Coronavirus: local mental health service information
March 25, 2020 at 7:03 pm
BIMHN is the Bristol branch of the Independent Mental Health Network.
The Independent Mental Health Network is building a guide covering local mental health support. It includes information about how mental health services are changing how they work in response to the measures being taken to tackle the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). There is also additional signposting advice.
New information is being added daily, as it becomes available.
Click below to access the guide’s webpages.
Do you have information about a local service, organisation, charity, or helpline that isn’t on the webpages? Get in touch and we will update the guide. Email us at engagement[@]imhn.org (removing the square brackets from the email address).
March 25, 2020 at 7:03 pm | News | No comment
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 The information contained in the guide mentioned below is therefore outdated.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
Do you have lived experience of mental health crisis services?
November 6, 2019 at 5:59 pm
Thank you to everyone that got in touch to express an interest in the below opportunity. Updates around our work with local mental health crisis care pathways will continue to be shared on our website.
Do you have lived experience of mental health crisis or attempting to access mental health crisis services? BIMHN are looking for up to six lived experience representatives to join a crisis pathway redesign event. The aim of the day is to progress the development of a new blueprint for BNSSG crisis services. We want to come to together as system partners to co-produce the crisis services of the future.
The event will take place:
Date: Friday 15 November 2019
Times: 09:30am -16:30pm
Location: Holiday Inn, Bond Street, Bristol, BS1 3LE (next to the Bristol Bear Pit roundabout).
The opportunity will be paid. For more information and details on how to express your interest, please click here, or click here to read the Independent Mental Health Network’s news release.
November 6, 2019 at 5:59 pm | News, Opportunities | No comment
World Mental Health Day 2019 – in Bristol and Beyond!
October 7, 2019 at 3:20 pm
World Mental Health Day takes place annually on 10th October, bringing national and international attention to mental illness and what it means for those living with mental health difficulties worldwide. There are always a rich variety of independently-organised events recognising and celebrating the day, and this year is no exception. This year, the Bristol Independent Mental Health Network have compiled a guide to the events taking place in Bristol and the immediate surrounding area that have a focus on mental health, or have been specifically organised to recognise World Mental Health Day.
For more information about any of the events or activities listed below, click on the event title to take you to a webpage that will provide more information.
Community Access Support Service (CASS) Bristol – Social Media Posters – 7th – 11th October
For World Mental Health Day this year, CASS have partnered with some local organisations to produce posters promoting their peer-support services. Watch out for these posters appearing on Twitter and Facebook, and throughout the city, from October 7th.
World Mental Health Day at Origin Workspace – Thursday 10th October – Origin Workspace
A day of events and activities dedicated to wellness and taking care of mental wellbeing, taking place at Origin Workspace, in Berkeley Square, near Clifton.
Reflection — A Curated art exhibition of mirrors – Thursday 10th – Sunday 20th October – Left Handed Giant Brewpub
Maya & Safehouse Present, in partnership with Off The Record, Bristol Mind & Left Handed Giant, Reflection – A Curated art exhibition of mirrors. This exhibition, featuring work from Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Sign Writers and Graffiti Artists, will be fundraising for Off The Record and Bristol Mind.
Dawn Till Dusk – Thursday 10th October – Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare
Warriors of Wellbeing and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership are organising a day of activity to celebrate World Mental Health Day 2019.
- 07:15: Dawn Dawgs Walk – a walk from Royal Sands along Weston beach. Richard and rescue dog Roobi, will be highlighting the mental health benefits of fresh air, exercise and contact with our four-legged friends. Please join us for the walk, chat about mental health and bring your furry friend too!
- 18:15: Sunset Guided Mindfulness – a guided mindfulness session at the end of Clevedon Pier.
- 18:45: Wellbeing Music Parade – follow the Ambling Brass Band along Clevedon seafront to the Salthouse Pub.
- 19:00: Mental Matters Pub Quiz – hosted at the Salthouse Pub Clevedon, all proceeds from this quiz go towards future mental health events and patient care. £1 entry.
Clothes Swap – Thursday 10th October – The Canteen, Stokes Croft, Bristol
Fancy refreshing your wardrobe? Changes Bristol are hosting a clothes swap, to co-incide with World Mental Health Day. £5 entry – all proceeds help Changes Bristol fund mental health services. For more information, take a look at the official Facebook event, linked in the title above.
Second Step Community Rehabilitation Service – Celebratory Event – Thursday 10th October – The Station Bristol
The Community Rehabilitation Service will is holding a celebratory event on World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2019, for clients, staff and friends at The Station in central Bristol.
Dark Room: The Unseen Taboo: Discussion Event – Thursday 10th October – 14:00 – 16:00 – The Students’ Union at UWE, Frenchay Campus
Join students and Project Zazi (Off the Record’s BME youth mental health initiative) who will be creating a safe and inclusive space to discuss mental health in Black communities.
