Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

England's mental health services 'in crisis'

The mental health service in England is in crisis and unsafe, says one of the country's leading psychiatrists.

Dr Martin Baggaley, medical director of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, spoke out as an investigation by BBC News and Community Care magazine reveals more than 1,500 mental health beds have closed in recent years.

He said: "We are in a real crisis at the moment. I think currently the system is inefficient, unsafe. We're certainly feeling it on the front line, it's very pressured, and we spend a lot of our time struggling to find beds, sending people across the country which is really not what I want to do."

Read more on the BBC Website

RUN-UP Newsletter

Read and download the latest RUN-UP newsletter and find out more about the recent Panorama programme, Locked up for being ill and the response of Redbridge Mental Health Services and the NHS

People with mental health problems encouraged to become a student at the NE London Recovery College

People with mental health problems are being encouraged to become experts in their own recovery, live well, and make the most of their skills and talents by becoming a student at the new North East London Recovery College.

North East London NHS Foundation Trust has set up the North East London Recovery College, which promotes an approach of using education and learning to support recovery for people with lived mental health experience.

Prospective students can register for places at the college for term two from Monday 4 November until Friday 22 November.

Term two at the North East London Recovery College will run from January 2014 until the end of March 2014.

Courses available range from teaching people about specific mental health conditions and approaches to managing them to courses aimed at supporting people into employment and with IT skills.

If you are a current NELFT mental health service user you can find out more about the courses and how to register by:

Email:
Telephone: ext. 7727
More on the web: www.nelft.nhs.uk

Could you be a Health Buddy and help stop TB?

TB (tuberculosis) in Redbridge and in London in general, is at an unacceptable level. TB can affect anyone, from any community, any culture and any background. RedbridgeCVS is looking for local people who can train as Health Buddies to go out into their communities and raise awareness of TB.

Did you know, TB is curable and treatment is free?

If you have good communication skills, can speak a community language in addition to English and are able to give your time to be a Health Buddy, please contact Ola on:

Telephone:
Email:

For more details about TB and how we are tackling it in Redbridge click here and scroll down to page 9.

Carers' Rights Day, Friday 29th November, 11am to 3pm

RCSS invites you to attend a talk from Redbridge Housing and from the Department of Work and Pensions about the welfare benefits reform, followed by a light lunch. There will also be information and wellbeing stalls.

Venue: Ilford Central Library (York Room)
Date: Friday 29th November, 11am-3pm
Organisation: Redbridge Carers Support Service
Tel: Please call us on to book a place

Help available through the Redbridge Emergency Support Scheme

The scheme will provide financial help in two ways, but ONLY where there is no alternative help available:

Firstly, where urgent short term help is needed in exceptional circumstances, for example after an emergency or disaster, or to prevent serious risk to a person's or their immediate family's health or safety.

Secondly, where a person needs help to establish themselves in Redbridge after being in institutional care, as part of a planned resettlement programme, for example after leaving prison or residential care.

Please note: No cash payments will be made unless exceptional circumstances apply.

To find out more about the scheme and how to apply for emergency support click here

Is someone hurting or upsetting you because of who you are? We're here to help.

Redbridge Concern for Mental Health is now a Hate Crime Help and Referral Centre. We offer a safe, confidential environment for anybody who has experienced crime, harassment or abuse because of their: race; religion; sexuality; disability; age; gender identity or mental health condition.

Talk to us and we'll tell you about the wide range of options and support available to you. You can contact us on or email:

For more information about Hate Crime Help and Referral Centres visit Redbridge i

Web Site Editor

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

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Registered Charity No. 1065770

A big thanks to our funders: the London Borough of Redbridge and NHS Redbridge

Disclaimer

All links in the Concern for Mental Health's enews bulletin have been selected using a standard links protocol. Links are provided for information and convenience only. Redbridge Concern for Mental Health cannot accept responsibility for the content of sites linked to, and any links do not represent an endorsement by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.