Cornwall marks
World Mental Health day 2008

On Friday the 10th October a Mental Health fair took place at the Hall for Cornwall, to recognise and promote World Mental Health Day. With one in four people suffering from mental ill health at some point in their lives, World Mental Health day 2008 has two main aims:

• To highlight the need to provide more mental health services, so that everyone who needs support can access information and personalised treatment to help them in their recovery. In 2007 it was estimated that as many of 60% of people needing support, across the world, were not receiving any care. This was especially the case for disadvantaged people, such as people living in rural and isolated communities, and people who had relocated away from their native communities.
• To recognise how cultural difference can create extra barriers and to overcome and look at addressing these barriers. These barriers can include: coping with different languages, trying to maintain their own cultures, struggling with rejection in their new community, having difficulties in adapting to different cultural norms, and competing for the same resources. These barriers can be extremely stressful to deal with and contribute to mental ill health. It is suggested that mental health care providers need to be proactive in overcoming these barriers, addressing language differences, and incorporate sensitivity to differing cultural backgrounds and beliefs in their training, policies, and provision.

The Mental Health Fair was situated in the Boscawen Foyer of the Hall for Cornwall; which alongside a busy shopping street served as a perfect venue to attract shoppers and raise awareness of mental health issues. The day was promoted as a day of celebration and information, and entertainment from Samba band; Penzamba certainly grabbed people’s attention and lifted people’s spirits. For people with mental health problems, carers, support workers or any other interested parties there was a wealth of information available at the fair, with organisations from the public sector, the NHS, and the community and voluntary sector having stands at the fair providing information on their services. Upstairs in the Hall there were free complimentary therapy sessions being offered, as well as art and craft activities, and drama workshops people could get involved in. In line with the aims of the day the Mental Health Fair at Truro focused on improving access to psychological services, and delivering race equality in mental health services. Below are just a few of the organisations that attended the fair:

Pentreath ltd is a charity which provides training, work experience, and employment opportunities for people in Cornwall who are recovering from mental ill health. They support people to use and develop their skills, build their self esteem and confidence, and help them overcome barriers to work. Pentreath also employ the Community Development Workers for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities who had a stand at the entrance of the fair.

Research has suggested that many people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds believe that the Western/British mental health services are not geared up to meet their needs. Four Community Development workers have been employed to work with individuals, families, carers and communities to help them access services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, have more say in the way services are provided, and overcome barriers such as language difficulties. They also work with service providers, encouraging services to work together and ensuring that there is more training in Black and ethnic minority issues for mental health staff.

Some of the projects the Community Development Workers have already set up are: the Black Minority Ethnic Panel, an exciting new opportunity for people to have their say and influence service provision, and a Women’s health group meeting weekly in Newquay which allows women from diverse backgrounds and cultures to come together share experiences, keep fit and healthy, and improve understanding of the English language. For more information email: pentreath@pentreath.co.uk or phone 01726 862727.

Sharing the entrance to the fair was Outlook Southwest who is the main provider of primary care psychological services to people in Cornwall. It is estimated that 25% of visits to the doctor are about mental health, and that the Primary Care Trust provides around 90% of the mental health care. Outlook Southwest deliver a range of services within GP practices across Cornwall. Depending on individual needs they can provide: counselling, for people who are going through emotional upheaval which may be connected with major life changes, Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) for people with problems such as anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress, and depression, or they can direct people to self help resources such as books, websites and interactive computer programs backed up with regular contact.

They mostly provide appointments at GP surgeries; however there is also an option to attend evening sessions for people who cannot attend day time appointments. These are not available at all Surgeries so please ask your doctor for details. Outlook Southwest also have links to some useful information and resources on a range of mental health issues on their website: www.outlooksw.co.uk

The Cornwall Mental Health Forum is an independent organisation which works to support and protect the rights of people with people with mental health problems and their carers, as well as raising awareness of mental health issues. They act a source of information on local and countywide mental health resources, and publish a quarterly newsletter. They run a number of initiatives including supporting groups of people throughout Cornwall who wish to set up self help groups. They can offer practical as well as financial support to any group who wants to set up activities that may help reduce the effects of emotional distress. Other Forum initiatives include the Independent Visiting Scheme, where visitors (usually service users or carer’s) provide a confidential ear, helping people in hospital raise issues about their care, and signposting them onto other useful organisations. Information on the many self help groups across Cornwall, as well other services the Mental Health Forum support, can be found on their website and clicking on the mental health link: www.cornwallrcc.co.uk or by calling 01872 261037.

The Rural Community Link project (RCLP) offers services to help promote good mental health and reduce the isolation that people in the rural areas of Cornwall often feel. In the Restormel area of Cornwall, the RCLP run a number of Welcome groups, as well as being able to offer counselling to anyone not currently receiving counselling through the NHS. They also provide an Advocacy service, which aims to support and enable people with mental health problems to express their views and be listened to in situations where they may feel insecure.
Although the RCLP is based in Restormel, they are still able to offer a number of services covering the whole of Cornwall. These services include a Mental Health Carers Enablement Grant which can be awarded to carer’s of people with mental ill health. The grants can go towards any activities that allow the carer to have a break from their caring responsibilities including: funding hobbies, sporting activities, courses and paying for short breaks away. Their Community Enablement project assists people who are recovering from mental ill health to access opportunities such as training, fitness, and volunteering, in order to build their confidence and lead meaningful lives.

The Carers and Service Users Leaflet Line (CASULL) is another useful service run by RCLP. CASULL is a dedicated phone line, which you can ring to get information sent to you on a range of mental health and related issues. Their number is 01726 823515, and you can see what sort of information they have in their library by checking out the RCLproject website: www.rclproject.com

Books on prescription is a scheme run in partnership with the Cornwall Library Service. It provides a list of self help books available through your local library, which can be reserved for free if you obtain a signature from a healthcare professional. Leaflets on the service which list the books, and contain the reservation form to be signed are available at most GP surgeries. The service promotes books on a range of subjects including: depression, low self esteem, managing stress, panic attacks, and eating disorders.

The Community Mental Health Advocacy, part of the South of England Advocacy project, provides advocacy for people with mental health issues across Cornwall (apart from Restormel which is covered by the Rural Community Link Advocacy project). They provide experienced support workers who can help and support people with mental health problems to deal with issues connected with their care and treatment, and to ensure their voices are heard.