Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

Air Football

A Football Foundation grant of over £200,000 has helped secure the future of Air Football. The project works with people from traditionally socially excluded populations, including those with mental health problems, drug and alcohol problems, homeless and people in contact with the criminal justice services to engage them in meaningful activity and help them access a range of support in relation to their health, wellbeing and vocational needs.

Mog Heraghty is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at NELFT and with Colm Whitty helped setup the Air Football project: "It has literally changed the lives of many of the players, helping them to improve their mental health and stay away from drugs and crime."

You can read the full story here

Outlook Christmas Party

The Outlook Christmas party is taking place on 13th December at Mellmead House, Wanstead from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

Tickets cost £4.50 each and will be available from early next week.

To book please phone Jo at Redbridge Concern on .

Bi-Polar Affective Disorder Group

Annette Challenger-Babalola has set up a self-help group for people with Bi-Polar Affective Disorder in the Redbridge area. The next meeting is on Tuesday 25th November, 4pm to 5.30pm in the basement at Redbridge Concern for Mental Health, 98-100 Ilford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2LD

If you are interested in attending please contact Annette on . Please note she is in the office on Mondays and Thursdays.

JOB: Community Development Worker (Mental Health)

This is a non-clinical strategic post which aims to reduce and eliminate ethnic inequalities in mental health service experience and outcomes in Redbridge. The Community Development Worker (CDW) will work with and support local BME communities, build capacity within them, and ensure their views are taken into account by the statutory sector during planning and delivery of services. The post holder will be based with the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team but employed and supported by the RedbridgeCVS.

Full details, including a downloadable application pack can be found on the Redbridge CVS website. Alternatively, email: or telephone .

Reforming Welfare

The Government's plans to help disabled people back to work risk writing off the very people who need the most help and support to get jobs, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Heath warned.

In its consultation response to the welfare reform green paper No One Written Off, Sainsbury Centre warned the Government that its plans to pay providers of employment support by the number of people they get into jobs will not work.

Sainsbury Centre employment programme director Dr Bob Grove said: "A crude system of payment by results will create an incentive to focus on those who are easiest to get into work and to 'park' those who need extra support. "People with severe and enduring mental health problems, or who also have drug and alcohol problems or have been in prison, face a big risk of being left out in the cold.

You can download the response here

Emergency departments' urgent mental health training needs

A recent report by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges Managing Urgent Mental Health Needs in the Acute Trust: A guide by practitioners, for managers and commissioners in England and Wales found that there was shameful neglect of mental illnesses in emergency departments and the medical and surgical inpatient wards of acute hospitals.

Dr Paul Gill of the Royal College of Psychiatrists says, "People presenting to A&E departments with panic, or indeed other manifestations of anxiety, are often dealt with in ways that leave a lot to be desired. I would certainly encourage A&E departments around the country to consider investing in some training to improve the current situation."

The full report can be downloaded here.

National Dementia Strategy

Following on from the National Dementia Strategy: Listening , Engagement and Consultation Events, The National Dementia Strategy will be published during November. The LDC will be holding implementation workshops in December 2008, January 2009 and February 2009. The focus of the workshops will be sharing best practice and overcoming barriers.

For more information, please contact Sheila Lakey at:

Jon Abrams
Web Site Editor
Redbridge Concern for Mental Health
98-100 Ilford Lane
Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LD
Web Site: rcmh.org.uk
Email:
Telephone:

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Disclaimer

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.