Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

Carers Rights Day 2007

Friday 7 December is Carers UK's 'Carers Rights Day 2007', the aim of which is to raise awareness of the needs of carers, increase take up of benefits and make sure carers know their rights.

RCSS is holding an event on Friday 7th December from 10am to noon with guest speaker: Frank Pitfield, Customer Services Manager, Disability and Carers Services.

The event is free of charge. If you want to attend please call 020 8514 6251 to book a place.

Do You Need an Advocate?

We will be holding a surgery at Redbridge Concern for Mental Health every Thursday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Mental health advocates support people to access and or make changes in the health and social services they receive.

Sessions are by appointment only. To book, please phone 020 8925 2435 or email rcmh.ilford@btconnect.com.

Redbridge Concern for Mental Health AGM

Our AGM is on Thursday 6th December at 12.30pm. The venue is our offices: 98-100 Ilford Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LD.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Community Development Worker

Redbridge has a new Community Development Worker - Roxanne Keynejad. Her main role is to work between the black and minority ethnic community (BME) and the NHS, finding out the obstacles to accessing mental healthcare, what works well and what could be improved and raising awareness of the services available.

Roxanne would like to find out what the BME community's opinion and experiences of mental health services. She also wants to work with local voluntary groups to raise awareness of the services available and dispel myths about the mental health system and mental ill-health which might deter black and ethnic minority people from asking for help.

If you have opinions on these issues feel free to email Roxanne at roxanne@redbridgecvs.net or call her on 0844 600 1201 extension 5435.

Drugs Line - Volunteers Wanted

Drugsline offers a full substance abuse programme for users, their families and concerned friends. Drugsline is looking for committed volunteers to answer the Crisis Line and provide support for people with drug and alcohol related issues.

Drugsline offers a comprehensive training course (day time or evening). Full support is provided and no previous experience is required.

Applications from Urdu, Bengali and Gujerati speakers, urgently needed.

The Crisis Line operates from Drugsline Crisis & Support Centre, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex, IG2 6LR.

Call 020 8554 3220 or chavi@drugsline.org for more details and an application pack.

Spirituality and Mental Health

The Mental Health Foundation has launched 2 new publications about spirituality and mental health. Keeping the faith a report for commissioners, managers and clinicians working in mental health who are keen to meet the spiritual needs of service users.

This report says that spirituality - in the form of activities, including art creation, religious worship and yoga - can support the mental health and recovery of individuals.

Making space for spirituality is a booklet for front line staff giving practical advice on how to support and respond to the spiritual needs of people with experience of mental ill health.

Maintaining the momentum towards excellent services for children and young people's mental health

This report aims to raise awareness amongst the board members of both commissioning and providing organisations about the challenges facing child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and to highlight the present window of opportunity for leaders to respond to these challenges.

It also illustrates the long-term benefits of comprehensively meeting the mental health needs of children and young people, both to the individuals and families concerned, and to public services and the economy as a whole over that individual's lifetime

You can read and download the report here

Jon Abrams
Web Site Editor
Redbridge Concern for Mental Health
98-100 Ilford Lane
Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LD
Web Site: www.rcmh.org.uk
Email:rcmh@btconnect.com
Telephone: 020 8925 2435

Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3115971
Registered Charity No. 1065770

Disclaimer

Redbridge Concern for Mental Health does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Redbridge Concern for Mental Health unless otherwise specifically stated.