Cmhp summer 2010 newsletter

C O R N W A L L M E N T A L H E A L T H P R O J E C T

Summer 2010
Mental Health Project Newsletter Summer 2010

Mental Health Project Newsletter Summer 2010 2

Inside this issue...

Cover artwork: by Karen Mitchell

Project update 4

Welcome to new project staff 5

SURG update 7

Photo competition! 8

Independent Visitor feedback 9

Community Visitor feedback 13

In memory of Graham Lewis 17

Self help group listings 21

Dementia Carers 25

Benzos—Prescription Addiction 27

Are you eligible for concessionary bus fares? 29

Free mobile calls to benefit claim lines 30

Rural Community Link Project relaunch 35

Cornwall Respect Festival 44

Editor: Nicki Sweeney Sub-Editor: Jane Morgan


Dear Reader

You will have read in our Spring issue an
article written by Ms K Weber detailing some
of the problems she and her partner had
experienced with care from mental health
services.

Unfortunately the article was printed with
typographical and spelling errors that were
made by us and not Ms Weber.

We would like to publicly apologise to Ms
Weber and her partner for these errors and for
any upset they have caused.

Best wishes

Cornwall Mental Health Project



update

Well it's been a very busy time here – we've said goodbye to two
members of staff in February and are now welcoming three new
ones! Chris Houghton is our new Project Manager, Abbie Willatt
is our new East Co-ordinator and Nicky Cope is the West Project
Worker, who will be doing more of the outreach work with
service users in the west. You can hear from these three later
on.

Now that we have new staff, we hope to expand our Community
Visitor Scheme over the coming months. At the moment, our
volunteers in the west go to Richmond House, Boundervean and
Anchor Project day centres; in the east, our volunteers visit
Alexandra House and Trevillis House Mental Health Team offices.
We hope to set up an arrangement at a GP surgery and a
Cornwall Council One Stop Shop shortly.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Community Visitor, please
contact our Administrator, Jane, on 01872 243532.

Elsewhere, Nightlink have launched a new text service – see p.11
for more information. We have a feature on Outlook South
West's dementia carers service on p.24 and the re-launch of the
Rural Community Link Project on p.34. Look out also for
information on concessionary travel fares in Cornwall on p. 28
and info on free calls to benefits help lines from mobiles on p. 29

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mentalhealth@cornwallrcc.co.uk


INTRODUCTION FROM CHRIS HOUGHTON—
CORNWALL MENTAL HEALTH
PROJECT MANAGER

I am pleased to be writing my introduction to you, having
now been in post as Project Manager for eight weeks.

During this time I have already met many of our valued
service user representatives through SURG, those that kindly give up their time
and offer personal experience as volunteers, key partnership organisations
through the Experts Reference Group and other meetings – all of these people
are involved in shaping and delivering an effective mental health service in
Cornwall.

I have had time to better understand the good work that is being delivered
across the county and the valuable contributions people make to support and
nurture others suffering with mental health issues or those who care for them
at home. This help comes from people who share their experience of living with
mental health and accessing services that fall within this arena. It is good to
witness the local authority (NHS and Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust)
value and respect the wealth of experience and knowledge service users/carers
and organisations working within the voluntary and community sectors can add
by being actively involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of mental
health services.

My previous roles have been working within the children, young people and
families directorate. Prior to starting my new job as Project Manager for adult
mental health, I was one of eight strategic leads in Cornwall to deliver the
Children and Young People’s Plan for Cornwall agenda. I was tasked with
ensuring that all children and young people in Cornwall had a voice and a
mechanism for having that voice heard and listened to. This was to ensure they
influenced decisions being made that impacted on them as individuals or on the
communities they lived in.

I was responsible for all children and young people from 0 to 18 (or 25 with
additional needs), this included children and young people suffering with mental
health problems, children in care, children with a disability and children from
black/minority ethnic groups. I needed to make sure all children and young
people had access to information, support and opportunities and that their
voices, ideas and opinions were listened to and included in future planning of
services and the recruitment and selection of staff (who work with children and
young people).

I was very pleased to be given the opportunity to bring my experience into the
adult health arena, and to work with people and partnerships to influence, plan,
develop and deliver a robust mental health service network for Cornwall.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Nicki Sweeney and
Jane Morgan who have worked hard to keep the Mental Health Project running,
following the departures of Jenny Pheby and Lesley Ayers. I would also like to
welcome Abbie Willatt and Nicky Cope into the team, and to say we are looking
forward to meeting and working with you all in developing a strong and
effective mental health service for Cornwall.

Best wishes
Chris



Hello everyone…

I have joined the Cornwall Mental Health Project
on the 30th March as the Mental Health Project
Co-ordinator for East Cornwall.

I have previously been working as a project worker for two years in
Stonham floating support in Penzance working with a diverse client
group. My background before this is in the Mental Health field in
London for the charity Thames Reach. I spent three and half years as
a project worker at a supported housing project for people with
severe mental health problems. This role was incredibly challenging
and I learnt a lot about myself. I also worked in several daycentres
and hostels in London.

Moving from London to Cornwall I recognise that stigma is an issue in
Cornwall. I am excited to be working in Mental Health again and am
passionate about breaking this stigma down.

I look forward to working with everyone in my new role and creating
some positive change in the mental health system, I say let
everyone’s voice be heard!

Many Thanks
Abbie

Hi,
My name is Nicky Cope & I joined the Mental
Health Project in early May as the mental health
Project Worker for the west of Cornwall.

I have worked for many years in mental health in South Wales &
London.
On moving to Cornwall I concentrated on bringing up three small
children & did various jobs to fit in with their time table rather than
mine!

I am now really looking forward to returning to mental health and
have met many keen & enthusiastic people already over the past few
weeks and looking forward to getting out & about, visiting & meeting
more.

This is a new role for the project so if you have any ideas or info
you’d like to pass on or discuss - do ring or email me.

nicky.cope@cornwallrcc.co.uk Tel:07791322096


SERVICE USER REPRESENTATIVE
GROUP
(SURG) UPDATE

What is User Representation?
User representation is a two way process. One aspect is about
representing User concerns, providing a User perspective on issues
and ensuring that User views are taken into account. In essence it is
about supporting, promoting and protecting the rights of service
Users.

