Trust Supporters Hold Celebration Day For Mental Health Care, UK

Main Category: Mental Health
Article Date: 28 May 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Patients, staff and carers who support the work of the county's leading provider of NHS services to adults with mental ill health, invited the public to join in their first 'birthday' celebrations last week.

Members of the Somerset Partnership Foundation Trust's Members Council held the information and advice event at Lyngford House Conference Centre in Taunton.

Displays and presentation material was on show and local voluntary organisations participated, each highlighting the many sources of advice and information which can help those, either caring for a person with mental ill health or experiencing any form of mental illness themselves.

Council Members are ordinary members of the public with an active interest in mental health issues and the NHS services delivered to local people. They act as a 'sounding board' for clients, carers and the public regarding local mental health services and advise the Trust's management of those services clients most value and those which they feel in need of improvement.

Partnership Trust Chair, Linda Nash, gave a brief overview of the success of the Members Council this year congratulating them on their work and saying: "It is one year since the Trust's Members Council was established and so this is really a birthday celebration. Members and Trust supporters have played a vital role as a voice to people with mental ill health, who still remain amongst some of the most vulnerable and excluded people in our community.

"I would like to thank you all for your views and reassure and advice throughout the year. These are being used to improve our services and ensure we address the needs of all. Whilst your advice helps develop our strategic health service plans, it is your role as mental health service champions, which is most important. One in four people will be affected by a mental health condition in their lives - most commonly stress anxiety or depression and yet such illness still carry considerable stigma. Mental ill health is not treated like other physical illnesses and this stigma must be addressed. It continues to blight people's lives and is known to deter many people from seeking professional help at a point when more serious mental ill health could be prevented."

If members of the public would like to find out more about the work of the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust or become a Trust supporter or join the Members Council they should write to the Trust at:

Source
Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust