in our shoes newsletter issue 26: may 2013

2 Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health

Spring..... Looking like Summer is coming..... Contents

WELFARE

REFORM

Dear Readers

Let’s be honest. So far, 2013 has been a bit, well, rubbish! Winter seemed to go on forever, and unless you have been supremely lucky, you will probably have been struck down at least once with the sniffles - apparently, this year, although we managed to avoid the normal flu epidemic, we have been plagued with no fewer than 200 different strains of colds and coughs. And then, when we couldn’t feel any worse (!) the government brought in Welfare Reform. From April 2013, many of our Benefits were changed or scrapped. Many people with mental health problems will not be affected by the changes. We urge you to seek support when you need it and to arm yourselves with the facts. We have included a special 16 page spread on Welfare Reform in this newsletter (page 28).

On a more uplifting note, you have told us that you love the new, ‘improved’ Technicolor Newsletter. Please keep your feedback coming in. Congratulations to Adam who wins a £20 voucher for his feedback on the previous edition of “In Our Shoes”. Finally, a big Thank You to SLaM Charitable Trustees for continuing to help fund this Newsletter.Best Wishes, The Hear Us Team

Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health 3

Spring..... Looking like Summer is coming..... Contents

Hear UsOrchard House, 15a Purley RoadSouth Croydon, Surrey CR2 6EZ

Tel: 020 8681 6888email: [email protected]

www.hear-us.orgRegistered in England No. 6891337

Charity No.1135535

Highlights PageLinkworking Project 6Dual Diagnosis 20Challenging Stigma 18Welfare Reform 28Our Spring Star 41Competition Time 44Springing into Action 50

Sun shines brightPretty blossoms pink and whiteRain falls gently on the groundIn a good mood New lifeGone, cold Winter’s gloom Trees in flowerIn a bluebell woodMarch daffodils golden yellow Early morning Bird Song

by Samina - Hear Us Member

Hear Us will not publish anything that we deem

likely to cause offence and we would like to point out

that the opinions expressed in this publication are those of the ‘authors’ and do not necessarily represent the

views of Hear Us.


Hear Us News, Guides and Reports

April 2013 saw the launch of Welfare Reform. The following benefits are changing:

• Disability Living Allowance will be replaced by Personal Independence Payment from 2013

• Council Tax Benefit will be abolished in April 2013 and replaced by a system of localised support

• Benefits will be ‘capped’ at £350 for single people and £500 for couples, families and people with children

• Bedroom tax (the single occupancy rule) means that people in council or housing association accommodation will have to pay towards any ‘extra’ bedrooms in the property.

• Social Fund is also being reformed to introduce new local assistance,

For a Copy of ANY of our Guides and Reports Contact Hear Us:Tel: 020 8681 6888Email: [email protected]

There is no need to panic...Many of these changes won’t apply to YOU and others are not happening for a while yet. However it is important that people who are affected get the right advice and support.Hear Us has produced 2 guidesESA Migration Guide (changing from Income support/ incapacity benefit to Employment and Support Allowance)PIP (changing from DLA to Personal Independence Payment)


New Guides Coming Soon

This Spring Hear Us is going to reprint our popular Mental Health and Wellbeing Guide, following the huge success of the 2012 edition. If you’d like to advertise a service or would like to receive a copy, please contact us: Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 8681 6888

BME Project - Mind the GapHear Us has been working in partnership with the Community Development Workers service based at Croydon BME Forum and Off The Record since January 2012. Working together, we have been attempting to investigate the experience of BME (Black and Minority

Ethnic) service users who access local mental health services.Having interviewed service users, staff and carers, we have now produced a report entitled ‘Mind The Gap: A Report on BME Mental Health Service Provision in Croydon’.Copies will be available at our open meeting in June (Tuesday 4th June, 1pm at CVA) which will include a discussion on Stigma in Mental Health as well as exploring issues experienced by people from BME communities. For more information Email: [email protected]




Hear Us Projects - Linkworking; 2012/13 Report

Linkworkers are people with their own personal experiences of mental illness, who go onto the wards at the Bethlem or into the community and talk to other service users about their experiences.

The Hear Us Linkworking Project has just reached the half way mark of our funding from Comic Relief. As a result we’ve been expanding the project into new services.

Since the project began way back in 2007, we’ve seen more and more people approaching us and talking to us about the issues they’re facing. We are at Foxley lane on alternate Mondays, Gresham 1 twice a week, Gresham 2 on Thursdays, Triage ward on Tuesdays, PurleyResource Centre on Mondays and Tamworth Road on Wednesdays.

You could become a Linkworker...Use your experiences of mental illness to support others and raise ‘service users’ issues to staff and managers & improve Croydon’s Mental Health Services.Call Allie onTel: 020 8681 6888 Email: [email protected]

If you’ve got something on your mind, why not talk to one of the Linkworkers in your service.


Hear Us Projects - Linkworking; A Linkworker’s Story

“There are very few places where you can work where talking about your own mental health is not only encouraged but also helpful to the role!When I began Linkworking, I found that people open up when they find out that I’m a service user. It feels like a privilege to not only hear their story but to be in the position to use their experiences to enhance services.I have been Linkworking on Gresham 1 at the Bethlem since September 2012 and it has proved to be intensely rewarding; sometimes challenging but

always varied and stimulating. Likewise, the people at Hear Us – both staff and volunteers – make for a uniquely wonderful environment of understanding, knowledge and support. Everyone who becomes a Linkworker does so because they are passionate about making sure people are heard and want to encourage mental wellbeing. I have met many fantastic people, made new friends, and learned so much in the process.Linkworking has given back as much to me as I have to it. It has educated me as a service user about the

Lucy’s Story:

In our recent evaluations of In Our Shoes, you told us your favourite articles were stories from members about their own mental health and their recovery experiences. This month Lucy tells her story about becoming a Linkworker and making a difference to the lives of others.....


vast amounts of organisations which exist offering support; expanded my knowledge of current issues in mental health, and given me the opportunity to attend training (most recently by Samaritans). I’ve gained confidence in expressing the views of others and my own opinions, and felt empowered as a result – and on low days the support of the team has been inspiring. Most noticeably, it has given me hope for my mental health and treatment, and a sense of doing something incredibly worthwhile.