Recent activities
At a recent SURG meeting, it was discussed that some day centre
members are feeling uneasy about some of the changes that have
taken place at centres over the last few years. Apparently, Cornwall
Foundation Trust have set up a review group to look at day services
and there is service user representation on this group to ensure
service users are able to offer their views. More updates to follow.

Service user reps attend the bimonthly Experts Reference Group,
hosted by the Primary Care Trust. At one meeting, they reported
hearing from Sarah Newham from Jobcentre Plus. Sarah is employed
as the Mental Health Co-ordinator and will be looking at the support
for people with mental health issues returning to work.

Rose Wickett had given a podcast about the Independent Visiting
Scheme on Harvest Ward and said that she has been invited to attend
the AIMS (Accreditation of Mental Health Services) training in London
with two members of ward staff.

At the March meeting, news was announced on the sad loss of
Graham Lewis. Graham had done tremendous work with LINk and
the formation and creation of this group over the years and had been
actively involved with SURG. Rose, on behalf of SURG, would always
remember him for his Father Christmas appearances at our Christmas
parties and “hopes he rests in peace”.

Cornwall Foundation Trust have requested that SURG hold a one-off
forum meeting in September. More news to follow at a later date.

If you are interested in becoming a Service User
Representative, please get in touch: 01872 243532
We are particularly interested in hearing from members of self
help groups, young people and people from black and minority
ethnic communities.


Calling all budding photographers!

Send us your seasonal nature photos for our newsletter! The four
photos that most capture the spirit of each season will each win a
prize of a fantastic £10 M & S Voucher and be featured on the front
of the next four Cornwall Mental Health Project newsletters!
Beaches, forests, animals, sunsets, anything you fancy as long as it
captures a season in Cornwall…

One picture within each category of 'Spring', 'Summer', 'Autumn'
and 'Winter', will be selected as a winner.

Please send y o ur pictures in jpeg format to
abbie.willatt@cornwallrcc.co.uk along with your name and contact
details. Or post your print to Abbie Willatt at Cornwall Mental
Health Project, 2 Princes Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2ES.

All entries to be received by 30 July 2010


Independent Visiting Scheme

Feedback

Longreach – Bay Unit
• An Independent Visitor has investigated the cost for service
users wanting to print out things from disc at Longreach.
Initially, colour printing was to be charged at 20p per sheet and
10p per sheet for black & white. However, this seemed a bit
steep so it has been agreed to drop the price to 5p for black and
white printing and 10p for colour.

• An Independent Visitor has been involved in the design of
Service User Information Leaflets for Fletcher and Bay wards,
which will help newly admitted patients with the basic
information they might need to know – this has happened as a
result of comments to the Independent Visitor on Bay Unit.
These leaflets are now available on the wards.

• Some service users have said that there is quite a lot of
confusion with the patients due to different bank staff, workman
etc entering and leaving the ward. The Independent Visitor
asked the Ward Manager if name badges for staff etc could be
more visible so that patients can identify people. It was also
agreed that visitors badges will now also be given out at
Reception on arrival.

• Further work is being undertaken to offer separate spaces to
men and women on the ward. The TV lounges will, in future, be
accessed via the respective male or female bedroom corridors
and the entrances to these corridors will have a coded keypad.

• The ward suggestion box is going to be re instated to encourage
feedback from service users direct to hospital staff.


• The quiet lounge is to be used for group work and
complementary therapies throughout the week. Work will start
on this shortly. This will enable staff to have more input to
help with the recovery process.

• Following feedback from patients, there has been an
improvement in the availability of recreational activities on the
ward and the League of Friends are going to fund more games

• Following feedback from service users, movie evenings have
been taking place on the Unit.

Cove
• Cove now has a weekly Independent Visitor and all is going
well.

Bodmin Hospital – Harvest
• The windows on Harvest Ward have been repaired, thanks to
Fran Vosper of Grosvenor for his help with this.

• An Independent Visitor, Rosemary, has been invited to
participate in AIMS (Accreditation of Inpatient Mental Health
services) and she will be attending training in London. Harvest
Ward is undertaking their AIMS accreditation in May.

• Rose also gave her Podcast about Harvest Ward with Andy
Jago in February and it was very well received.

• A new Activities Co-ordinator would be taking up post which
would include cover at the weekends as well as weekdays.

Bowman
• The Independent Visitor recently made an Easter sponge and
said how lovely the atmosphere was on the ward. She said
that it is like “a house within the ward”.


Fletcher

• An Independent Visitor spoke to a patient who had been
admitted to the Unit for the first time and the service user
expressed positive comments about the ward and staff.

Fettle

• Independent Visitors now hold a fortnightly meeting on the ward
for patients to feed back any concerns or comments, liaising with
the ward Deputy Manager after each meeting.

• Under recent Government legislation, men and women have to
be segregated for eating and sleeping; men will come back over
to the main ward area and women are to be moved over the
bungalow. Therefore, there will be no communal dining
arrangements in the future.

Garner

• Ward Manager has bought a new cooker for the Independent
Visitor to use on Garner. The Visitor was delighted and thanked
her on behalf of the Scheme.

• The bottom garden had been altered with the help of the Kings
Fund.

• The Visitor has been working with the Mental Health Advocates in
getting the views of patients with dementia on the Ward heard.

If you would like to join our team of
volunteers at either Bodmin or
Longreach Hospitals, call us now on
01872 243532 for a chat about the
role.


NIGHTLINK
Re-Gain are proud to offer a new emotional support
service.

N Nightlink
E Emotional
S Support
T Texting

The text service is open daily 5pm – midnight

Text to:

07717 989021

This service is available to anyone resident in
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It allows people
who are perhaps a little nervous of calling the
helpline to make first contact.


