Christmas Mental Health Services Guide 2019
December 20, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Please note: this item was posted ahead of the Christmas 2019 period. The information contained in the guide mentioned below is therefore outdated.
BIMHN are pleased to share the news that this year’s Christmas Mental Health and Wellbeing Services guide has been published. This guide outlines the services providing wellbeing and mental health support available to people in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire period over the Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020 period.
The guide has been produced with input from BIMHN members, in collaboration with members of Clarity-North Somerset Independent Mental Health Network. This year’s guide follows on from the success of last year’s guide in helping people and communities navigate what is available at this time of this year.
Included is information about services operating over the seasonal period, making note of any changes to opening or operating times, and contact details. It brings together information about mental health support from both NHS and voluntary & community sector partners that can be accessed. Also included are details of national crisis and helplines.
You can view or download a copy of the guide on the Independent Mental Health Network’s website, here.
December 20, 2019 at 6:44 pm | News | No comment
Suicide Prevention Innovation Fund – Second Round of Funding
December 6, 2019 at 5:29 pm
BIMHN is proud to be supporting Shine On, a campaign all about working together to prevent suicide. Back in September, ahead of the launch of the campaign, the Suicide Prevention Innovation Fund was launched.
The Fund provides funding to support local organisations deliver their own initiative to reduce suicide in their local area. Many of the initiatives funded were included in the Shine On event programme.
We are delighted to share that the fund has re-opened for a second round. For more information and details on how to apply, click here.
You can also read more about some of the funded activities and events that have already taken place on the Shine On website here.
December 6, 2019 at 5:29 pm | News, Opportunities | No comment
Time to Talk about Mental Health : OCD & Pure OCD
September 12, 2019 at 3:06 pm
One in four people are affected by mental health problems every year. But not everyone feels comfortable discussing their mental health with their doctor, or even family and friends. Many struggle on alone and find it hard to access the help they need. The Time to Change campaign aims to change this, by reducing the stigma around talking about mental health conditions, helping people to share their experiences, and finding the most appropriate support.
Members of the public, including Lockleaze & Horfield Councillor Gill Kirk, attended an event at the Old Library on Muller Road on Monday 29th July. Lifting the Myth of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was organised by Tracy Tainton, herself living with an OCD diagnosis, and was supported by the local Time to Change Champions Fund in partnership with OCD Action and the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN).
The event was an initial discussion workshop looking at what it’s like to live with OCD and how this condition can be mis-portrayed in the media. A type of anxiety disorder, OCD is experienced in the form of obsession with intensely negative, repetitive and intrusive thoughts, fear of harm, and/or compulsive patterns of behaviour to reduce the anxiety caused by these thoughts. It is not just about cleanliness or neatness, and many people tend to over-use the term ‘OCD-ish’ without understanding the distressing and debilitating nature of the disorder in its severest form.
This workshop was a relaxed opportunity to chat in small groups, listen to people with lived experience of OCD with family members and friends who support them. Tracy Tainton, who is also a trustee of IMHN, said:
Thank you to everyone who contributed to a frank and open discussion around OCD, especially those who were very open about their diagnosis. Being candid can be so hard and fearful for sufferers: a big well done. Next step is to look at setting up a peer-support / social group in Bristol specifically for those with lived experience of OCD.
The Independent Mental Health Network also campaigns to ensure that local mental health services provide the best possible care and access for patients, with input from service users themselves, and for there to be greater parity of esteem between mental and physical health. If you would like to know more about the Independent Mental Health Network, or the work of their Bristol branch, BIMHN, then please email engagement[@]imhn.org (taking out the brackets in the email address).
The aim of this event was to gauge interest in an OCD support / social group. Tracy is delighted to report that there has been an initial session of this organised for Tuesday 24th September at 7.30pm on the Gloucester Road (exact location to be confirmed). If you are interested in attending, or would like more information, please email Tracy at tracy_tainton[@]yahoo.co.uk (taking out the brackets from the email address) .
September 12, 2019 at 3:06 pm | News | No comment
Join us for BIMHN’s next Monthly Meeting – Monday 10th June
June 5, 2019 at 9:07 pm
The next monthly meeting of the Bristol Independent Mental Health Network will take place on Monday 10th June, between 13:00 – 15:30, at St James Priory (near Bristol Bus Station). You are welcome to come along and join us for light refreshments before the meeting starts (served from 12:30).
Monthly meetings are where our members come together to discuss matter relating to mental health that are important to them. There will also be updates of ongoing projects, and guest speakers may be scheduled.
Members will have been sent a notification and documents relating to the meeting to their email addresses. If you think you should have received this but haven’t, please contact us.
Note: we would like to emphasise the importance of attending meetings to ensure that your views are heard. If you can’t make any meetings and want to let us know about your experiences of mental health services, please contact us. You don’t need to sign up or ‘RSVP’ for meetings in advance; the only condition to attendance is membership of BIMHN.
June 5, 2019 at 9:07 pm | News | No comment
Join us for BIMHN’s next Monthly Meeting – Monday 13th May
May 7, 2019 at 9:06 pm
The next monthly meeting of the Bristol Independent Mental Health Network will take place on Monday 13th May, between 13:00 – 15:30, at St James Priory (near Bristol Bus Station). You are welcome to come along and join us for light refreshments before the meeting starts (served from 12:30).
Monthly meetings are where our members come together to discuss matter relating to mental health that are important to them. There will also be updates of ongoing projects, and guest speakers may be scheduled.
Members will have been sent a notification and documents relating to the meeting to their email addresses. If you think you should have received this but haven’t, please contact us.
Note: we would like to emphasise the importance of attending meetings to ensure that your views are heard. If you can’t make any meetings and want to let us know about your experiences of mental health services, please contact us. You don’t need to sign up or ‘RSVP’ for meetings in advance; the only condition to attendance is membership of BIMHN.
May 7, 2019 at 9:06 pm | News | No comment
Join us for BIMHN’s next Monthly Meeting – Monday 8th April
April 2, 2019 at 10:00 am
The next monthly meeting of the Bristol Independent Mental Health Network will take place on Monday 8th April, between 13:00 – 15:30, at St James Priory (near Bristol Bus Station). You are welcome to come along and join us for light refreshments before the meeting starts (served from 12:30).
Meeting Details
Monthly meetings are where our members come together to discuss matter relating to mental health that are important to them. There will also be updates of ongoing projects, and guest speakers may be scheduled.
If there is anything you would added to the agenda, please contact us with the details. Otherwise, there will be allotted time in the meeting for ‘any other business.’ We are also pleased to welcome Aden from the national Time to Change campaign as a guest to this meeting.
Further Information
Members will have been sent a notification and documents relating to the meeting to their email addresses. If you think you should have received this but haven’t, please contact us.
Note: we would like to emphasise the importance of attending meetings to ensure that your views are heard. If you can’t make any meetings and want to let us know about your experiences of mental health services, please contact us. You don’t need to sign up or ‘RSVP’ for meetings in advance; the only condition to attendance is membership of BIMHN.
April 2, 2019 at 10:00 am | News | No comment
Bristol mental health support – Christmas opening times 2018
December 19, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Please note: this item was published ahead of the Christmas 2018 period. The information contained in the below mentioned guide is therefore out of date.
The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) have produced a short guide to mental health support available to people in the Bristol area over the Christmas and New Year period.
This follows on from the success of last year’s guide in helping communities navigate what is available at this time of this year and requests from many people and organisations across Bristol.
About the guide
The guide, produced in partnership with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and Bristol Mental Health, lists relevant mental health and wellbeing support available over the holiday period. It brings together information about mental health support from both NHS and voluntary & community sector partners that can be accessed. This also includes some national helplines.
IMHN Project Manager, Tom Renhard said:
“Whilst for many the Christmas period can be a time of joy, celebration and relaxation, it is vital we remember that this can also be an especially difficult time of year for some.
In particular, this could be the case for people who may feel increasingly isolated during this time or who may be struggling with their mental health and well being for a variety of reasons.
The aim of this guide is to assist in helping people to access the right support at the right time, should they need to. We have also shared the guide with GP’s, existing services and local groups to help it to reach as many people as possible.
I would encourage everyone to make use of this guide in a way they feel is helpful and share with work colleagues, family and friends.”
If you have anything you would like to add about what you know is available over the Christmas period then please comment at the bottom of this web page so the information can be shared with others.
You can find a copy of the guide here.
December 19, 2018 at 12:13 pm | News | No comment
Free training to provide support as a Time to Change Champion
May 11, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Free training sessions are on offer with Time to Change Bristol to help people to join a growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems.
The training is available over the next month to enable people to become Champions for the Bristol Time to Change hub, which is a network of local organisations and individuals committed to ending negative attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems.
Too many people with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless. But with the right support from those around them, people can recover and experience equality of opportunity in all areas of life. Encouraging people to open up to mental health – to talk and to listen – is the first step.
Time to Change Champions are people with lived experience of mental health problems and are vital campaigners for the movement as they have links to communities, come from a diverse range of backgrounds with various levels of previous experiences and skills.
Cllr Asher Craig, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “One of our key ambitions is for Bristol to become a city where everyone feels safe speaking out about mental health issues and where we can secure the support we need when we need it.
“Time to Change Champions are an essential part of the work to bring our city together to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination as they have first-hand experience in dealing with mental health problems.
“Their understanding and local focus will be instrumental in our upcoming Thrive Bristol programme, which we are leading with Bristol’s Anti Stigma Alliance with the help of our local universities, employers and unions alongside our partners in the voluntary sector, NHS and police.
“By working together as a city and using the expertise and support offered by the national Time to Change campaign we be believe we can make great progress towards Bristol becoming a city free from stigma and discrimination around mental health.”
Kata Papunen, a Time to Change Champion, said: “I became a Time to Change Champion in 2014, after an amazing summer of volunteering at Time to Change events in Bristol. I am passionate about mental health campaigning, reducing stigma and empowering others as well as myself, and I find that Time to Change provides the perfect network, support and cause to combine what I care for and what I can do and learn.
“By becoming a champion I have had a unique chance to further develop my skills in event management with the support of the champions forum, training opportunities and online material.
“Best of all, the Champions Fund allows us champions to bid for funding to help turn our ideas into reality. Having the funds to organise any kind of event or activity is a big hurdle, but thanks to the Champions Fund I don’t have to worry about that. Whether I want to organise a small coffee social or take part in a public campaigning day, the Champions Fund is there to help.
“I am grateful for the amazing support the Time to Change community continues to give, and I am looking forward to doing more good this summer with a very inspiring network.”
If you are interested in joining the social movement to change how we think and act about mental health problems and becoming a Time to Change Champion, sign up for one of the training sessions in Bristol:
- 17 May 9.30am – 1.30pm: Social Contact – https://ttcbristol-social-contact-training.eventbrite.co.uk
• 24 May 9.30am – 1.30pm: Workshop for Champions in Hubs – How to influence and participate – https://ttcbristol-influence-and-participation-training.eventbrite.co.uk
Time to Change Bristol is made up of Bristol City Council, Bristol Independent Mental Health Network (BIMHN), Wellbeans Initiative CIC and Rethink Bristol with support from partners across the city – including employers, unions, universities, police and the NHS.
Time to Change the national campaign is run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
For more information visit www.bimhn.org.uk/ttcbristol or www.time-to-change.org.uk.
May 11, 2018 at 1:26 pm | News | No comment