Two thirds of all British press and TV coverage on mental health includes an association with violence. (Health Education Authority 1998)
44% of respondents to a study by the Mental Health Foundation in 2000 reported stigma and discrimination from GPs.
Sandamas and Hogman, 2000, found that black people are twice as likely to be involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act than white people.
Mental health outreach
The Mental Health Outreach service provides mental health support and housing-related support to people in their homes. This can form part of a package of support to assist someone moving from residential care or hospital into a supported housing placement. Mental Health Outreach support can also be put in place as short term extra support to help someone through a crisis and avoid a hospital admission or placement breakdown.
The mental health support could include:
- Emotional support and guidance in creating and maintaining coping strategies
- Assistance in devising a recovery plan
- Motivational interventions to support self efficacy and empowerment
- Encouragement and support to access other services,
e.g. alcohol / substance misuse - Encouragement and support to develop or expand social networks
- Encouragement to access community resources and reduce social exclusion
- Encouragement to manage their medication and maintain contact with their CPN
- Accompany service user to appointments, shops, banks etc with the future goal of attending alone
- Practical coaching in daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, personal hygiene
- Referral to other specialist services
The housing-related support could include:
- Advice and guidance with form-filling, claiming benefits and grants
- Liaison with other support, training or employment agencies
- Support with budgeting and daily living skills
- Access to other services, e.g. addiction support and talking therapy
- Access to social activities
- Help with moving on to living independently and finding work/training
Service Users will work with their Key Worker to identify the areas in which they need support, and set and monitor progress towards targets through an Individual Support Plan. This work will link with CPA and Wellness Recovery Action Plans.
The amount of support each person receives varies depending on their individual needs. There are regular reviews to discuss the type and amount of support with a view to reducing the amount of support over time.
For more information about the Mental Health Outreach service, please contact:
Alan Hendry
Service Manager
01444 459517
[email protected]