“You don’t look autistic”

World Autism Acceptance Week takes place from 27 March to 2 April.  Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. There are approximately 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

Dave Pooley is Neurodevelopmental Transitions Lead for the Adult Mental Health Service at Nottinghamshire Healthcare.  The service is just 6 months old however it has received just over 100 referrals to meet the mental health needs of adults with neurodevelopmental conditions within Adult Mental Health (AMH) services who are transitioning.

Dave shares his reflections of autism and how it affected him growing up.

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.

Being a victim of racial discrimination and micro-aggressions had a profound impact on me at the time: Robert’s story

For National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Nottinghamshire Healthcare will be promoting its 'No Excuse For Abuse' hate incidents/crimes campaign. As a Trust we take hate incidents and hate crimes very seriously. Any form of abuse, harassment or violence is not acceptable, and we need to do everything we can to address it when it happens. We are committed to ensuring that all our staff feel supported if they experience a hate incident or hate crime or feel able to report it if they see it happening.

We want to be really clear: We will not tolerate any form of abuse, harassment or violence against staff, visitors, carers and those who use or services, whether verbal, threatening or physical.

Remarks or behaviour based on someone’s gender, mental health, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, disability or gender identity will not be tolerated.

As part of the awareness week, we’re sharing Robert’s story who experienced racial discrimination and micro-aggressions in the 1990s which had a profound impact on him at the time.

Robert Mooken
Trust Head of Quality Surveillance

From the British Army to the NHS

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been a long supporter of the Armed Forces community and recognise the valuable contribution, wealth of experience and skills that Armed Forces personnel and their families bring to the organisation and that this contributes to the delivery of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led patient care.

Last year, the Trust re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant showing its commitment to ensure staff who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. We also work in partnership with NHS Step into Health programme, which supports servicemen and women to access career opportunities working in the NHS. Armed Forces and their families include: Service leavers, Reservists, Veterans, Cadet Forces Adult volunteers and spouses, partners and families of those serving. Read more about how we support our Armed Forces community.

Hear from Gavin Oxby, whose dream growing up was to become a solder. He is extremely proud throughout his career to represent the British Army all over the world.  Now a Registered Nursing Associate at the Trust, he shares his story about his life in the Army and the NHS.

Gavin Oxby, Registered Nursing Associate and Veteran

My apprenticeship has played a big part in me pursing my present studies in occupational therapy

For National Apprenticeship Week (7 to 13 February 2022), were celebrating all that is great about apprenticeships and shining a light on our inspiring apprentices in Nottinghamshire Healthcare. 

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.

Bashar Heesambee (Bash), Sports Instructor, at The Wells Road Centre in Nottingham, takes a look back on his apprenticeship journey.

Bashar Heesambee, Sports Instructor

Children’s Mental Health Week: Chelsea uses volunteering and CAMHS support to turns life around after anxiety and self-harm at just 14

With around one in six children affected by mental health problems, supporting children and young people to be mentally healthy has never been more important.

Children’s Mental Health Week is 7 to 13 February. The theme is about growing together and using challenges and setbacks to help us grow.

As part of raising awareness for the week, we spoke to Chelsea, who at the age of 14 experienced anxiety, low mood and self-harm. With the support of the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), she has turned her life around, from being someone who wouldn’t interact with anyone to a confident young person who volunteers, presents and has even been on the radio helping to raise awareness of mental health and the stigma that still surrounds it.    

Chelsea

Now 17, Chelsea hopes her story can help other young people going through a similar experience.