Fishing for Wellbeing – Starting Thursday 10th October
A new active wellness course, Fishing for Wellbeing, delivered by the Bristol Active Life Project, starts this World Mental Health Day.
Portishead Hopewalk – Saturday 12th October – 18:00 – 20:00 – Portishead
We are Aware, in association with Papyrus, are staging a lantern-lit Hopewalk around the Marine Lake grounds in Portishead to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health. The walk will be joined by the The Ambling Band.
Mental Wealth Lab – Wednesday 16th October – 18:00 – 21:00 – Bristol Business School, UWE Frenchay
Ben Smith, from the401challenge, will deliver a talk as part of the UWE Bristol Mental Wealth Lab Initiative, discussing his experience of mental ill-health.
Celebrating World Mental Health Day – Open Discussion Event – Friday 18th October 13:00 – 15:00 – Old Market
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church will be holding an event at Fi Real Restaurant, Old Market, discussing the stigma surrounding anxiety and depression, mental health discrimination, and different types of mental health conditions. For more information, take a look at the poster for the event.
October 7, 2019 at 3:20 pm | News | No comment
New Suicide Prevention Innovation Grant Launched!
September 23, 2019 at 10:43 pm
This news item was originally posted in October 2019. Since then, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Shine On campaign and the completion of a number of initiatives funded by the Suicide Prevention Innovation Fund, with more to come in the coming months. To stay up to date, visit the Shine On website!
Content note; please note that this piece contains discussions of suicide and self-harm.
As part of a suicide prevention campaign later this year, a fund has been launched to support local groups whose work helps to prevent suicide and self-harm across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
In particular, we are looking for imaginative and innovative projects which aim to reduce the numbers of suicides in:
- middle aged men
- men and women aged 16-25
- BAME communities
- LGBTQ+ communities
- Disabled communities
This innovation grant is available to support new or emerging projects. They can benefit from a small pot of funding that is intended to support initiatives that prevent suicides and reduce self-harm in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
Applicants can apply for one-off funding grants of up to £250 towards their project (or up to £500 where it is across BNSSG). There is a total funding pot of £4,500 available.
How do I apply and when is the closing date?
Applications for the fund will close on Friday 18 October 2019 and the application form can be found here. Completed application forms need to be submitted to: engagement[@]imhn.org (removing the brackets from that email address).
Please note that applications will be considered in the order that they are received; please therefore send your application in as soon as you can, as interest is high.
Tom Renhard, CEO of the Independent Mental Health Network, said:
“We are really pleased to be supporting local efforts by groups that are leading the fight to prevent suicide and self-harm across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, where we know a small amount of seed funding can make a bigger difference to people who know their communities well and what is needed.
“I am hopeful that as part of a wider campaign launching later this year, we will be able to enable more initiatives to flourish and support a wider regional ambition to reduce the number of people taking their own lives. One life lost is one too many, and there is plenty for us all to do to ensure people know there is support available out there.
“If you are interested in getting involved in the campaign that will launch in November, do send an email to .”
Notes to editors:
Who are IMHN?
The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) represents a diverse community of past, current and future users of mental health services, as well as those with lived experience of mental health.
By working together, we believe that we can be a force for positive change in the way that mental health is treated, perceived, and recognised.
Who are the people behind the fund?
The Fund is supported by the Suicide Prevention Transformation Working Group that brings together organisations from across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The organisations include:
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
- Bristol City Council
- Bristol North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG)
- Community Access Support Service (CASS)
- Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN)
- North Somerset Council
- Public Health England
- Second Step
- South Gloucestershire Council
- University of Bristol
- University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
September 23, 2019 at 10:43 pm | News | No comment
Shape the future of mental health services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire!
July 14, 2019 at 12:15 am
Thank you to everyone that took part in our survey and shared their experiences. This survey has now closed.
Have you accessed mental health support in the area?
Attempted to, but not been successful?
Caring for, or supporting someone else with lived experience of mental health?
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) are the local body responsible for ensuring delivery of mental health services. They have begun a review of mental health services across the combined three areas. As part of this, BIMHN wants to ensure that people who have lived experience of accessing mental health support (either personally, or as a carer for someone who has) are able to share experiences their experiences and feed into this review.
Our Survey
We have launched a survey to gather feedback about what’s working well, what’s not and what would make the biggest difference to the area’s mental health services in years to come.
The survey is closes on Friday 9th August.
As a thank you, there is the option to enter a prize draw to win one of 15 £25 One4All gift card vouchers.
Mental Health Conversations
Additionally, there are two feedback-gathering Mental Health Conversations events taking place, at:
- The Vassall Centre, Bristol, on Monday 29th July 2019
- The Royal Hotel, Weston-super-Mare, on Thursday 1st August 2019
All are welcome. The events are free, but please register your place by clicking the links above. Mental Health Conversations have always been very well attended, with spaces often running out in advance, so be quick!
Want to get involved in a different way? Email us at engagement[@]imhn.org so we can have a chat.
July 14, 2019 at 12:15 am | News | No comment