Community Independent Visiting

Feedback

Our Community Independent Visitors are now visiting the following
places on a regular basis:

Alexandra House, St Austell

Richmond House, Penzance

Anchor Project, Falmouth

Boundervean, Camborne

Trevillis House, Liskeard

Feedback from service users is brought to our monthly Visitors'
meeting and key issues raised are taken to the Community Care
Services Forum. The CCSF is attended by Cornwall Foundation Trust
(CFT) community services team leaders and managers, including
those who manage the Home Treatment Team. Also in attendance
are, of course, Service User representatives and Community
Independent Visitors. This forum is chaired by a Service User
Consultant. Our Community Visitors and Project Co-ordinators have
picked up the following issues and taken them to the Community
Care Services Forum.

Issues raised by service users recently:

• It’s been raised that Care Plans are being written without the
client, clients are not being given a copy of the care plan and
reviews are not being done regularly enough.

Response: It was agreed that a working group be set up to look at
these issues. Nicki Sweeney is co-ordinating these meetings and
they are typically attended by service users, an advocate from SEAP
and CFT community staff. CFT are currently introducing a new IT
system (RIO) and this may have an impact on how care plans are


electronically recorded and whether this allows care co-ordinators to
work more closely with service users when producing care plans. In
the meantime, simple changes to working have been suggested,
such as: service users writing their own care plans, care plans being
done in a more creative way rather than simply form-filling, using
the person-centred planning approach from Learning Disability
services, using an independent facilitator at care plan review and
care plans to form the centre of any meeting with a care co-
ordinator. Further meetings are scheduled to take place to look at
these suggestions.

• Comments from a number of service users who see CPNs
from
varying CMHTs stating that, when their CPN visits them, all they
talk about is the CPN's problems (family, relationships, health). In
the last month 3 service users, all independently of one another,
have said that they had helped their CPN through divorce,
depression and physical health concerns. If 3 service users felt that
they had been unable to 'burden' their CPN with their mental health
issues because the CPN seemed too fragile then I feel the
relationship between them has become off kilter. The service users
concerned live in Newquay, Redruth and Penzance to give an
indication of where these issues are occurring. We would like to ask
Team Managers to maybe be aware of which team members are
having personal problems and to ensure they are not off-loading on
to their patients.

Response: Team managers at the CCSF agreed that CPNs should
not be discussing their personal problems with service users,
although everyone at the meeting recognised that, in building a
relationship with a client, a professional may well talk about personal
things. However, it was agreed that team managers would look out
for staff who may be experiencing personal difficulties and ensure
they are not discussing these with service users.

• Someone recently highlighted that they had been receiving
support from the Home Treatment Team and although the support
was very good, there was sometimes a lack of consistency in doing
what they had agreed with the service user. For instance, agreeing
to call at the end of each day but sometimes phoning first thing in
the morning.

Response: It was agreed that these comments would be fed back
to the HTTs, as consistency with people whose mental health is
deteriorating is really important.


• Staffing levels at day centres are felt to be low so that
members feel they don't have enough contact with staff. It was
acknowledged that at the Anchor Project in Falmouth the manager
brings some of his (non-confidential) paperwork downstairs with
him so that he can still be available - this was felt to be a really
positive solution by members.

Response: This suggestion would be fed back to the Day Service
Review Committee.

• Some people have trouble remembering what's been agreed/
discussed when they see their Care Co-ordinator. How do we ensure
these people have a way of remembering info?

Response: It as felt by the team managers that whilst care co-
ordinators need to be aware of anyone who has trouble
remembering information and to help with this, it is also the service
users’ responsibility to flag this issue up and maybe to take a pen
and pencil to each meeting so that they can write down all the
important things that have been said.

• Positive comments have been received about Bolitho CMHT.
Someone said they'd received a very good service, careful
monitoring of medication, all services they accessed (Social
Services, Education & Health) had all worked well together,
efficiently and effectively and service user said they had made real
progress as a result.

Response: This was fed back to the Team Manager at Bolitho who
was very happy to have had good feedback.

If you have any comments about the services you have received,
whether good or bad, please let us know. You can contact us in the
following ways:

Email: mentalhealth@cornwallrcc.co.uk

Via a client feedback form at www.cornwallrcc.co.uk/
mental_health_service_user_involvement.html

Tel: Abbie (East Cornwall) 01872 243557
Nicky C (West Cornwall) 01872 243532


Words and Minds

Do you enjoy reading a good book?

Would you like a chance to chat about it
over tea and biscuits
in a safe and friendly environment?

Words and Minds is a new kind of reading group
where we read a good book aloud and talk about what it means
to us.

Open and informal – join in as much or as little as you like
free of charge
oh and we have chocolate biscuits too!

Just come along

TRURO LIBRARY or ST IVES LIBRARY

Every Thursday 10am -12 noon

For more details, call the library on 0300 1234 111


In memory of Graham Lewis
I heard about Graham’s death at a Service
User
Representative Group meeting. I was sitting
at the table, getting my papers organised
and ready, when Nicki announced the she
had some sad news. Graham had died
recently.

I sat and listened to what she was saying. I recognised the
name, but could not picture his face. Then it came to me. He
was quite a character, once a journalist, whom I had met at
SURG, and was a real contributor to discussions. One of those
people who had clear views, derived from years of personal
experience and recovery alongside others, and was ready to
share those views.

I immediately did what I usually do in those situations,
wondered how he was when he died, and desperately hoped
he had not been lonely and scared, and had not known that
death was coming. I felt waves of grief and sadness rush over
me and felt very tearful, and resorted to swallowing back
tears.

I felt sad that he had died before his time, I felt sad that I had
not got to know him, and was hoping to, sad that he had not
been able to start using his journalism skills on the newsletter
as he had offered to, and Nicki had leapt at the opportunity.

But I also felt very sad, and angry, because I knew that
Graham didn’t manage to get the help and support that he
needed, wanted and deserved. This was particularly
significant, because as those who met him and chatted with


him knew, Graham was not a shy person. He had clear views,
passionately held, and, thankfully, he expressed them clearly.
Yet, he didn’t get the help that he needed. Indeed, I got the
impression that he felt that he was regarded by some as a
‘difficult’ service user.

It really bothers me, that in order to get better support,
tailored to
our needs, we need to use energy, skills and experience that
many people with mental health problems do not have
enough of – that, for example, just getting one meeting
arranged can be an exhausting process. That some of us have
not seen our Care Plans, or they have been written without
much input from us, the service user.

