020 7501 8974

1

Mental Health Carers Service, Carers Hub, We Are 336, 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA

Mental Health Carers Newsletter

Winter 2015-2016

For family, friends and neighbours supporting someone with mental health needs. Dear all, I hope you and your families are enjoying some rest or getting the support you need if it’s not such a good time. There are lots of events coming up this winter at the Carers Hub—talks on staying safe and support to stop smoking, a warm and well in winter event and more. There’s also big news from SLaM— have a look at page 14. Best wishes & happy holidays, Ruth— Mental Health Carers’ Advice, Support & Development Worker

Contents Page 1 Introduction and Support over Christmas P2-3 Quotes to help you through the winter P4-5 Coming up at Carers Hub Lambeth P6-7 Still happening at Carers Hub including Legal Clinic P8-9 What’s been happening at the Carers Hub P10-11 A new road safety course for people who are unemployed & carers or have mental health needs P12-13 Training for mental health carers P14-15 News from SLaM P16 Peer support at Railton Road

Support over Christmas and New Year from Solidarity in a Crisis Solidarity in a Crisis is a user and carer service providing out of hours emotional support over the phone and in person. The service is run by Peer Supporters who have their own experience of facing and overcoming crisis. By sharing life experiences, Peer Supporters can promote recovery and enhance feelings of belonging, especially for those who feel isolated. This service is available in the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. Freephone 0300 123 1922, Text on: 0788 9756 087 / 0788 9756 083 Email: [email protected]

2

Quotes to help you through the winter

“Saying no to some activities is OK – it really is” - Liz Smith, http://www.healthyplace.com

“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. We feel anger when we are violated. If you can prevent boundary violation in the first place, you don’t need the anger. You are more in control of your life and values.”- Henry Cloud & John Townsend

“Negative thoughts only become problematic if we get all caught up in them, give them all our attention, treat them as the gospel truth, allow them to control us or get in a fight with them” - Russ Harris

3

“Releasing control of what the people in my own life decided to do enabled me to be a better listener since I was spending less time thinking of ways to “fix” their problem.” - Dina Strada

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” ― Winnie the Pooh

“My old grandmother always used to say, summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Feast for Crows

Coming up at

4

You’re invited to our January mental health carers

Staying safe and keeping others safe How do I keep myself and my loved ones safe from abuse or self-neglect? How has the Care Act changed the way abuse & selfneglect is investigated? Carers Hub Lambeth will welcome David Pinder from Healthwatch Lambeth to speak about this important subject. David has ten years of mental health experience which has included managing a mental health resource centre and working as a Black and Minority Ethnic Community Mental Health Development Worker delivering race equality.

Wednesday 6th January 2016, 6 to 8 p.m Mosaic Clubhouse Meeting Room, 65 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1BZ Our February Talk will be on February 3rd at the same time and place. Our guest will be a Community Stop Smoking Specialist from Guys Hospital, to talk about smoking and support to give up smoking.

If you plan to come to either talk, please tell the Carers Hub on 020 7501 8974 or [email protected] so we can plan refreshments and seating.

5

Coming up at Our Warm & Well Event is for all carers and will be a drop-in so there’s no need to book

6

Still happening at Do you care for a partner, family member, friend or neighbour because of their ill health or disability? Do you wish to consult a solicitor over one of the following areas? 

Managing someone’s affairs by Lasting Power of Attorney or Deputyship  Removing LPA or deputy  Family and relationships  Care issues  Wills and probate

A range of appointments between 7pm and 5pm are available every month to consult a solicitor free of charge Please contact Ruth on 020 7501 8974 or [email protected] to book an appointment or discuss appointment times

Drop-in advice and information about supporting a family member/ partner/ friend with mental health needs or dementia Ground floor, 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA Friday 8th January, 1 – 5pm Friday 5th February, 1—5pm No need to book Waiting times are normally between 0-10 minutes

7

Still happening at Art Therapy will have a break over Christmas and New Year, re-starting on 8th January. Please contact Ruth on 020 7501 8974 if you’d like reminders and updates about the Art Therapy Open Studio.