The best part, undoubtedly, is watching and making changes happen; from small signs that a service user is becoming more well each time you visit, to forming growing alliances with staff and the sense of satisfaction when feedback is acted on. I’ve learned that getting involved in services is vital to their improvement, and making an impact is easier than it seems.” Lucy - Linkworker

Hear Us Projects - Linkworking; A Linkworker’s Story

Triage Ward Opens!Way back in December, the new Triage Ward opened at the Bethlem. The ward is based at Tyson House and provides beds for ten men (although there are plans to open a wing for women too). The ward has a new staff team and has been newly decorated.

So far Hear Us has received really positive feedback from patients on the ward and are keen to learn more about people’s experiences.


Hear Us Membership

About our Membership: DOES IT COST ANYTHING? No. Membership is totally free. WHAT DO I GET? You get up to date information from our quarterly newsletters which keeps you informed on local

services. You also get access to a range of

information about mental health matters. LIKE TO JOIN? Complete a form online (www.hear-us.org) or phone us on 020 8681 6888

More Members Join Hear Us!

Over the last six months Hear Us’ membership has grown by over one hundred members! With more and more service users in Croydon attending our meetings and wanting to get involved with the local mental health community, whether for support, advice or to have their say, Hear Us membership is booming! If you’re a new member, welcome and we look forward to seeing you at an event soon.


You Write to Hear Us - Hypochondria

• LYMPHOMA?• BIRD FLU?• ANEURYSM• MENINGITIS

Hypochondria is one of those things, the other one is OCD, that everyone on the whole entire planet at one time or another will be accused of having or claim they suffer from. NO YOU DO NOT.

Making a list or liking things to be put away correctly does not give you a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder it just means that maybe you like things to be organised. My girlfriend (of whom more later) is forever saying ‘ooh you’re a bit OCD’. NO I AM NOT. I just believe that socks were meant to be kept in pairs seems obvious given that most of us use socks in twos, and that for ease of recovery it makes perfect sense to put them somewhere, let’s call it a sock drawer, so in the morning you don’t have to look in the breadbin on the off chance that the breadbin is todays footwear storage location of choice.

OCD can be completely debilitating, controlling and life changing and unless you have suffered from it or care about someone who does I fear it will always be bit of a ‘comedy’

diagnosis that a sufferer will rarely if ever receive any sympathy or compassion for.

The same can be said for hypochondria, or health anxiety to give it its slightly less amusing title. How many times have you complained of being a hypochondriac because you have a headache that isn’t that severe but you feel your audience should know about? NO YOU ARE NOT A HYPOCHONDRIAC.

How often have you shut a whinger up with the words ‘stop being such a hypochondriac? NO THEY ARE NOT.

So after that somewhat convoluted title I shall start today’s piece with the subtitle ‘My Girlfriend has Survived More Life or Death Situations than Road Runner, Tweety Pie and Penelope Pitstop Combined (and that’s Just this Month)’This isn’t an extensive list but recently she has survived leukaemia, meningitis, several tumours (both malignant and friendly), malaria, diphtheria, mumps measles AND rubella, sweaty palm syndrome, sweaty leg disorder, water on the brain, knee, elbow and eyebrow, as well as bouts of MS and ME and even, by proxy, West Nile Fever.

What I don’t understand is why


all, or even one, of the giant pharmaceutical multinationals aren’t beating a path to her door because the antibodies in her blood must be priceless and could probably save more lives than Mother Theresa on a moped (so if you happen to be called Eli Lilly or Glaxo it might be worth you giving me a call, I’ll send some blood, skin & hair samples). On a serious note although it may sound like I am trivialising the condition, health anxiety can be a terrible thing, it can completely control a sufferers thoughts. Please if ever my girlfriend complains to you of her terrible maladies remember that to her these fears are very real (but unlikely to be contagious)

Peter

What can help?

Cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT)

An effective treatment for many people with health anxiety.

MedicationAntidepressant medication may be helpful

Anxiety UK

www.anxietyuk.org.uk 08444 775 774

You Write to Hear Us - Hypochondria

Do not ask me to rememberDon’t try to make me understandLet me rest and know you’re with meKiss my cheek and hold my handI’m confused beyond your conceptI am sad and sick and lost All I know is that I need you To be with me at all cost.

Do not lose your patience with meDo not scold or curse or cry I can’t help the way I’m acting Can’t be different though I tryJust remember that I need you That the best of me is gonePlease don’t fail to stand beside meLove me till my life is done.

(Hear Us Member)

Do not ask me to remember


One day this bouncer found one of those silicone rubber balls that keep on and on until you fall over yourself trying to get hold of it. Just catching it didn’t really kill the cat though, not completely. It wasn’t worth a fraction of the effort; until he worked out how to spin it to make it bounce up backwards from the ground in front of him.

Then he practised in his mother’s kitchen with the determination and patience that only the OCD can fully appreciate, never mind the saints; constantly crashing it across the worktop into the cups and plates stacked up on the draining board; or banging it noisily into the dusty void behind the fridge.

OCD be damned, this man got good. Before long he could flick it to the floor, or onto a table three feet away and catch it twenty times running without incident. Master of all he destroyed, he was soon the undisputable nuts. That was until the day he saw his mother, as he thought, at a railway station, getting into one of those silent long- distance trains with tables and facing seats. He followed her inside...

Outside it was raining cats and

dogs and a wide-brimmed hat dripping like a waterfall all but completely hid her face until sheturned to take a seat. He played his hand with the timing of the Maverick, but it was too soon, too late. The damage was done. If the old lady had pulled a gun on him right then the expression on her face would have said more, and more loudly. It wasn’t even his mother.

The ball hit the table dead- centre, right on a splash of water that fell from the brim of her hat. Instead of obediently returning to him; it skidded on and upwards, bounced off the window by her face; hit the panel behind her head and just missed her other ear, on its way back down to the table. Rising again like the phoenix it arced over his shoulder and disappeared into a startled group of soggy visitors discussing their plans loudly in the corridor, in German.Were you there for me Scotty, when I really needed you? BOLLO$*S...!

Tom - Hear Us member

Boun c i ng

Back with OC D

You Write to Hear Us - OCD


You Write to Hear Us - Anorexia

When I first discovered anorexia at 16 years of age, I felt I had found my niche in life. With depression haunting me from as young as I can remember, later compounded by my parents’ messy divorce and other distressing situations I found myself in, I think I would have clung to anything to numb the pain.

And anorexia certainly did numb the pain, in fact it numbed everything in my life, and whilst initially it was a welcome relief and my friends complimented my “figure”, compliments turned into concern. Eventually my friends lost interest. But I could not let my illness go, because in the end it was all I had left; it kept me safe and was my armour to the outside world. In truth it was slowly destroying every aspect of me and my life.

I had several hospital admissions during the ten years I was ill, in general psychiatric wards and specialist eating disorder services, both voluntary and under section.

Although I was willing to give treatment a go, I had mixed feelings. I was bored of my dreary, predictable, safe and isolating life - aside from the

highs of starvation (which as time went by became less and less). Even now, 9 years into recovery, I look back and cannot remember being at death’s door. I never thought I would recover, and it is still hard to pinpoint how it happened. I guess I reached the point where the benefits of being ill were few and far between. After several suicide attempts, it was either change or carry on trying to kill myself.

My rock bottom was my saving grace. I can’t say my recovery has been a bed of roses. I still struggle at times, but to me this reaffirms the fact that I am now living as opposed to existing.

I am currently 3 months short of completing my nursing/ social work degree. Recovery is possible and my experiences have taught me to never give up on my dreams.

Anna

Student, aged 30yrs

ANOREXIA - a survivor’s story


Low Cost Counselling

For people struggling with...• Depression/Anxiety• Panic attacks• Low self-esteem• Loss of confidence• Anger Management• And many more....

“Depression and anxiety have a negative impact on your health, your ability to socialise and within your working environment. Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions can help”

Where

St Mildred’s Centre Bingham Road Croydon CR0 7EH and East Croydon Medical Centre 59 Addiscombe Rd, Croydon CR0 6SD

When Mondays to Fridays

Referrals

From secondary mental health teams, GPs, local organisations and self referrals.

CostLow cost (from £10 per session). Clients payaccording to their means

Sharon Thomas: Tel 07956 891203 or Eve Stephenson: Tel 07985 343619 Contact Care To Listen

Listen

Care to


Carers’ Councelling Service

Are you providing unpaid support for family or friends who could not manage without your help? Are you caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, elderly, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems?As a carer you may face a number of difficulties which are hard to deal with emotionally and which cause you distress. Counselling can provide you with an opportunity to talk about these emotional difficulties with someone who is trained to listen. It can help you to understand what you are experiencing and to see the difficulty in a more manageable way.If you would benefit from counselling, we will arrange for you to see a counsellor for up to 6 sessions. There may be a waiting list. How long you have to wait will depend on your needs and availability.Please telephone 020 8763 2064 and give your name and address. You will be sent further information on the Carers Counselling Service, how it works and what you can expect from it, and a short questionnaire to complete and return. Telephone: 020 8763 2064 Email: [email protected] www.mindincroydon.org.uk

in CroydonCARERS’ COUNSELLING SERVICE


Community Opportunities Service

COS (Community Opportunities Service) support people to get more active and involved. They assist you to explore routes into new hobbies, social activities, volunteering, education and work opportunities.To use COS you need to be living in the borough of Croydon and using South London and Maudsley services (SLaM). If you speak to your Care Team, they will be able to refer you.When, you have been referred you’ll meet a member of the

COS team who will discuss what it is you may want to look into or try out. work at your pace and there’s no pressure to try anything you don’t think you are ready for.COS: “Being active and feeling involved is important for all of us. However, when life becomes difficult, we can lose confidence, stop doing the things we used to do, start to become isolated. Our approach at COS is relaxed and informal, we are not here to talk people into things but to support them in the things they want to do but don’t know how to do them.Community Opportunities Service, Tel: 020 3228 0548

Michael, a service user says of his experience:“COS (Croydon) help you to look at the options that are available out there. They allowed me to try different opportunities of both training and voluntary work which helped me to understand and learn about myself and where I wanted to go in life. I have always found it difficult to accept help but the people at COS were very welcoming, understanding and gave me the time that I needed”.

Michael volunteered at the Brooklands Museum as he has a keen interest in all things: ‘planes trains and automobiles!’


Hear Us Projects - Mental Health Open Forum

On the first Tuesday of each month, Hear Us hosts a Mental Health Open Forum chaired by service user and Trustee, Ian Timms. We invite along Guest Speakers to talk about the issues that affect those of us with mental health problems in Croydon. Please come along and join other service users; and together we CAN make a difference to the services we receive.

As a speaker it’s one of the most positive

experiences ever - good audience, interested and lively people, important questions, welcoming hosts. Everywhere should have a

Hear Us!

This was very informative and really fantastic to have

meetings like this. It has helped me so much as a

carer

It was an extremely useful

meeting, a good mix of speakers. A lovely atmosphere - good for

sharing. Keep up the good work!

I have gained interesting and relevant

information. Thank you. Nice to meet people in same or similar situations to myself.

Your Feedback


Hear Us Projects - Linkworking; Dual Diagnosis

Do you ever turn to drugs or alcohol when you’re struggling with your mental health? If you do, you’re not alone… Lots of people in Croydon need support to help them with both their mental health and drugs and alcohol.Hear Us has teamed up with Westminster Drug Project (WDP) and Croydon Drug and Alcohol Service (DAAT) to find out what support is needed and how people currently get support with their problems. We recently held our open meeting in January to discuss this topic. A Hear Us member gave an inspirational account of his own personal struggles with drugs and alcohol. Michael has ‘first hand experience’ of what it means to have Dual Diagnosis. He raised a very interesting questionMichael: “I am an addict and I also have mental health problems – what came first?

There is no absolute – I think in a lot of cases the mental health issue is first and people self-medicate (with drugs or alcohol) to cope. Other times the self-medicating can trigger the mental health problems. For me it was sometimes the only way to cope with life. I believe that mental health and addiction are related – due to a lack of self-esteem and self-belief “

“Which comes first: substance misuse or mental illness”?

Dual Diagnosis Project


Hear Us Projects - Linkworking; Dual Diagnosis

Drug and alcohol services in Croydon

Lantern Hall: 190 Church RoadCroydon, CR0 1SE

020 8604 7104

Westminster Drug Project (WDP)

020 8662 4792Out of hourshelp line0845 056 0099 (24/7)

PLUG: Meetings on Wednesday evening, 5pm – 8pm Where: East Croydon United Reform Church, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon)

0786 846 5752

PLUGETTES: Women’s social group Tuesday 12-2pm. Purley Oaks Family Centre

07548 639 224

Peer Support: Francis O’Leary says “PLUG was set up as a mixed group in 2007, and the all women group (Plugettes) in 2010. These are service user led groups. You get the best advice from others who have been/are where you are at. Also you can get great advice for your life beyond drugs and alcohol.


Hear Us Projects - Reachout Challenge

Lets talk about M ental Hea

lth

Hear U

s “Reach Out Challenge”

The Reachout

Challenge has been a positive force in my life; it has given me a

sense of purpose & accomplishment and a reason to get out of bed

in the morning!

I was keen to become involved in the Reachout Challenge as soon as I heard about it, mainly

because I’ve experienced a lot of prejudice regarding my mental health, but also because I’ve seen how widespread mental health stigma can be. The project was clearly going to do a lot to challenge and change this; in a positive way that also promised plenty of cake. What was there not to like?In practice, however, I found

that as the time came to attend events

and engage in conversations

with strangers to discuss mental health, especially my mental health, I became increasingly nervous. Would I encounter

people who’d judge me for my

situation? Would I have to listen

to people having a rant about mental health

sufferers in general? How might all this affect my health?The answer is that I quickly




lth

Hear U

s “Reach Out Challenge”It feels that we

are making progress

in reducing stigma and

increasing awareness

of mental health

problems’.

realised a few things, all good. Firstly, I soon realised that I’d be connecting with a lot of lovely, interesting people, many of whom already had a positive attitude to those of us who have mental health issues, and others who might not know much but were enthusiastic to learn. The second thing I discovered was that the Reachout Challenge volunteers are brilliant at giving each other support and encouragement, and at ensuring no one is stretched further than they feel comfortable with – time out is something we all need to take from time to time. Finally, on a personal level, I realised that I’d clearly been guilty of catastrophising. And there is such a thing as too much cake!

Going into a room to talk with people I don’t know is never going to be totally easy for me, but I now know that it’s also an opportunity – as a result of Reachout Challenge

events, I’ve chatted with a guy who, like me, is a keen photographer; talked with a woman who is doing a 999km walk in Italy for Médecins Sans Frontières; and also had some really significant conversations with people about how to access mental health support for friends and family, helped spread an understanding of



Reachout Challenge & British Transport Police

“Working in

pairs helped my

confidence.’ ‘The

staff seemed very

interested in what

we had to say”.

The project still has many months to run, so why not consider joining us? If you want cake, there’ll be cake. If you want fun, happiness and a feeling that you’re doing something worthwhile, there’ll be plenty avaiable of that too!

Interested? Contact Jane Tel: 020 8681 6888Email: [email protected]


lth

Hear U


what people who suffer from poor mental health are really like; and been able to give people new ways of engaging with mental health sufferers. Yes, it can still make me a bit anxious, but it’s proved to be incredibly worthwhile and - something I’d not expected - a lot of fun and the cause of much happiness.By John (Reachout Volunteer)



Are you fed up of the STIGMA and DISCRIMINATION surrounding Mental Health Conditions?

Would you like to VOLUNTEER in CROYDON to talk to Key Organisations in a creative, productive and FUN way? Come to our

open day on Thursday 6th June 2 - 4pm at Orchard House to find out more

Do you have a FEW HOURS to join other volunteers and have CONVERSATIONS over TEA and CAKE?

No Commitment, just the opportunity to MEET and SHARE with others who have similar STORIES to tell.TOGETHER we can TACKLE STIGMA and

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

REACHOUT CHALLENGE

WE NEED YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCES!

Reachout Challenge, Hear Us, Orchard House, 15a Purley Road, South Croydon, CR2 6EZ.

Tel : 0208 681 6888Mob: 07594373104 Email: [email protected]: www.hear-us.orgFollwo us on Facebook:facebook.com/ReachoutChallengeFollow us in Twitter: @reachoutcroydon

(Project Runs until February 2014)


lth

Hear U


Body Shop

Personal Trainers

Yoga

Reflexology

Arts and Crafts

Floral Workshop

Zumba

Pilates

Massage

Make-Overs

Dietician

Mindfulness May

7th

20

13

Inpa

tient

Se

rvic

es

Jun

4th

2013

BME

Com

mun

ities

&

Stig

ma

July

2nd

201

3

Annu

al

Wel

lbei

ng D

ay

Aug

6th

2013

To b

e Co

nfirm

ed

Sept

3rd

201

3

Med

icati

on

Oct

1st

201

3

Uni

vers

al C

redi

t

Nov

5th

201

3

Clin

ical

Co

mm

issi

onin

g G

roup

s

Dece

mbe

r 201

3

Hear

Us X

mas

Par

ty

Apr 2

nd

2013

Wel

fare

Refo

rm

Mar

5th

20

13

Dign

ityin Ca

re

Feb

5th

2013

DLA

Chan

ges

Jan

1st

2013

Dual

Diag

nosi

s

Hear

Us M

enta

l Hea

lth F

orum

201

3


Body Shop

Personal Trainers

Yoga

Reflexology

Arts and Crafts

Floral Workshop

Zumba

Pilates

Massage

Make-Overs

Dietician

Mindfulness

Body

Sho

p Pe

rson

al T

rain

ers

Yoga

Refle

xolo

gy

Arts

and

Cra

fts

Flor

al W

orks

hop

Zum

ba

Pila

tes

Mas

sage

M

ake-

Ove

rs

Dieti

cian

M

indf

ulne

ss

Hear

Us W

ellb

eing

Eve

nt

July

2nd

201

3 1

- 4.3

0pm

CVA

Wes

t Cro

ydon

82 L

ondo

n Rd

, CR0

2TB


You write to Hear Us - Dear Psychiatrist

Dear Psychiatrist…

I’ve just waited 3 months to see you and now I’m sitting in your consultation room; trying to explain the last 12 weeks of my life; hoping and praying that you can wave your magic stethoscope and make my life good again. I know this is fundamentally impossible but the fantasy has kept me going for several weeks,

Please understand that I am a 3-dimensional human being and not just the symptoms of my diagnosis. I have housing worries, financial worries, social worries….so please ask me about these too. There are numerous organisations who can help me, but I won’t know this unless you tell me.

Please take my wishes into account. I know that you are an expert who has studied mental illness for many years, but I’ve been studying me my entire life!

A note about medication - lorazapam, olanzapine, citalopram…...they calm my nerves, alleviate my voices, lift my mood - all good, but they also dull my personality, make me feel permanently drunk, my weight soars and I need to take a nap every 2 hours - not so good. Please understand this before you tell me I’m being non-compliant.

Finally, if you could ask the commissioners to put more funding into talking therapies, I would be most grateful, 2 years is too long to wait when you need to talk.

Yours sincerely, Service User.


You write to Hear Us

Walking on a tightrope, Don’t look down. Balancing in the middle, Of a smile and a frown.

Living life in limbo, For the past year. Too afraid to leave home, Too stifling to stay near.

Head above the surface, Try and get some air. Some days I am drowning, Nothing left to

share.

Afraid of any changes, Afraid of staying the same. Sometimes happy and smiling, Sometimes full of shame.

And so the drugs pump through me,

Journeying up my vein. Helping me stay even,

Keeping away the pain.

But sometimes it is boring, To be so finely tuned.

I miss my days of flying,

I sometimes feel entombed.

I suppose I should be grateful, They stop me feeling rotten. Even though I can’t be high, At least I’m not rock bottom.

So now I must resume, The journey of my life. Not look back behind me, But not forget my strife.

Since everything’s that happened,

Has made me so much stronger. It’s time to join The Living, There’s so much left to conquer.

Walking on a Tightrope

Welfare Reform - 14 pages of information and advice


Understanding Welfare Reform

Rule Number One: Don’t Panic !• Not everyone will be affected• If you are affected by any of the changes there is help and

support available• Some of the changes are not happening for a long time

Understanding the newBEDROOM TAX (single occupancy rule) and getting help

Understanding the newCOUNCIL TAX and getting help

Understanding the newBENEFIT CAP and getting help


Welfare Reform

The government is making many significant changes to our Welfare Benefit System. From 2011 people in receipt of ‘sickness’ benefits, namely income support and incapacity benefit, were ‘migrated’ onto the new Employment and Support Allowance. Not everyone has been moved over yet, but the majority of people have been, and the rest will follow shortly.In the following months and years, further changes are coming.

2013 means a lot of changes to Benefits.

• April 2013: Council Tax Benefit will be abolished and replaced by Council Tax Support

• April 2013: There will be a ‘CAP’ on Benefits per Household

• April 2013: Introduction of a ‘Bedroom’ tax

• April 2013: Social Funds (including crisis loans and community care grants) are being abolished and replaced by local schemes

• Disability Living Allowance will be replaced by Personal Independence Payment from 2013 (though most people won’t be affected until October 2015)

• Launch of Universal Credit (but most people will not be affected for a long time)

Welfare Reform1st April 2013


Welfare Reform - Bedroom Tax

People who have one ‘spare’bedroom will lose 14% per week from their housing benefit.

People with 2 or more ‘spare’ bedrooms will lose 25% per week.

How much money could you lose?

No. The following groups of people are exempt and will not be affected by the Bedroom Tax:

Private tenants

People over pension age

Is everyone affected?

Some peoplewho live inCouncil or Housing Association properties and who have more bedrooms in their home than they need, could lose money from their housing benefit.

From April 2013

We

App

ose th

e Bedroom Tax We A

ppose the Bedroom Tax


Welfare Reform - Bedroom Tax

If your home has more bedrooms than the government says you need, these would be counted as ‘spare’ bedrooms

What counts as a ‘spare’ Bedroom?

Children under 16 of the same gender must share

There are further exemptions for people who have children who are in the armed forces, or are studying away from home, and for people who need overnight care from someone who does not live in the house - if you are not sure whether you are affected by the Bedroom Tax - seek advice.

One bedroom for a single adult

One bedroom for a couple

Children under 10 (regardless of gender) must share

Discretionary Housing Payment. The council has a limited ‘pot’ of money that could be used to help people, who have a medical condition, financial problems or are at risk of homelessness. However, these payments are temporary; there are no guarantees; and it is worth seeking support if you want to apply.

What to do if you ARE affected by the Bedroom Tax?

Croydon Council has more information about Housing Benefit and Discretionary Housing Payments. Tel: 020 8726 7000

(



Welfare Reform - Council Tax

Council Tax Benefit is being replaced by Council Tax Support. People who receive council tax benefit will receive this new benefit instead, but will be expected to pay something towards their council tax.

From April 2013

People who have child/children under the age of 5


No. The following groups of people will not be affected by the changes to council Tax Benefit

People over pension credit age

People who receive DLA or PIP (Personal Independence Payment) any rate.

People who receive Employment and Support Allowance (support group or WRAG group) or income support

The second adult rebate is also being abolished – this was a system whereby if you were a vulnerable adult living with someone who was working – that person got a 25% discount on their council tax (i.e. as though they were living alone)

Croydon Council has more information about Council Tax and Council Tax Support: Tel: 020 8726 7000(



Welfare Reform - Benefit Cap

here will be a limit to how much Benefit you can claim per household. This limit is called a ‘cap’ and if you are receiving more benefit than this cap, it will be deducted from your housing benefit.

From April 2013

How much is the Benefit CAP

for a single person without children Up to £350 per week

couples with or without children and lone parents)

Up to £500 per week


People who receive DLA or PIP (any rate) or Attendance Allowance

No. The following groups of people will not be affected by the Benefit CAP:

People of Pension Credit Age, and people who receive War Widows or Widowers Pension

People who work for 16 hrs. a week or more or receive working tax credits

People who are in the support group of Employment and Support Allowance


Welfare Reform - Benefit Cap


What to do if you ARE affected by the Benefit Cap?

1. Approach the Council and ask about Discretionary Housing Payments (if you are facing hardship because of the benefit CAP it is worth making a claim - these payments are not guaranteed) and will only be short term .

2. It is worth getting a Benefit Check to make sure you are getting all the right benefits

Croydon Council and Discretionary Funds:Tel: 020 8726 7000(DWP Benefit Cap Helpline:Tel: 0845 605 7064(

Welfare Reform - Social Fund Reform.

Crisis Loans and Community Grants were abolished on 1 April 2013.However, there is still help available for people facing financial hardship.

From April 2013

Local councils will receive funds to support people in different ways.



1. Help available from the Council

Croydon has a Discretionary Scheme (CDC).

If you are in Crisis and need financial help you can call CDC:

If you need a grant e.g. because you are leaving hospital or residential care and need money to start up in a newhome telephone CDC:

2. Help available from the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions)

Short Term Benefit Advances (STBAs): will be introduced from 1 April 2013. You maybe eligible if you need money while waiting for your claim to be processed.Contact your local Jobcentre Plus and ask about STBA (phone the number at the top of your benefit letters)

Budgeting loans will still be available from the DWP - Call 0845 603 6967

Hardship Payment: If you are in financial hardship, e.g. because your benefit has been suspended or stopped, ask about a Hardship Payment.Call your local jobcentre plus: (phone the number at the top of your benefit letters)

Croydon Council Discretionary Scheme: Tel: 020 8760 5719(



If you don’t know your local jobcentre plus phone number and don’t have a Benefits letter to refer to, most people’s benefits will be processed either in Stratford or Belfast so call:

0845 608 8770 - for Belfast(

0800 882 200 - for general enquiries (8am - 6pm Mon to Fri)(0845 6000 148 - for Stratford(

www.dwp.gov.uk8

www.mindincroydon.org.uk8www.disabilityrightsuk.org8

Useful Websites for Welfare Reform


Welfare Reform - The Future

DLA: What’s Changing?

Disability Living Allowance will be replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from 2013

The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) will write to you and tell you when you need to claim PIP

For more information, tips and where to go for help, ask Hear Us for a copy of our ‘step by step’ PIP guide

Disability Living Allowance helpline: 08457 123 456(

There is no need to panic! Most people wont’ be affected by the change from DLA to PIP until at least October 2015.

PIP will be replacing DLA, for people, aged 16-64, who need help with their care and/or mobility. However, you must claim for PIP and if you choose not to, your DLA will stop. No one will be automatically transferred from DLA to PIP.

< Later this year >

Welfare Reform - Universal Credit


Sometime later in the year, the government plans to introduce a new ‘single’ benefit to replace other ‘income related’ benefits, such as:

• income based jobseeker’s allowance• income related ESA• income support• housing benefit• working tax credits and• housing benefit.

Universal Credit

However, most people on benefits won’t be affected by Universal Credit for a long while yet.


Welfare Reform - Need Help?

Where can you go for help with Benefits?

SLaM Welfare Benefit Team: If you attend a Resource Centre or are a patient on the wards at the Bethlem, contact your Resource Centre or ask your support worker to make an appointment for you:

Tamworth Road ( 020 3228 0300

Purley Resource Centre ( 020 3228 5400

Westways Resource Centre ( 020 3228 5800

The Crescent Resource Centre ( 01689 308 400

Mind in Croydon’s Welfare Benefits Advice Team

(020 8763 2037

Opening TimesTuesdays 10am - 1pm

Thursdays 2pm - 5pm

you can leave a message outside of these times

Welfare Reform - Need Help?


