaining a company director. It will also change a law that currently stipulates that MPs themselves will lose their seats if sectioned under the Mental Health Act, regardless of recovery.
Iain Brodie Browne, CEO of Imagine said: “This is a very welcome advance which recognises the potential of a great many individuals to significantly contribute to society, and removes some of the archaic barriers that prevent their inclusion."
Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind said: “This is a momentous day for this country. We are shattering the glass ceiling that has for so long existed in mental health and prevented people from playing an active role in society. Parliament, juries and companies will be more representative and will all benefit from the changes outlined in this landmark Bill.
We are finally starting to make some significant leaps forward in removing the stigma that exists around mental health. However, tackling mental health discrimination is the task of a generation. It is this type of change that is taking us further down the road and will help to end discrimination in due course.”
Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness said: “We are absolutely delighted that MPs have taken action to scrap these outdated, deeply unfair rules. This Bill sends a clear message that people with mental health problems can and should be able to fully contribute to society on an equal footing to everyone else.”
"It's absurd that capable, intelligent people are being excluded from key aspects of citizenship, based purely on the fact they have an illness. People with physical illnesses such as cancer would never be treated in this way, and it’s great to see politicians from all parties joining together get rid of these discriminatory laws.”
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: "This is another historic step towards ending the widespread discrimination that people with mental health problems face, and will help us to overturn generations of stigma and prejudice. There is no reason why people with mental health problems should not be fit to hold public office, and the fact that this is finally being recognised by Parliament sends a very positive message to the millions of people affected by mental health problems that they have just as great a contribution to make to society as anyone else.
“We recently saw four MPs speak out in Parliament about their experiences of mental health problems, and in Norway we have seen a Prime Minister remain in office while dealing with depression. Legislation which prevents those of us who have a mental health problem from fulfilling our potential is not only a great waste of talent, but also fuels stigma and discrimination."
Professor Sue Bailey, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said: “I am delighted that Members of Parliament have supported the Mental Health Discrimination Bill which goes some way to removing the stigma associated with mental health problems. I hope that it will soon enter the statute book and eradicate one of the last bastions of legalised discrimination. We are proud that so many MPs have supported the campaign and agreed with us that there should be an end to the stigma around mental health. This sends a clear message that such discrimination has no place in today’s society.”
The Sky Is Falling Down
By Samantha Dentith
Samantha Dentith is a young woman who has written a book about her own personal experience of mental health problems. It is a very honest account about what she has been through and the effect upon others close to her.
Samantha is very kindly donating 50% of her profits to Imagine from sales of this book, for which we are extremely grateful. At present the book is available in Kindle format only, price £3.08, is available from:
www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-sky-falling-down-ebook/dp/B007EDDSGO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332423769&sr=8-1
This is a very inspiring read and hopefully will help to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Personal Health Budgets
Imagine have been working in collaboration with MerseyCare on personal health budgets. Read more about them and the positibe impact this can have on day to day living by following the link:
http://www.personalhealthbudgets.dh.gov.uk/_library/Resources/Personalhealthbudgets/2011/Razia_PHB_pilot_story.pdf
Rosie Childs Centre
Officially Open!
The Rosie Childs Centre opened Sunday 18th September – over 100 people attended and shared the fun. Whilst reading groups analysed literary pieces, others relaxed with chair yoga, or enjoyed pampering in one of the health and beauty, or holistic therapy sessions. Everyone enjoyed the running buffet throughout the day.
The afternoon culminated with the vocal skill of Rachel Brown, local singer, who entertained us with songs written herself and added the final touch to a truly beautiful day.
Bookings are already being taken for next week.
WE’VE DONE IT!
Imagine's Rosie Childs Centre
Charity Abseil
Friday 16th September 2011
21 Service Users, staff, and Friends of the Charity, are tonight preparing for a descent of the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral by rope tomorrow. Each of the brave 21 have signed up to abseil this historic landmark to raise money for the Rosie Childs Women’s Centre. The team begin their ordeal at noon, and we wish them all - good weather, and good luck.
Imagine would like to thank everyone for their generosity in supporting the event which has had a marvellous response. It’s still not too late to make a donation to the Centre, or indeed add a sponsorship for one of the climbers. Please contact Paul Edwards, Elaine Mather, or Kim Mason at Head Office on 0171 709 2366.
Full list of sponsors and amount raised will be posted following the abseil.
Sponsorship required for the Imagine's new service - Rosie Childs Womens Centre
The Rosie Childs Womens Centre is due to open on 18 September and will be the only women’s Mental Health Centre in Liverpool. Imagine, with consent from Liverpool City Council, have managed to fund a Sunday-only service but the budget we have been allocated is limited. As a result there are a number of financial pressures at the Centre and we are hoping to supplement the funds available by sponsorship.
The centre will offer a range of complementary therapies, yoga, art sessions including photography, animation & film, educational courses and wellbeing sessions.
If you would like to help please contact Elaine Mather, or Kim Mason, on 0151 709 2366.
The Rosie Childs Centre website goes live Sunday 18th September 2011 - www.rosiechildscentre.org.uk
Rosie Child’s Centre
Coming soon….