I do not believe it has to be like this. I believe –passionately -
that services can be better – much better, and that
professionals and managers can have a better working
environment too. I also believe that funding is part of the
solution, but not the whole answer by any means.

I believe that individual service users, but also organisations
like the Service User Representative Group, now re-launched,
and the forums, (re-launching), have a vital role to play, and
that we can do a great deal to influence the way services
develop. This is starting to happen, in that we are laying the
foundations for an effective and focussed way of getting our
message across, as a group, and so making a difference. We
can make a difference – we can improve the service. My hope
is that one way we can remember Graham is by using the
means we have to push harder and persistently for improved
mental health services.

Rob Gough


NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION

Every quarter we have 1200 of these newsletters
printed. 1000 are posted out to individuals and
organisations across Cornwall. This has a huge impact
not only on our budget but on the environment too.

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If you would be happy to receive an email with a link to
our online newsletter instead of receiving one in the
p o s t , p l e a s e c o n t a c t u s a t
mhmailinglist@cornwallrcc.co.uk with your name,
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please let us know and we'll remove you from our
mailing list.

Thank you


The provision of out of hours support for
people with mental health problems
(Independent Living and Wellbeing)

LINk is looking at where someone goes if they need support with Mental
Health problems outside of normal working hours. There is a concern that
the current out of hours provision in Cornwall is under resourced,
especially during the night.

The Mental Health Review Group due to take place on the 9th March was
postponed to give more time for LINk recommendations to be included in
the commissioning strategy. At the latest Expert Reference Group it was
confirmed that there would be a meeting of the Service Specification (SS)
Group. The group meet to discuss what they will do and who will be
involved in the group. The LINk Mental Health Out of Hours Have Your Say
Report will form a large part of their discussion in the SS group. There will
be an update at the next ERG and LINk is working with the SS Group to
look at how we can be involved further.

At the last LINk Review Group meeting it was highlighted that a clear
pathway needs to be established so that service users and professionals
know what support is available when and how to access it. The Map of
Medicine is a new system that has been worked on nationally by the NHS
and is now being developed in Cornwall. It provides a visualisation of the
ideal, evidence-based patient pathway for common and important
conditions and shows the patients journey. The Map is a web-based tool
that can be used by patients and clinicians, providing an overview that can
be shared across all care settings.

Currently in Cornwall the Primary Care Trust are starting to look at
developing the national pathway frameworks to create local Pathways.
Following the Review Group discussions LINk has written to the
department working on the Map of Medicine for Cornwall to recommend
that they look at the pathway for mental health, with a specific focus on
accessing support out of hours. They have responded to say they will be
bringing together a meeting of the relevant members of the Primary Care
Trust and Cornwall Partnership Trust to discuss the LINk recommendation.
The Review Group will be updated on the outcomes of the meeting.

NEXT DATE: Tuesday 8th June 14:00-16:00

NEXT ACTIONS:

▪ Attend Expert Reference Group and subsequent service specification
meeting.
▪ Monitor progress made from LINk and ERG Crisis Support Report.
▪ On going review by Facilitators and LINk Hosts.
▪ Review Group meeting on 8th June.


Local Self-Help Support Groups

Cornwall Mental Health

Breakaway Hearing Voices Network
Support for people who want to West Cornwall
reduce or come off Tuesdays, 1.30-3.30 pm
Benzodiazepines Healing Star, Causewayhead,
Thursdays, twice a month, Penzance
2-4 pm 2 Princes Street, Truro Mid Cornwall
Thursdays, 4-5 pm
Camel Club Newquay Mind, 40c East St,
Social group Newquay
Tuesdays & Fridays 10.00-1.30 East Cornwall
pm Wednesdays, 2-3.30 pm
Delabole Church, Delabole Bodmin (please call 07807
813996 for details)
Cornwall Survivors Group
Mutual support for male
Manic Depression/
survivors of rape or sexual
Bipolar Groups
abuse, Tuesdays, 7.00 pm,
West Cornwall
St Austell Every 3rd Weds of the month,
2-4 pm Healing Star,
Creative Words Causewayhead, Penzance
Creative writing group
Monday mornings, 10.30am— Mid Cornwall
12.30 pm, Once a month, Mondays
Falmouth Health Centre, (please phone for dates)
Trevaylor Road Newquay Centre,
Please call Victoria on 01326 17a St Michael’s Rd, Newquay
319030 to reserve a place
East Cornwall
Every 4th Tues of the month,
Where telephone numbers are 10-12 pm
not given, call Cornwall Liskerrett Centre, Varley Lane,
Mental Health Project for Liskeard
details on 01872 243532


Perranporth Coffee Corner Rural Community Link

Social group Project (RCLP)
Wednesdays 10.30– 1.00 pm Welcome groups—all run
Upstairs in the Conservative Club, 10am—12.30 pm
St Piran’s Road, Perranporth
Monday—St Blazey
Call Brenda 01872 572453 Tuesday—Indian Queens
or Betty on 572546 Wednesday—St Dennis
Friday—Penwithick & Lostwithiel
Men’s group
Pink Umbrella LGBT Group
Gay, lesbian, bi-sexual & trans One Sunday a month for
support Restormel residents
Every 3rd Friday of the month, For info on any of the RCLP
1-3 pm, 2 Princes Street, Truro groups, please call 01726
821858

Redruth Friendship Club SOBS
Social Club Suicide bereavement support
group
Wednesdays
Meets monthly in Carrick
12.00-3.00 pm
Call 07952 410637 for further
Redruth YMCA, info
Station Rd, Redruth
St Agnes Self Help Group
NEW!!! Social Support Group
Mondays 10.00-1.00 pm
Freedom OCD Group
Coffee lounge, At Agnes
Meets every last Thursday of the
Methodist Church, British Rd,
month
St Agnes
10.30am-12.30pm

Truro
If you would like your self help
group listed here, call Nicki on
01872 243542


Mind Social Groups

Penwith/ Kerrier Carrick cntd
Camborne Supper Clubs
Mondays, 1.30-3.30 pm, Meet once a month in
Camborne Parish Church Hall, Wetherspoons in Truro &
Church Street (opposite Aldis) Falmouth.
Helston Please call Carrick Mind for
details on 01872 222469
Tuesdays, 10 Catholic Church
Hall, Clodgey Lane (near Tescos
roundabout)
Penzance
Restormel
Wednesdays, 10am—12pm
Patchwork Group
St Mary’s Church, Chapel Street
Mondays 9.30am-12.00pm
People can attend a group The Pavilion Workshop, Mount
once for a taster session. Wise Car Park, Newquay
After this, a referral is re-
quired from a GP, mental Newquay S.H.E. Group
health worker, housing sup- ( women’s social group)
port or other support organi-
Mondays 10am-1pm
sations.
The Newquay Centre, St
For info on any of the Mind
Michael’s Road
groups, please call 01209
714 550
Newquay Coffee Corner
Carrick Wednesdays 10am-12.30pm
Truro Coffee Corner The Newquay Centre
Tuesdays, 10 am –12 pm
Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, Out ‘n’ About Group ( activity
Truro group)
Falmouth Coffee Corner Thursdays 10am-12pm
Thursdays,10.30am-12.30 pm Various community venues
W.I. Rooms, Webber Street,
Falmouth


Restormel cntd
St Columb Major Coffee Corner
St Stephen Coffee Corner Fridays 10am-12.30pm
Fridays 10am-12.30pm The Columba Centre, Church
St Stephen Community Centre, Hall
Fore St For more information please
contact Lynn Newman on
St Austell Coffee Corner 01637 851155

Fridays 10am-1pm
St John’s Methodist Church,
Bodmin Road

10 Helpful Hints for Carers: Practical
solutions for carers living with people with
dementia

10 Helpful Hints for Carers is an easy-to-read guide for carers
living with people with dementia. It provides simple, practical
solutions to the everyday problems family carers can face when
looking after a person with dementia. Covering areas like how to
cope with aggression, creating relaxing environments,
'wandering', sleeplessness and how to cope with dementia and
depression, it is a mine of information and good advice.
Professor June Andrews and Professor Allan House, 2009
The book costs £7.50 from the University of Stirling

The web link is : http://www.dementiashop.co.uk/?q=node/271

Telephone enquiries: 01786 467740

Email enquiries: dementiashop@stir.ac.uk
Postal enquiries:
Dementia Shop
Dementia Services Development Centre
Iris Murdoch Building
University of Stirling
Stirling
Scotland
FK9 4LA


DEMENTIA CARERS
(Help, advice and information
for carers of people with dementia)

For the past year, Outlook South West has been commissioned by
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly to deliver a programme of needs led
information to carers who live at home looking after loved ones with
dementia.

The informational support has been co-ordinated and delivered by
Outlook South West’s Dementia Carer Team, made up of Jo Hague,
Chloe Hickson and Niki Welch. The team has used road shows,
information sessions, memory cafes, cognitive stimulation therapy
groups and occasional home visits to reach carers in the community.

The team’s information sessions consist of the following modules:

• What is dementia?
• Understanding behaviours that may be challenging
• Identifying and managing stress
•Caring for the carer
•Understanding change and loss
•The importance of activities and life history
•Creating a life story book and holistic approaches for maintaining
wellbeing. Through the delivery of these subjects, attendees gain new
information, skills and techniques designed to aid them in their
roles as carers.

Jo Hague, the lead dementia care trainer said: “Due to an increased
knowledge and greater understanding of dementia, carers have been
reporting improved results and a real sense of empowerment. They
are also highlighting the importance of coming together and talking
with others in similar circumstances. Many have expressed that they
no longer feel so isolated and alone.”


After attending the information sessions, most people will go on to
attend their local memory cafe for support and social activities. One
particular carer who took her husband along to a cognitive stimulation
group, after eight weeks, went on to visit a few memory cafes in her
locality and reported that her husband’s memory impairment had
improved due to him being engaged in such stimulating
environments.

Carer quotes

“I got out of the sessions what I came for – information and the
opportunity to share thoughts and feelings. Also, the knowledge that
you’re not being j udged.”
Carer, Liskeard

“Since attending the information sessions I have had a number of
very cheerful and upbeat conversations with Dad and only a few
problematic ones. This means so much. Distracting towards hobbies,
interests and past memories is very productive. Of course, it’s one
day at a time, but good days so far.”
Carer, Truro

If you would like to find out more about forthcoming events, please
call Outlook South West on 01208 871904 or email
johague@outlooksw.co.uk.

Niki Welch leads a group of
carers in Launceston and
explains how hand massage
can be used to create a calm
and relaxing atmosphere.


Benzos – prescription
addiction

According to a Daily Mail article recently, tranquilisers are
being routinely prescribed by GPs without patients being
informed of their powerful side effects or the immense
difficulty many people have in coming off them.

The article states that 1.5 million people today are addicted
to benzodiazepines (the type of drug often prescribed by
GPs for anxiety and sleep problems) and are unaware that
symptoms they experience, such as panic attacks,
sleeplessness, blurred vision, are the side effects of these
drugs not the anxiety itself. However, these drugs are
highly addictive and withdrawing from them can be a
challenging, painful and frightening experience with little or
no support from the NHS to do so.

Benzos include: Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Clonazepam
(Rivotril), Diazepam (Valium), Loprazolam (Dormonoct),
Lorazepam (Ativan), Lormetazepam, Nitrazepam
(Mogadon), Oxazepam (Serenid-d/forte), Temazepam,
Zolpidem (Stilnoct), Zopiclone (Zimovane) and Zaleplon
(Sonata)

The article states that GPs are advised to prescribe Benzos
for no more than 2 to 4 weeks because of their highly
addictive nature but many people claim they have been on
them for much longer. Often Benzo addicts are older people
who've been taking them for years. Rarely are alternatives
offered, such as psychological therapies.


In Cornwall, help with coming off Benzos is available from the
self help group, Breakaway. Whilst it is not advised that
people attempt to come off these powerful drugs by
themselves without medical advice, the group can offer
support from other people who have successfully withdrawn
from Benzos themselves.