Croydon Council Welfare Rights Advice Line

(0800 731 5920For Croydon Residents Only

Opening Times

Monday 2 - 7pm

Tuesdays 3 - 4.30pm

Wednesdays 11am - 2pmFriday 29am - 12pm

Also phone for details of drop-in surgeries (available in certain areas)

Access Croydon Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 3JS

(0208 726 6000

Opening Times Thursdays 10am - 1pm

By appointment only

There is no need to panic...Many of these changes won’t apply to YOU and others are not happening for a while yet. However it is important that people who are affected get the right advice and support.Hear Us has produced 2 guidesESA Migration Guide (changing from Income support/ incapacity benefit to Employment and Support Allowance)PIP (changing from DLA to Personal Independence Payment)


Hear Us Hero

Coral has been receptionist at Tamworth Road Resource Centre for years. She always has a smile for service users, and treats everyone with respect. When Hear Us asked Coral why she loves her job, she told us “Mental illness can happen to anyone, you never know what is going on for someone when they come to the centre”You are a shining example Coral - thank you for all you do.

Tamworth Road Angel

Hear Us is a campaigning

organisation. We are continually

looking to improve Croydon’s Mental Health Services, by

asking service users for their views and opinions . We think it is important to also ‘shout out’ about examples of excellence within our Mental Health System. If you would like to nominate a member of your team, your care coordinator, psychiatrist, GP, or other front line staff to be a Hear Us Hero - we want to hear from you.

Tel: 020 8681 6888 or email: [email protected]

Mad Geniuses - Past and Present


Its often said that there is a thin line between genius and insanity, and many people, past and present, have walked the line between both. And many people at different times have walked both sides of this line. History provides a wealth of mad geniuses. Van Gogh was a great artist, who also suffered madness that led him to kill himself by shooting himself in the chest with a revolver. During Van Gogh’s lifetime he never sold a painting, yet today his artworks sell for multiple millions.

Another great artist and writer

in history is William Blake. Whilst William was alive his artworks weren’t taken seriously and he was deemed as being mad.

Centuries after his death though, he is now regarded as being one of Britain’s greatest poets. Virginia Woolf was one of Britain’s most well known Victorian writers,

and during her lifetime she experienced bouts of madness after suffering three nervous breakdowns. She ended her life by putting large stones in her pockets and waded into a river near her home and drowned herself.

Who are the mad geniuses of today though, who will also one day be remembered in history? I believe I’ve found some of them, who I’ll now mention.

Jason Pegler was hospitalized

William Blake

Van Gogh


Mad Geniuses - Past and Present

as a teenager with manic depression. He published his autobiography ‘A can of madness’ in 2002, and since then he formed Chipmunka

publishers, who have now published 1500 mental health books, by 800 authors.

John Nash was a schizophrenic who was born in America in 1928. John was a mathematical genius who taught this subject as a university lecturer. He eventually won a Nobel Peace Prize for his research and mathematical breakthrough discoveries. His life was depicted in the film ‘A beautiful mind’.Dolly Sen is a bipolar sufferer

who was born in 1970. She was told that she would never amount to anything and would end up in prison or Broadmoor. Instead she is a success story and has had four books published, is a filmmaker, poet, musician, actress, public speaker and consultant on mental health issues.

David Hall used to be a chronic paranoid schizophrenic, until a Christian minister prayed for him and he was miraculously healed. He is now a preacher, counsellor and teacher in a

Bible college. He is also married and has three children.

I’ve used the term Mad Geniuses loosely, as the fact is that some of the people I’ve mentioned are no longer mad and have made a great recovery.

By Paul Hear Us Member

Virginia Woolf

John Nash


Competition Time - Design a Card

Design The New Hear Us Birthday Card or the Christmas Card

Send your entries:Hear UsOrchard House15a Purley RoadSouth CroydonCR2 6EZEmail: [email protected]


BME - Service Users, Carers & Families

HELPING TO RESTORE THE HIDDEN POTENTIAL OF BME MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE USERS, CARERS & THEIR FAMILIES

HEALTHY MINDS PRODUCTIONSEVERY FRIDAY 2pm – 4pm & 4pm – 6pm

* PHOTOGRAPHY ** CREATIVE ARTS *

* POTTERY ** WRITING & COOKING *

CARING 4 CARERSEVERY LAST WEDNESDAY

12.30pm – 2.30pm

HEARING VOICESSUPPORT GROUPEVERY THURSDAY

3pm – 4pm

CINEMA CLUBWEDNESDAY EVENINGS

(FORTNIGHTLY)

NEW* NEEDLEWORK ** GCSE MATHS *

* COUNSELLING * * PSYCHOTHERAPY *

EVERY FRIDAY

FOR MORE INFO. PLEASE CONTACT HORACE or

MARJORIE ON0208 668 2419

BME FORUM,PALMCROY HOUSE, 387

LONDON ROAD, CROYDON, CR0 3PB

ALL SESSIONS RUN BY QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS or SESSIONAL STAFF

HEALING WATERS

You Write To Hear Us


I have lived at Eva House. One of 3 mental health projects in Croydon for 2 years. The idea is to prepare you for independent living. There are 13 clients, males and females with a different mixture of mental health issues among the group.

There is 24-hour staffing and you have an allocated key worker who meets with you regularly to talk about your mental and physical wellbeing; as well as other aspects of your life such as budgeting, activities you want to try, volunteering opportunities, and so on. Eva house is a very harmonious place to live. We have both shared and individual

flats. I now live in an individual flat because I was deemed well enough to have my own place within the complex. Eva house is a ‘move on’ project, therefore it is up to you to fill your time; there is not a program of groups and activities each day but your support worker encourages you to do things, get out and about, get involved in volunteering etc. I was put forward to be a customer rep – an interface between the

customers and the staff. Once a month the house has a group outing. We are hoping to go to London zoo when the weather is a bit warmer.