What’s been happening at

Developing a new Carers Strategy Carers at our October Forum co-produced the new Carers Strategy with Lambeth CCG and Lambeth Council. The Strategy will a living document which means it will be reviewed and updated regularly. Carers will help to make sure the proposed actions happen and progress as suggested, and we are looking for carers who would be willing to join groups with this purpose—please contact the Carers Hub if this sounds like something you’d like to get involved in. We are also looking for Carer Representatives with recent experience of caring who we will invite to events, interview panels and other places where it’s important to represent carers. Please get in touch on 020 7501 8974 if you would like to be a Carer Rep!

8

9

What’s been happening at The Carers Hub Winter Celebration Whether or not you attended the Carers Hub Winter Celebration, it was you who the mayor of Lambeth was talking about when he said “carers are stars who are awake when many council workers are sleeping”. It was also you who the CCG thanked for all the work you do.

10

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONE Do you support someone who wants to drive, or would you like to take part yourself? Driving Ambition have confirmed they will accept carers onto their 10 week course, aimed at people who are unemployed and face barriers to working such as illness, disability or caring for someone. See the poster below for full information. Please note that FST are offering access to the 10 week programme to help you get to grips with the Highway Code. The 10 week programme also includes practicing hazard perception in readiness for the official Theory Test. They may also be able to let you sit in a learner car to get some idea of accelerator and clutch control. All other costs including Provisional Driving License, official Theory Test driving lessons and any other costs must be met by you.

11

TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARERS

12

An Online Course for Carers “My name is Juliana Onwumere and I am psychologist working at KCL and SLaM. At King's we have recently developed a new online course focused on some of the relevant issues for carers of people with psychosis and schizophrenia. It is a global course and open and free to anyone in the world be part of. All you need to do is register. It is a two week course designed to offer an in-depth understanding of some of the key issues and questions relevant to carers supporting people with psychotic disorders, including: ·

· Why is schizophrenia commonly described as psychosis? How can we best understand psychosis and its key symptoms such as hearing voices? · What are the links between cannabis use and developing psychosis? · Can psychosis affect physical health? · How do medications work and what effects can they have? · In what ways are siblings of people with psychosis affected? · How can psychosis affect a carer’s health and their relationships?

The course includes a mixture of activities such as talking head videos, quizzes, written texts and opportunities for moderated discussions between learners. The course includes people with lived experience of caring and a number of academics and clinicians from psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy and nursing including : - Professor Sir Robin Murray (Chair of The Schizophrenia Commission) - Professor Elizabeth Kuipers (Chair of the NICE Guidelines for Psychosis and Schizophrenia) - Professor David Taylor (Author of the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines) - Professor Mike Slade (100 Ways to Support Recovery- A guide for mental health professionals) The course has been designed with carers in mind but it would also be relevant for any student or professional working in a health setting with psychosis and carers. No previous knowledge of psychosis or experience of caring is required to take the course. The course is based on approximately 3 hours per week study, and starts 12th October 2015. Enrolment is open from now. The key point of the course is that you can study how you like, in your own time. It is about flexible learning, in a style that best suits you (e.g. if you want to do five minutes, you can do that, if you want to study for more, you can do that too). So if you want to study after the two weeks that is fine, as long you have signed up, as you will continue to have access.” To sign up simply visit the website below:

http://www.futurelearn.com/courses/caringpsychosis-schizophrenia

And if online is not your thing...

SLaM recovery college offer a range of workshops and courses related to mental ill health and recovery. All information is on their website www.slamrecoverycollege.co.uk. Courses are free of charge and open to:  People who use SLaM services  People who have been discharged from SLaM services within the last

six months  Supporters (carers, family and friends) of the above  Volunteers and peer supporters working with SLaM

CONNECT AND DISCOVER What is Connect and Discover? Connect and Discover is a new partnership between Morley College, voluntary organisations and NHS services. Together they have designed FREE short courses to help increase your confidence and support your mental health through learning for wellbeing. All their courses aim to give you the tools you need to live your life in a positive and meaningful way. Who are the courses for? Anyone who would like to: Enhance their mental health and physical wellbeing through learning Feel stronger and more positive Manage their mild or moderate mental health needs Courses include: Food and Mood Understanding Anxiety Introduction to Mindfulness Creative Writing Want to find out more or join a Managing the Ups and Downs connect and discover course? Through Exercise to Wellbeing Call 020 7450 1831 or email And more… [email protected].

