World Mental Health Day – investing in mental health services in Shropshire

Shropshire Council is investing in its mental health service to ensure that it provides the best possible level of care and support to those who need it.

Two social care staff and one support worker have recently been appointed at The Redwoods Centre in Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury. The staff will work in partnership with health to ensure that those who are admitted are assessed in a timely manner, building on strengths to support the individual in their recovery and return home as soon as they are ready.

World Mental Health Day

The council is also increasing its level of staffing within the community to support people where they live, to work with mental health difficulties at the earliest opportunity, with prevention a key focus in line with the Care Act 2014. It is hoped that this essential support will avoid the need for hospital admission in many cases.

This investment is in line with the council’s community resilience focused agenda and its close partnership with the South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing, said:

“We are pleased to be investing in our mental health services and believe that it will make a real difference to people’s lives.

“With the ever-increasing pressures of day to day life, mental health support has never been more important.”

The appointment of additional staff is just one of the things that the council is doing to improve the services it offers. Its adult social care team also hold regular mental health drop-ins to make services easier to access when they are needed.

These sessions include advice from other services such as housing providers, the Shropshire Recovery Partnership and benefits advice to name a few; as well as peer support sessions, which help to build strong communities, and more general health advice and workshops.

Lee added:

“Hopefully, with schemes such as our mental health drop-ins, people will begin to realise that there is no shame in asking for support when they feel they need it and therefore we can work towards preventing escalation of problems, so that people can enjoy living their lives to the full.”

For Further information, or to find out about any of the support available people can visit: shropshirechoices.org.uk or healthyshropshire.co.uk/topics/mental-health

Alternatively, people can speak to their GP, who will be able to help with any concerns or questions people may have.

Have your say on mental health services

If you would like to share your views and thoughts about mental health services in Shropshire, Shropshire’s Making it Real group host a series of advisory groups across the country.  The advisory groups provide local people an opportunity to share ideas and interests and make suggestions on how to improve adult social services in Shropshire.

The next meeting groups will be on:

27 November 2017 – 11am–12.30pm at Wenlock Room, Shirehall, Shrewsbury

29 November 2017 – 1.30pm-3pm at Helena Lane, Ludlow

6 December 2017 – 10.30am–12 midday at Raven House, Market Drayton

15 December 2017 – 1.30pm–3.30pm – venue to be confirmed

For more information about Making it Real visit https://www.shropshirechoices.org.uk/makingitreal  or email makingitreal@shropshire.gov.uk.

Being outdoors is good for you

Whether you’re looking to help look after a local countryside site, maintain a footpath or just go for a walk, you can boost your physical and mental well-being by getting outdoors. For lots of ideas to get out and about or volunteer in Shropshire’s Great Outdoors please visit our website: www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk