Mental Health Awareness Week: Processing my experiences and triggers helped me to continue to work

For Mental Health Awareness Week, were sharing a story about Gemma, 39, who works as a Forensic Scientist examining evidence for the Criminal Justice System. Gemma has had many things happen in her life which have become very overwhelming for her, and she has found these very difficult to deal with alone, both physically and psychologically. She has been supported by Nottinghamshire Healthcare's Primary Care Psychological Medicine (PCPM) service and she says it has given her more confidence and is helping her to understand and process her triggers.

 

Gemma shares her story:

Dementia Action Week: “I had a mum, a friend and now I have a child”

As part of Dementia Action Week, we’re sharing a story about Zofia* (86) and daughter Monika* (55). Zofia has suffered from dementia for over 10 years and her declining ill health has meant that Monika has had to give up work to care for her mum. Monika says without the valuable care and support from the Trust’s Bassetlaw Community Mental Health Team (Mental Health Services for Older People) she would not have been able to cope. 

Reducing stress and improving our own mental well-being

Low mood can strike at any time of year, but many of us find the winter months – and January in particular – more difficult. 

A combination of post-Christmas blues, cold, dark weather and the tightening of purse strings may be some of the reasons why January can feel like a long and difficult month to get through.

With the past few years being a challenging time for us all,  the need for us all to look after our mental health and support each other, is all the more important.  So, what can you do if you need a mood boost? 

World Mental Health Day: I’ve suffered with my own mental health battles and now as a Senior Peer Support Worker I’ve learnt to value myself again

For World Mental Health Day, Monday 10 October 2022, we’re talking about mental health and how important it is to look after this, to talk about things and to get help if you are struggling.

Andrew works at Nottinghamshire Healthcare as Senior Peer Support Worker at Arnold Lodge. Before joining the NHS, he worked as a management consultant specialising in grant funding and IT management. Andrew shares his story about his personal experience of mental health difficulties, his recovery journey, and his role as a Senior Peer Support Worker.

No place for discrimination: Natasha's story

For National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Nottinghamshire Healthcare will be launching its 'No Excuse For Abuse' hate incidents/crimes campaign, sending out a clear message to those who abuse its staff, visitors, carers and service users that there is no place for hate in our organisation.

Hate incidents are significantly underreported across society and it is no different for the Trust. Staff have reported, through the Trust’s BME Staff Network and NHS National Staff Survey (2020), that the most common form of hate incident is racism and is one of the many reasons why we are addressing this important issue. The impact this has on our staff and those who use our services is often profound.

We're sharing a story from Natasha Bowen, who experienced a hate incident at the Trust. She talks about how she felt too afraid to speak up as a new member of staff but felt empowered, valued and protected after her manager challenged the person. 

Natasha Bowen, Access to Information Support Officer

Colin's story: “It’s about being independent and respecting who and what I am”

For this year's World Mental Health Day, we're shining a spotlight on the Trust's Employment Support Service, Futures Positive. 

Stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health issues doesn’t just affect their physical and mental health. It can also affect their training and educational opportunities, as well as their future job prospects.

Earlier we told Sarah's story. After experiencing mental health issues during Covid-19, she found herself unsupported at work, before turning to Futures Positive for help. 

For Colin though, employment support came after almost 20 years of mental health issues. Following 14 years out of work, he was referred to Futures Positive by his Occupational Therapist after expressing an interest in finding employment again.  

Sarah's story: “I am still finding my way but having a purpose is allowing me to sustain my recovery”

Stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health issues doesn’t just affect their physical and mental health. It can also affect their training and educational opportunities, as well as their future job prospects.

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is Mental Health in an Unequal World, so what better opportunity to shine a spotlight on the Trust’s Employment Support Service?

Futures Positive support people with mental health issues to find paid or alternative employment. Being employed in a role you enjoy has lots of benefits for your mental health; it can give structure, meaning and purpose to life. People with lived experience can act as mental health advocates in the workplace too, helping to break down barriers and challenge stigma amongst others.

Sarah* enlisted the help of Futures Positive earlier this year. After experiencing mental health issues during the pandemic, she found herself unsupported at work and overwhelmed by the idea of what to do next.

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week: “Finding purpose in what was once a great struggle is the most fulfilling journey.”

It’s Volunteers’ Week, 1 – 7 June, and we’re celebrating and recognising the fantastic work of our volunteers. 

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has 185 registered volunteers who give hundreds of hours of their time every week supporting staff, patients and their families. Our volunteers bring skills, knowledge and a desire to make a difference to our services and the lives of the people we care for. 

We spoke to Samantha Houghton, who has been a volunteer for the Trust for 2 months. Living through her own experience of complex trauma for many years, Samantha feels very fortunate to be on the other side of significant difficulties with her mental and emotional health and talks about how this has helped her make a difference to those that have endured similar struggles.

Befriender Samantha Houghton

From health and social care apprentice to a qualified mental health nurse

National Apprenticeship Week (8 to 14 February 2021) celebrates and promotes all that is great about apprenticeships. It gives us a great opportunity to shine a light on our inspiring apprentices.

An apprenticeship combines on the job practical work experience, whilst studying, allowing you to gain experience and achieve a recognised qualification and earning an income.

Amy Clarke, Mental Health Nurse

 

Amy Clarke, Mental Health Nurse and former Health and Social Care Apprentice, takes a look back on her apprenticeship journey.

 

Helping people adapt to new ways of living during the coronavirus pandemic

Megan Dixon

The Trust’s Let’s Talk – Wellbeing service provides patients across Nottingham City and parts of Nottinghamshire, and Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland with psychological assessment and treatment (talking therapies) for common mental health problems.

Megan Dixon, Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, is one of the team offering telephone support for people experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. She says that while the problems patients speak to her about haven’t essentially changed over the last few months, they have clearly been exacerbated by the isolation people are feeling.

World Mental Health Day: ‘There is hope and where there’s hope you can find help’

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is globally recognised on October 10^th every year, with the aim of raising awareness of mental health difficulties and sustaining efforts to support mental health.

The theme this year is suicide prevention, enabling people who have experienced suicidal thoughts to share their story in the hopes of spreading awareness and destigmatising mental health issues.

Service user, Debbie, has decided to share her experiences, in the hope that someone experiencing similar difficulties, would read her story and feel as though they are able to get better.

She really wants readers who may be suffering to understand that ‘it can change, and the pain does become bearable and easier to manage.’ 

How to boost your mood

Low mood can strike at any time of year, but many of us find the winter months – and January in particular – more difficult. 

January is a month of cold weather and dark nights. For many of us, it feels like there isn’t much to look forward to. Worries about our health or finances – especially if we made resolutions we couldn’t stick to – could all be affecting us. So what can you do if you need a mood boost?

Five steps to mental wellbeing

NHS Choices talks about the five steps to mental wellbeing. These are scientifically proven ways to improve your mood, and are excellent advice at any time of year. The five steps are:

·         Connect

·         Be active

·         Keep learning

·         Give to others

·         Be Mindful – or take notice

Things to try

A new hobby can help you tick off a few of the steps in one go. If you take up a new class at the gym, you could be learning, meeting people and being active all at the same time. Crafts are also a great way to learn a new skill, as well as being mindful activities (meaning you’re in the moment while you’re doing them).

You might think you’re not the type of person who goes to the gym or does a craft – but the beauty of trying something new is that you might just surprise yourself. Some ideas are:

·         Cooking

·         Running

·         Crochet or knitting

·         Walking

·         Adult colouring

·         Yoga

·         Volunteering

Small things

A good night’s sleep can do us the world of good, so make sure you’re getting your rest. If you’re having trouble sleeping, NHS Choices have some great tips for better sleep.

Having something to look forward to can also improve our mood. In a way this is the opposite of being mindful, so be happy to know these things are coming up, rather than counting down the days! But something as simple as having a date in the diary to catch up with a friend can help.

What are your top tips for lifting your mood? Let us know in the comments!

If you are struggling with your mental health, make sure you speak to your GP. You can also speak to the Samaritans 24 hours a day, for free, on 116 123 in the UK.

“Thinking differently about difficulties and feeling understood”

Our Let’s Talk – Wellbeing service is helping to reduce anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with dementia. Read about Andrew’s experience here.

As well as the service featured in our blog post from David, Let’s Talk – Wellbeing also offers support to people in Broxtowe with respiratory, cardiac, memory problems and those at risk of admission to hospital as part of its main service. 

The service uses talking therapies to reduce the emotional distress caused by a person’s physical ill health, whilst helping them to better cope with their condition and manage symptoms. 

Here Richard Alvey, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, shares the experience of a recent patient Andrew (real name changed):

“Andrew started to become depressed following a diagnosis of dementia. He started to feel anxious in social situations in case his memory would let him down. He felt less motivated to do things and this concerned him as it was out of character.

“This experience has improved my life”

A talking therapies service ran by Let’s Talk – Wellbeing in the Trust is making a difference to the lives of people diagnosed with a long term condition in Broxtowe. 

The service focuses on physical health conditions such as diabetes and dermatological issues, and the psychological effects these can have such as anxiety or depression. The service uses a range of talking therapies to reduce the emotional distress caused by a person’s physical ill health, whilst helping them to better cope with their condition and manage symptoms. 

Here we share David’s story who was recently seen by Kelly McGrory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist.

“This has been such a positive experience. I encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to make the most of it.

“When I was diagnosed I felt isolated. Now I want to say to others ‘look, me too. You’re not alone.’”

Acaycia had her first episode of psychosis two years ago. Since then, alongside support from the Trust’s Early Intervention in Psychosis team and Asperger’s service, she has found writing – something she enjoyed before her illness – has helped her through some of her most difficult times.

Here she explains how her life has been affected by hallucinations and delusions - symptoms of her psychosis - and how writing about it is helping her recovery.

Mental health nurses: “Without them, I don’t believe I would still be alive”

Joy Biddell wanted to share her story and say thank you to the nurses who made a huge difference to her recovery.

Since a young age I have struggled with my mental health. The first contact I had with services was with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) during my teens and this was for OCD. I had struggled with OCD for many years, however I didn’t reach out for help until I was 16.

Former patient returns to hospital as an employee

A former patient of the Trust’s medium secure unit in Rotherham, Wathwood Hospital, has returned six years later as an employee.

Andy Reynolds spent five years as a patient at Wathwood and is now working in the Courtyard Café and Farm Shop in the Hospital grounds.

While at the Hospital Andy was part of the successful ‘Wathwood Hospital in the Community’ project which involved patients and staff working together with members of the public to help improve the local area, for example through providing gardening services.  Since leaving the Hospital Andy has kept busy involving himself with countryside activities and poultry rearing which will come in handy in his new role.   Here he tells his story…

"Sometimes it feels like the support group might have saved my life": Julia's story

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Self-Harm Team run a support group for parents of children who self harm. One of the mums from the group, Julia, shares her story.

Sometimes it feels like Caroline and Marie’s support group might have saved my life. That might be an exaggeration but it’s certainly gone a long way towards supporting my mental health…and I can only adequately support my children when I’m doing okay myself.

What is mindfulness?

You might have heard people talk about mindfulness as something which can help with mental health and wellbeing. But what exactly is mindfulness?

Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Weeks: "There's a lot that people don't know"

Rachel is a service user and Involvement Volunteer with us at Nottinghamshire Healthcare. She wanted to talk to us about Haven House, which she thinks is a fantastic support to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Haven House, which is run in partnership with Turning Point, provides 24-hour support for up to seven days to people from Nottingham and south Nottinghamshire.

I came to the crisis house because I was having difficulties with a neighbour, and I needed a quiet place to get some respite. I have bipolar, and I was becoming very stressed and having high moods.

The best thing about Haven House is the calm atmosphere and the camaraderie. A lot of support comes from the other people who are using the service. We’re like a family, and we look after one another. We cook together and help each other out. We’ve recently had a burger night, and we’ve had cream tea together. You get a lot of support from the other clients.