13

14

News from SLaM New 24-hour mental health helpline for south east London South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) is launching a 24-hour free telephone line to support anyone in Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon experiencing mental distress.

The helpline is a significant step forward in helping people who are going through a mental health crisis and will be the first 24/7 telephone service for the trust. Here SLaM ask and answer some questions about their new helpline… Why are we launching a 24hr helpline? There are currently a range of different helpline numbers across the boroughs we serve. The new helpline will provide a more coordinated response and easier access to support. The support service has been developed in line with a Crisis Concordat, is part of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark borough action plans and is jointly funded by their four clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). When will the helpline be available? The helpline will be available 24 hours, going live on Friday 18 December What is the helpline number? The freephone helpline number is 0800 731 2864, which is the same number that takes patients through to our patient advice and liaison service (PALS). Callers can choose to speak to the helpline (operating 24 hours) or select a different option for PALS (operating from 9am-5pm). Who is the helpline for? The helpline is for anyone who is experiencing mental health distress and for those who care for them. It is for those who are living in the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon and need help. It is for current patients and for those who have never used our services. What support is available? The helpline provides advice on mental health and medication, and help with accessing information and services. Calls will be answered by a mental health nurse who will support the caller, explore the reasons for their call and identify what help can be given, both at the time and for the future. Who runs the helpline? Our nurses running the helpline will be working with both our current information and advice service (PALS) and the charity Solidarity in a Crisis to make sure people get the support they need. Solidarity in a Crisis is run by people who have experience of facing and overcoming mental health problems.

15

News from SLaM New Family and Carers Strategy puts your rights in writing In September 2015 SLaM published their new Family and Carers Strategy, a public document which says what the trust does at the moment to support and involve families and carers, and what they plan to do to improve. The strategy explains how to ask for a Carers Assessment and is very clear in saying that carers should be involved in their loved one’s care and kept informed. You can find the strategy online—http://www.slam.nhs.uk/media/387226/ Family%20Carers%20Strategy%20Final%20-%20Sept%202015.pdf— or phone the Carers Hub to request a copy by post. If you are not sure if you’ve been treated correctly by staff, or you have a question about your role as a family member, the document may have some helpful information to refer to. Alongside the document, surveys were developed so that views and experiences of carers and staff at SLaM will be heard regularly over different points in time. The first survey results have now been collected from both hospital wards and community teams. The results will show SLaM which areas need to improve and also show where staff and teams are supporting carers well.

Men’s Group for Men Aged 65 or over Every Wednesday 2.30pm – 4.30pm (re-starting in February after Christmas break, call Isobel if you plan to come to check it’s on) The Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way, SE11 4TH This informal weekly group run by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is for men over 65 (and their carers) who are experiencing or have experienced mental ill health symptoms. The group aims to build the confidence of isolated men in Lambeth by offering them the opportunity to take part in social events in an interesting setting. Refreshments are provided for this FREE group. If you or someone you know would like to attend contact Isabel Porcel on tel no: 020 3228 1620 or email: [email protected]

Have you heard about the Lambeth Peer Support Network at Railton Road Centre?

16

Certitude’s Lambeth Peer Support Network helps people with mental health needs to support each other to stay well. They offer learning and development programmes, employment and training opportunities, social events and a space to meet. All network workshops and events are open to people interested in or engaged in peer support across Lambeth. Events organised by the Peer Support Network include yoga, mosaic making, drama workshop, coffee & cake, crisis workshops and a paranoia & beliefs group. Phone: 020 7737 2888, Address: 107 Railton Road, Brixton, London, SE24 0LR

17

Get in touch: Want to know more about something in this newsletter? Need a paper copy of something mentioned here? Got some feedback about the service or ideas for ways to improve it? Just need to talk? Contact us! 020 7501 8974 or [email protected] We would also love to showcase your poetry, stories, articles and artwork. We are also looking for Carer Representatives with recent experience of caring who we will invite to events, interview panels and other places where it’s important to represent carers. Please get in touch if you would like to be a Carer Rep!

Carers Hub Lambeth is managed by South Thames Crossroads and delivered as part of the Independent Living and Carers Partnership Registered Charity No. 1027026, Company No. 2742445