HouseHouseEVAEVA By Nicole My

NashLife at

“Eva House has helped me by making me more confident and giving me my independence back”.



On Sundays we are all given a budget by the YMCA – we cook a communal meal and all 3 projects are invited – I am often in charge of the cooking – with help – and it means I don’t have to do the washing up!! This makes me feel happy to see others enjoying my cooking. It gives me something meaningful to do on a Sunday and keeps me busy. We have a lovely big back garden which we are hoping to turn into a vegetable patch with herbs and flowers. Weight watchers has started up here. They also encourage residents to go to the gym if they wish.

Neave – the involvement worker is fantastic and makes the best ever chocolate brownies!!!!!!! If you want to eat – you have to cater for yourself – this is all part of preparing to move into independent living. We have a laundry room and do all our

own washing. They do room checks

regularly to see if people are looking after themselves. I would like to thank Quinita (my key worker) and Brett (the manager). The whole team are great. They gave me the support I needed to be open about my situation (Eric became Nicole this year) . Without them I think I would be in a very different place in my life right now.

To all at Eva House – thank you



I have been managing the Mental Health Services at the South London YMCA for 2 years, but specifically I have been working with homelessness and mental health for the

past 12 years. My experience ofthe SLYMCA and the services has been massively positive and managing these services has been greatly rewarding; watching and supporting my staff team to make differences to customers lives. Our ethos and aims of the service is to de- institutionalise and give people back their voice.

Brett - Manager at Eva House

As a Support Worker for Eva House Project I find my role very rewarding. I enjoy supporting the clients with all their day-to-day enquiries as well as the not so easy parts of life. From a personal perspective, I am glad that I can support and empower individuals.I would like to feel confident that the customers at Eva House can come to me for support anytime. This is just part of what makes this a wonderfully rewarding job. Quinita

“I am glad that I can support and empower individuals”

Support Worker Quinita

“I am lucky to be in such a role, to see the people progress and grow“

Brett Manager at Eva House

Useful Telephone Numbers

Immediate Risk

If you feel that you are an immediate risk to yourself or someone else, phone 999 for an ambulance or the police.

PROBLEM WHO CAN HELP CONTACT DETAILS

OPENING HOURS

‘I feel in Crisis”

If you belong to a Resource Centre, ask to be put through to Duty

See below for Resource Centre contact numbers

Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm

‘I feel in Crisis” Out of Hours

Psychiatric Liaison Team at Croydon University

020 8 401 300024 hrs/day 365 days a year

“I feel Suicidal”

TheSamaritans

24 hrs/day 365 days a year

I need information

SLaM 24 hr information line 0800 731 2864

24 hrs/day 7 days a week

“I feel physically unwell”

020 3040 0800

8.00am to 8.00pm365 days a year

Non Urgent Police

For incidents that do not require an immediate response

10124 hrs/day 365 days a year

“I need health advice”

NHS Direct 0845 464724 hour confidential helpline

“I need GP advice, my surgery is closed”

Patient 24 (previously Croydoc)

08457 90 90 90 (landlines, charged at local rate 116123 (FREE from mobiles only)

Edridge Road Community Health Centre Impact House, 2 Edridge Rd, Croydon, CR9 1PJ

0845 603 851706.30-08.30a weekdays24 hours weekendsand bank holidays

‘Spring’ into Action with Active Minds


Active Minds - Pretending like it’s already summer

As I write this, there is snow and gale force winds whipping around us here at Orchard House; but, as the weather last week had picked itself up and brightened up a bit our thoughts, perhaps prematurely, turned to the summer.So what can Active Minds offer for the spring and summer months to get you out in the fresh air and sunshine?

At this time of the year the work that needs doing, and the inclination to do it, starts to gather pace down on the allotment, so

Why a bit of Sunshine is good for you

Sunlight is natural and has an array of benefits for humans. The sun not only provides both light and heat that warms us, but in some cases sunlight can change how we feel and how we look.

Vitamin D is vital to human health. Vitamin D helps keep our immune system working to fight off disease and infection. One of the highest concentrated forms of natural vitamin D is found in sunlight. Getting up to ten minutes of sun exposure daily helps the body produce vitamin D.

One main benefit of sunlight for most people is that it can enhance your mood. Sunlight has been known to combat depression, especially sadness experienced with those who have seasonal affective disorder or SAD.

‘Spring’ into Action with Active Minds

Contact: Peter or AlexEmail: [email protected]: 0208 253 8205/6

you’re more than welcome to join us on our plot in south Croydon (and I’m sure that you’ll also receive a warm welcome over at Park Hill gardens). The satisfaction and fascination of a summer spent watching the plot come alive, grow and produce food you can put on your table is unrivalled.

Why not also try cycling, with a variety of cycling courses and classes held around the borough. Alternatively there’s walking, rambling and even Nordic Walking (that thing that looks a little bit silly like skiing but without snow, or skis) taking place almost daily, and aimed at all ability levels. These and many other activities are run by Croydon Council. iIf you wish to try them but lack that tiny something to get you over the threshold of participation, we can pair you with a buddy to support you. And IF, of course, the weather once more

fails us Boxercise and Cook and Taste courses continue to run indoors throughout the summer as will all of our other ‘dry and warm’ activities including football, yoga and relaxation classes, table tennis, badminton & swimming

It really doesn’t matter what the weather is like for you to take part. We look forward to seeing you - Peter

Hear UsOrchard House 15a Purley RoadSouth CroydonCR2 6EZ

( 020 8681 6888@ [email protected] www.hear-us.org

Company No. 6891337 Charity No.1135535

in our shoes newsletter issue 26: may 2013

Documents

single people

better understanding

launch of welfare reform

mental healthhear

mental healthspring

newsletter page

like summer

mental health problems