The group says,

"our group is friendly and welcoming. If you think you
would like to come along, you can phone us and ask all
the questions you want to. A lot of people are nervous
at first, and feel frightened that they will be pressurised
into reducing the amount they take before they are
ready. We believe everyone has to decide for
themselves—we’ll help you whatever you decide. The
group is run by someone who has come off pills
themselves, and understands how frightening this can
be.

"Because Benzodiazepines have so many physical
effects, you may need to ask your doctor to check any
symptoms which worry you. Doctors are increasingly
aware of the problems caused by Benzodiazepines, and
will be happy to help you."

If you would like to talk to someone from Breakaway, you
can ring Rosemary on 07788 572908 every day until 9pm.

If you would like to read the Daily Mail article about Benzo
addiction, you can go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/
article-1259892/Thousands-60s-hooked-tranquillisers-turned-
virtual-zombies.html#ixzz0izxsugYN.


ELIGIBILITY FOR CONCESSIONARY BUS FARES
Can you get free or reduced bus fares?

The Depart for Transport is of the opinion that the types of
disability which should enable people to claim the statutory
concession are those which are permanent or which have lasted
at least twelve months - or which are likely to last at least twelve
months, and have a substantial effect on a person’s ability to
carry out normal day to day activities.

If you have a mental health problem, you can submit a claim for
concessionary fares if you fit the following:

G People who would be refused a driving licence on medical
grounds

People who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds
under Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (except on the
grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol).

Those who are currently barred from holding a licence are people
with:

•Uncontrolled epilepsy
•A severe mental disorder
•Liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting
(whether as a result of cardiac disorder or otherwise)
•The inability to read a registration plate in good light at
20.5 metres
•Other disabilities which are likely to cause the driving of
vehicles by them to be a source of danger to the public.

Cornwall Council requires ONE type of the following items of proof:

•Evidence from a medical professional on official paper
•confirming a medical condition that would cause a licence to be
withdrawn or refused
•Letter from DVLA giving notice of refusal or withdrawal of
•licence
•Social Services registration

For more information, you can call Cornwall Council on 0300 1234
222


Free mobile calls for benefit claimants starting
from 18 January 2010
Free phone calls for most people using their mobiles to claim benefits
and pensions are announced by the Department for Work and
Pensions today. From next week, six of the biggest mobile phone
network companies will no longer charge their customers for calls to
the Department’s 0800 Benefit Claim lines. Currently 12% of UK
households use only mobile phones and do not have a land line.

Calls to claim benefits and state pension use 0800 numbers which are
already free to customers using BT land lines and mobiles. But
currently people calling 0800 numbers from other
mobile phone providers are charged for these calls.

The Department has now reached agreement with O2, Orange,
Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone to end
charges to their customers for mobile calls to around seventy of its
0800 numbers. These numbers are used by people making initial
claims for benefit and pensions and to request emergency payments,
such as crisis loans.

Together the six companies with whom the Department has now
signed agreements cover over 90% of the mobile market in the UK.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, said:
"We don't want people who lose their jobs or the poorest pensioners
to be penalised when they need to claim benefits just because they
call from a mobile phone. Lots of people need to use mobiles rather
than landlines.

“That's why we've been working hard to get this deal to make sure
people don't lose out."

The DWP estimate that there are around 60 million phone calls to its
0800 numbers each year, and around 15% (9 million) are from
mobile phones.

Source: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/previ ous-admi ni stration-news/press-
releases/2010/january-2010/dwp007-150110.shtml

CMHP says: If your mobile network provider is
NOT listed in the article above, you may still be
charged for calls to 0800 numbers to benefits lines.
the free phones calls are only for people with the
named providers.


Note from the Editor

In the last edition of our newsletter (Spring 2010) we
published a letter written by Ms K Weber detailing some of the
problems she and her partner experienced when trying to get
help from mental health services.

The letter has provoked a range of responses, both positive
and negative. The reasons for publishing this letter were
about giving service users a voice and enabling readers to
benefit from the experiences of others. Ms Weber’s letter
gave very useful information about what people are entitled to
with regards to care plans under the Care Programme
Approach, as well as highlighting the stigma and
discrimination that some experience.

Of course, everyone’s experiences of care from mental health
services differs from one person to the next; many are very
happy with the service they receive, others are not.

Cornwall Mental Health Project aims to hear all comments
about all mental health services and to work in partnership
with service users and organisations to help improve services
for people across the county. Our role is not to judge whether
a comment is right or wrong, but to help service users and
carers to be heard so that problems can be resolved.

After reading Ms Weber’s comments, Cornwall Partnership
Foundation Trust felt it important to respond to her and a
letter from CFT’s Customer Services is on the following page.


10 May 2010

The Editor
Cornwall Mental Health Project Newsletter

For publication
In response to Ms K Weber

As a Trust we aim to provide our patients with the highest quality of care
within the available resources. We were sorry to hear of the experience
described in Ms Weber’s letter to the Mental Health Proj ect.

We were very pleased Ms Weber felt able to highlight her concerns to us
on her and her partner’s behalf. This has allowed us the opportunity to
fully investigate the issues raised and respond accordingly. I would like to
thank Ms Weber for her feedback.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes comments from
patients, relatives and carers. It is only by examining the way we work
and acting on feedback that we can improve.

We have a Customer Support Team who will help and support people to
give us feedback. They can be contacted on 01726 291109/1034, e-mail
cftcustomersupport@cornwall.nhs.uk.

The Ombudsman is available to provide an independent review and
assess if the Trust has completed thorough investigations. Anyone who is
dissatisfied with our response should address their concerns to The
Ombudsman at PHSO, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP.

Customer Services
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Carrick and West Cornwall Mind Befriending Schemes are providing an
extremely effective and crucial method of support to people in their
local community with or recovering from mental ill health or emotional
distress.

Carrick Mind Befriending Scheme offers support to anyone within the
Carrick District and West Cornwall Mind offers a similar service to
people within the Kerrier and Penwith areas.

More information on the services at West Cornwall Mind can be seen on
the website www.westcornwallmind.com or those interested are
welcome to contact West Cornwall Mind on 01209 714550 and Carrick
Mind on 01872 222469. Mental ill health issues may include
depression, anxiety, stress, a breakdown or isolation. Many people
with mental ill health become withdrawn and cease to engage socially
with their local community. To help promote social interaction both
Mind schemes run social groups, walk groups and lunch/ supper clubs,
to name a few. These groups are supported by volunteers to
encourage social interaction for those people who feel able to attend.

Service users recognise the fact that a volunteer is there to help them
because they want to help and for no other reason. This fact is often so
important to people experiencing mental health issues and often helps
to breakdown communication barriers and encourages trust.
Volunteers are a vital link in helping a person to take the first steps
towards recovery, gaining confidence and starting to engage with their
own community once more.

Both Schemes are always seeking more people willing to help out as
the schemes are continually growing. Therefore volunteers are offered
an informative induction programme with helpful guidance on various
volunteering roles, followed by group or one to one support, as well as
training opportunities, travel expenses and social networking
opportunities.

There are many different opportunities available for volunteers.
Some examples of these are:
• One to One Befriending in the community
• Group support workers within our social support groups; walk
• groups; art and craft group; photography club, and our
allotment.
• Work experience
• Promoting Volunteering and recruitment


Rural Community Link Project re-launches as a
social enterprise
Rural Community Link Project (RCLP) has been running for over nine
years under the umbrella of local charity, Mind Restormel Association for
Mental Health (RAMH). From 1st April 2010, RCLP will become an
Independent Social Enterprise in the form of a Community Interest
Company to be known as Rural Community Link Projects CIC (RCLP
CIC). RCLP Manager, Glynis Meloy has been running RCLP since its
inception in 2001 and is delighted to have been involved with the
conversion to a CIC. She explains the reasons for the move:

“Changing times, have had a significant impact on the charity and in turn
on the project.

So many different charitable organisations look for funds to run services,
making grants more and more difficult to access. It has been identified
that RCLP are in a good position to generate more of its own income
from trading, but as a charity the potential for this is limited. Being a
Community Interest Company will enable us to trade freely, but we will
still be ‘non profit making’ as all surplus income will be ploughed back
into the company to provide mental health services for community
benefit.

As a Social Enterprise, we plan to increase the involvement of our service
users, channelling their many skills in order to help produce an income
and to advise on how needs can be best met.”

Although Mind RAMH and RCLP CIC will be independent from each other
in the future, both organisations plan to maintain good communications
and work together along with other agencies to ensure that third sector
mental health services in Cornwall are not only available but also
improved.

Maureen Newman, CEO of Mind RAMH says:

“We all wish RCLP every success for the future! The work they do is
amazing and we have every confidence Glynis and her team will make a
great success of the Company. This also provides us with the opportunity
to concentrate on our core befriending services and expand the charity
into the North Cornwall area“

Rural Community Link Proj ects CIC’s official launch was held at their
offices on Wednesday 14th April. For more information about RCLP CIC
visit the website www.rclproject.com, email RCLP@freenet.co.uk or
telephone 01726 821858.

Information on Mind RAMH can be found at www.restormelmind.org.uk


Outlook South West

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

2008 - Secretary of State for Health announces additional investment
to fund stepped improvements in access to psychological therapies
over three years in Primary Care.

90% of People with a mental health problem are seen in Primary
Care. The majority of these people will have anxiety and depression.
Outlook South West have been commissioned by NHS Cornwall and
Isles of Scilly (what was the Primary Care Trust) to deliver the IAPT
programme in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

The programme mainly focuses on Anxiety Disorders and Depression.
It is not a Counselling Service but it is a Psychological Therapy
Service with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) as the main
therapeutic technique, as set out by NICE (National Institute for
Clinical Excellence) - see below.

If you are seeing your GP about Depression or an Anxiety Disorder
(Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, phobias, Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalised Anxiety
Disorder) you may be referred to Outlook South West for further help.
Make sure you are clear about what it is your Doctor has referred you
for (e.g. counselling or CBT, etc) and who you will be seeing. If you
haven't already been given one, ask for an information leaflet - the
leaflet; ‘Let’s talk about therapy’ clearly outlines what to expect from
Outlook South West services. It is important that you understand
what help you will be getting and whether you think it is what you are
looking for.

*NB: Nice is "an independent organisation responsible for providing
national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating
ill health" and informs the government about health best practice. For
more information, go to www.nice.org.uk

For more information about Outlook South West, go to www.outlooksw.co.uk


These are photos of the sugar icing activity that
took place on Harvest Ward, Bodmin, with our
Independent Visitor, Rose.


CARE PLANS — DID YOU KNOW?...

• Know Your Rights leaflets are now
available, which explain what you can
expect from care planning

• There is a new Service User Review
Preparation Form, which your Care
Co-ordinator should send to you before
your review meeting to help you think
about your needs

• There is a leaflet called Mental Health
Can Go Up and Down, which explains
what to do if you become unwell again

• If you are not happy with any aspect of
the care planning process, you can
contact Sarah Gabert (CFT Care
Programme Approach Lead) on 01208
256265

• What is the care plan process like
for you? What works well? What
doesn’t? Please tell us: 01872 243532
or e: mentalhealth@cornwallrcc.co.uk

If you need any of the leaflets mentioned
above, please contact us.


A CAT AND MOUSE STORY

Mr. Patterson had a cat. It got into all sorts of
trouble. It never knew that he was a
troublesome cat, but he was!

One day when Mr. Patterson, that’s his owner,
went out to do some shopping, he mumbled to
himself, his cat decided to visit next door’s
garden to do some mouse-hunting. He went to
the shed and waited, so that if anything came
out from underneath he would be able to pounce
on it straight away without having to chase it
very far. He sat there, for what seemed like an
age, when suddenly a little nose appeared from
under the shed…. and squeaked!

The cat yowled and hissed and launched towards
the mouse with both paws out-stretched
and….missed!

He missed!


He looked at the empty space and ran around to
the front of the shed, with the hope that it had
gone round to the other side. He waited beside
the door in hope that it might appear there. But
it didn’t. He lay down beside the door and closed
his eyes.

He was all but fast asleep when he felt a tickle
on his nose. He yowled out and launched into
the air in fright, all four legs out-stretched and
fur standing on end. The mouse ran into the
bush with Mr. Patterson’s cat after it, when all
of a sudden a downfall of rain appeared from
nowhere dashing the hopes of ever finding the
mouse.

Mr. Patterson’s cat found the mouse. Not only
did he find the mouse, he had him in his paws.

‘For later’ he thought, in his cat-like way, of
course. He purred in satisfaction. He’d got one
this time!
THE END.

By Maria Warren


‘Into Body, Into Being’ 10 sessions

Movement group at the Lescudjack Centre

5th January to 9th March

Facilitators: Val Stagg and Ellena Fries

With a slow start with just one person showing up on January
5th the group has been picking up in participants ever since and
a core of regular attendants has been forming. We offered a
mixture of free movement experience with some gentle
guidance and very clearly directed structured Yoga stretches
and Shiatsu exercises.
In general Val and I swap the main facilitator role after one
hour, so that one of us is always available for participants, who
might need special support. On top of that we feel that this way
of working together makes the 2 hour session more interesting
and so far nobody felt it was too long or too demanding.
On the last day we asked the participants to fill in an
evaluation form and the feedback has been very encouraging
and enthusiastic. Everybody was saying how much they
enjoyed the sessions and that they got what they expected or
even more out of it.
Our approach of balancing direction and allowing free
exploration of movement was positively commented on: “It’s
good to have direction and then some freedom. It’s good
balance” says one participant.
Participants feel that the group helped them to release stress
and also address specific areas of pain, like back pain or
shoulder aches. There is a warm and open atmosphere in the
group and people have obviously enjoyed the company with
others.
So everybody now hopes for a continuation and we also still
want to attract more people. We have been very grateful for
the grant received via Cornwall Mental Health Project as it
has enabled us to run a pilot project in Penzance and then
attract funding from Cornwall Community Foundation to carry it
on until Dec 2010 and then we hope to use the Self Help
grant to continue until Easter 2011.

For more information on self help grants, contact Jane on 01872
243532


Mind Open Up Conference – 12 April 2010

The Mental Health Project attended the Open Up 'Challenging
Discrimination' conference at Cornwall College, Camborne in April.

The day involved presentations from both Open Up and the wider
Time To Change campaign, which funds Open Up’s work, including
a fantastic performance from InterACTing, a drama group from
Yorkshire. Their performance illustrated the discrimination faced by
many people when having to take time off work due to mental
health problems and how difficult it can be when trying to return to
work.

There were also workshops on the following themes: ‘Stigma and
Discrimination in the work place’ - this workshop centred on the
work done by Shift and their valuable DVD resource; ‘Life in the
Office’; ‘Stigma and Discrimination experienced by BME
communities’ - this workshop used the award winning DVD, again
produced by Shift titled; ‘Open Secrets’; ‘Discrimination and living
in Cornwall’ - this workshop looked specifically at Cornwall and
how its geographical isolation particularly impacts on those living
with a mental health problem; and 'Self-Discrimination' – this
workshop looked at how stigma and discrimination affects how we
perceive ourselves.

Open Up gives people who have experienced mental health issues
the opportunity to tackle mental health discrimination within their
communities. The project asks people to come forward with their
anti-discrimination ideas and provide advice, mentoring and
training to help them to put their plans into action. Support is
delivered regionally by people who have experienced mental health
problems themselves, who use their knowledge and understanding
to reach out to people in similar situations in their local areas.

For further information on Time To Change and Open Up please
visit:
www.time-to-change.org.uk and www.open-up.org.uk

Service User Rep, Stan,
helping with our stand.


QI facts - the interesting,
the amusing and the downright
bizarre!
Sent in by David from Camborne

The average adult falls asleep seven minutes after turning out the
light.

Beard hair grows at twice its usual rate when you're in a plane

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Humans share one third of their DNA with lettuce.

If you mouth the word "colourful" to someone it looks like you're
saying "I love you".

Kermit the Frog is left handed (as are all the best people, says our
Editor!)

In 1386 a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the
murder of a child.

One quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet.

The placement of a donkey's eyes in its head enables it to see all four
feet at the same time.

Some worms will eat themselves if they can't find any food.

The average person laughs 10 times a day.

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

The Well
We have a well deep within us which is always full with pure,
crystal water.
Through our life we are drawing from its strengthening purity of its
healing water.
The more we draw from our own personal well – the more strength we
receive, the strength is greater the more we use it.
'Use it or lose it'.
What a precious gift our well is.

Daphne James


Cornwall Respect Festival 2010

One Cornwall, One Love

Saturday 14th August 2009

Victoria Park and Lemon Quay, Truro

So say no to racism, bigotry, and segregation;
And yes to love,
understanding and acceptance by celebrating with us.

dean@pentreath.co.uk Tel 07515 580002


Useful Telephone Numbers

Mental Health Project main office tel: 01872 243532
E: mentalhealth@cornwallrcc.co.uk
Web: www.cornwallrcc.co.uk/mental_health.html

*
Nightlink: 0808 8000 306 (daily 5-midnight)
Nightlink text service: 07717 989021

Samaritans: 01872 277277
Welfare Rights/Benefits Advice: 0800 882200
NHS Direct: 0845 4647
Carers and Service Users Leaflet Line (CASULL): 01726 823515
Shelter: 01209 314844
Legal Helpline: 0845 650 3122
Cornwall Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre: 01872 262100
SEAP Mental Health Advocacy (not Restormel): 0845 2799019
Rural Community Advocacy (Restormel only): 01726 823137
Disability Information and Advice Line: 01736 759500

Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs)
East Cornwall: 01579 335226
North Cornwall: 01208 251408
Restormel: 01726 291212
Carrick: 01872 356000
Kerrier: 01209 881888
Penwith: 01736 575524
Out Of Hours (Bodmin Hospital switchboard): 01208 251300

Cornwall Rural Community Council (registered as Cornwall Community
Development Ltd.) Charity no: 1087550,
Company no: 4144745, VAT no: 557448996. Main office: 2
Princes Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2ES.

Cmhp summer 2010 newsletter

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