Newsletter 26 June 2008

MRHF send out a regular weekly email bulletin on Thursdays, containing information for all our newsletter email group. For the convenience of our stakeholders and for those who might want to find out more about the Forum, we are also publishing that information to the BHA website. Feedback would be very welcome. If you have any information that you would like us to circulate in a future bulletin, please forward it to MRHF by Wednesday 12.00 pm the day before. Please ring us on 0161 872 4600 or email us at mrhf@btconnect.com if you have any queries.

Power to the People:

A study day exploring personalisation in mental health, 8 July 2008 - free places available

Social Perspective Network is holding a study day looking at self directed support in mental health in Northampton on 8 July. Entitled Power to the People? this event will deconstruct some of the issues around making self directed support a reality in mental health - an area in which take up has been decidedly low. Self directed support/personalisation is being billed as the future direction of social care, and poses some interesting questions for all mental health stakeholders including service users, carers, practitioners and commissioners. They will have a really exciting line up of speakers and workshops, including Peter Beresford, Rita Brewis, Melanie Henwood and Jamie Bartlett of Demos.

Service users and carers whose employers do not pay for their place come free, on a strictly first come first served basis. Please contact Raza Griffiths at Raza.Griffiths@scie.org.uk or on 020 7089 6864 if you are interested in attending.

Friday 27 June
Northfields Day Centre, Northfield Road, New Moston, Manchester
12:00 3:00 pm

See poster

Am I Safe Yet? Stories of Women Seeking Asylum in Britain

Friday 11 July, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Manchester Town Hall 1st Floor Banquet Room (fully accessible building)

Come and support Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) as they launch their book of first-hand narratives by nine WAST members. Each woman tells the story of her early life, what led her to flee her home in Africa or Asia and her experiences since arriving in Britain. The book is illustrated with full-colour portraits and poetry and contains background information on the British legal system and how it relates to asylum-seeking women and their families.

FREE wine and snacks! Readings, dance and musical entertainment by WAST

All welcome – bring the kids!

RSVP: email wastmanchester@yahoo.co.uk with ‘LAUNCH’ as the subject to let them know how many people you are bringing.

Do you care for a person who is learning disabled?
Confused or unsure about what services are out there and how to access them?

Come along to this information day and put your mind at rest. There will be various providers and professionals to hand to give you all the information you require (interpreters will also be there to assist).
There will be information stalls and discussion sessions (which will be timetabled on the day).
Refreshments and Buffet provided
10:00 am - 3:00 pm at Longsight Library, Stockport Road.
For further information please contact either
Kay Ahmed - Tel : 0161 248 0425 or
Jacqueline Wilson - Tel : 07795225009

15th Annual International Bereavement & Loss Conference
Thursday 11 September 2008
Hough End Centre
Mauldeth Road West
See flyer for details

Leeds University are looking for a potential EU student to do a PhD - the project is about the development of a culturally appropriate cancer awareness tool in relation to dietary behaviour of ethnic minority people. The deadline for this is before end of June (this month). They are looking for someone who has experience working with ethnic minority people.

If anyone is interested, please contact Dr. Jennifer Lim immediately to talk about this further, at jennifer.lim@leeds.ac.uk

Applications are now being taken for a three day training course to develop ‘psychological awareness’ for those working with vulnerable individuals. The course develops practical skills in identifying and responding to distress effectively, using a structured model of care.

See prospectus and download application form.

NHS at 60

Next week sees the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service.
Go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/interactive/2008/jun/16/nhs.anniversary to see the original leaflet which was sent out to every household in 1948 to introduce the new service. It is interesting to see what changes have taken place in the 60 years that followed.

NHS Live: energising innovation is the national daytime event being organised by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement to mark the NHS 60th anniversary. The event takes place on Tuesday 1 July at Wembley stadium.
For those unable to attend this unique event in person, a live ‘stream’ from the event will be webcast.
Click here for more information and to register for the webcast.

Manchester Mental Health Joint Commissioning Team

are looking for:

• 2 service user representatives
• 2 carer representatives
See details

Monday 29 September - Friday 10 October 2008 will see the return of the Valuing Older People Full of Life festival. Activities will be happening throughout Manchester to celebrate ageing in the city. One of the most important and exciting aspects of the week is the events organised by community groups across the city. In the past activities have ranged from open days and parties to local tours. VOP offer Festival grants of £150 to fund these events, plus each one will be publicised in our Festival special newsletter. All they ask is that the event benefits older people and takes place during the festival period. For an application form or for more general information about the festival please contact Rachel York by email rachel.york@manchester.gov.uk or call 0161 234 3547.

A Mind Link member is doing a MSc project exploring people's smoking. She is looking at the attitudes different people have to smoking, whether people are planning to stop and what has helped them to stop.

Some people who experience problems such as depression or other mental health difficulties can find it harder to stop than others and the survey asks about this. It also asks people who have been in hospital recently about their views on the smoking ban on wards.

Smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers are all invited to fill in the survey. It will also ask whether you have or have not experienced any mental health problems, now or in the past. To take part, you should currently be over 18 and living in England.

Click here to take part