A New Women’s Service from Imagine in the Stoneycroft Area
A new weekend service with bistro cafe and holistic events, will be launched this autumn on 18th September.
Please see 'Forthcoming Events' for full details and to download your invitation.
Imagine announces the launch of the Mental Health Providers - Mindful Forum.
The forum is a platform for promoting discussion and profiling innovative ideas across the mental health sector.
Staff and Service Users can access the forum by using the links below - or via the Service User Tabs from home menu.
The Mental Health Providers Forum has launched Mindful Forum – an interactive new website for providers and users of mental health services. We are creating a platform which aims to engage directly with all mental health stakeholders to generate discussion and profile and promote ideas for practical improvement to services.
Ultimately we want to capture those ideas that highlight what well thought out mental health service delivery looks like, from policy through to delivery. The forum space will feature full length articles and shorter pieces giving a quick overview of innovative ideas that have been put into practice.
Commenting on the launch of Mindful Forum, MHPF Chief Executive Dr Ian McPherson said:
‘There is a lot of innovation in the voluntary sector that does not always get the profile it deserves. MHPF wants to help these ideas and practices be disseminated more rapidly so that they can be replicated and built on to help members offer better services and value in these challenging times.’
Mindful Forum readers are actively encouraged to engage through providing feedback to the articles and ‘bright ideas’ featured – or by making a submission of their own. This can be in response to specific pieces of work being carried out by organisations or any topic of interest related to mental health. MHPF welcomes input from all interested people, from service users to professionals.
As the representative body for voluntary sector mental health provider organisations operating across England our aim is to improve the range and quality of mental health services by working to increase the involvement of the voluntary and community sector in service delivery.
Mindful Forum will contribute to this goal by providing a means for a dialogue to take place and for all parties to demonstrate views for service improvement. Initial articles and bright ideas include:
- Service user and professional experiences of psychological therapies
- Effective client involvement – developing organisational guidance
- The Wellbeing Compass
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- MHPF is the representative body for mental health organisations working across England. For more information and a list of our members visit www.mhpf.org.uk
- Visit Mindful Forum at www.mindfulforum-mhpf.org.uk and join the discussion
Law Commission calls for far-reaching reform of adult social care law
The Law Commission has published a landmark report this week on adult social care law which proposes the creation of a new national system setting out the basic support that all local authorities in England and Wales must offer. The report also recommends that assessments of individuals and their carers should be simplified and that the NHS should work more closely with local authorities.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow welcomed the report saying: ' We will take this work together with the recommendations of the independent Commission on the Funding of Care and Support in the summer to set out comprehensive reform in our Care and Support White Paper.'
NEW INFORMATION SOURCE.....
For all those interested in mental health and the services available - the Mental Health Providers Forum have introduced a new information tool in the Lightbox.
The forum is the representative body for voluntary sector mental health organisations working across England and are involved in influencing both national and regional mental health strategies. Imagine joined the Forum after its launch in December 2005.
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Lightbox Campaign and MHPF member input.....
Mental Health Providers Forum (MHPF) has launched a new campaign promoting the ability and contribution of voluntary sector organisations in supporting and delivering a broad range of mental health services.
Lightbox, which was launched on 11 April, will provide information to commissioners and GP Leads that will support them to meet the needs of their local population. It will ensure that when it comes to mental health services those in leadership roles are properly informed to commission services that make a difference.
You can contact Onye Imonioro: o.imonioro@mhpf.org.uk for more information. We will also shortly be sending around more detailed information on the various ways that your organisation can become actively involved in the campaign.
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In a letter sent out by Dr Ian McPherson, MHPF has invited members to input to the NHS Future Forum – the body set up to lead the Government’s listening exercise on the proposed NHS modernisation.
A reminder that you can feed your observations and comments on the themes set out by the NHS FF by sending your views, by 9th May, to Paul Farmer CE who has been invited to join the Forum, This will enable Paul Farmer to get sight of your views as quickly as possible and for MHPF to put together an overview of the key messages to share with members.
Feedback, to be copied to info@mhf.org.uk, may be on any of the themes but we envisage the sector will be most interested in the issue of Choice and competition – addressing the following questions:
o Which are the types of services where choice of provider is most likely to improve quality?
o What is the best way to ensure a level playing field between the different kinds of provider who could be involved?
o What else can be done to make patient choice a reality?
(An oversight of the themes being addressed by the NHS FF is given below, with a broad outline of some of the key concerns.)
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· Accountability and patients
This addresses the move away from the current "top-down" management structure of the NHS to an emphasis on locally run services delivered by GP Consortia. Whilst delivery led by local need should ensure a more responsive health care system there is concern: about the ability of GPs to act independently as commissioners; and a worsening of the whole ‘postcode lottery’ access to health care conundrum.
· Choice and competition
Under current reforms, including Any Willing Provider, the onus is on competition between providers as the incentive to: stop complacency; and act as the driver for care providers to deliver quality care for patients. A key concern is that whilst competition will leave the strongest providers standing – or the most able to whether the financial storm through high volumn delivery of services – it will drive down the overall quality and range of care being provided.
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