IMPACT on mental health in Oxfordshire

[surp]

In April 2005 IMPACT (Oxon) was launched as a service user led mental health campaign group for Oxfordshire. Previous attempts at setting up a campaign group had come to nothing, but with the run-up to a General Election underway, it seemed to be the right time to try again in order to try to influence political parties and the general public.

The aims of IMPACT are to raise the awareness of mental health issues with a range of audiences, to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by those with mental ill-health, to seek to change policies and practices in order to improve mental health services, to highlight and protect good services, to secure and lobby for more resources for mental health services, and to develop partnerships with professionals and services within the statutory and voluntary sector.

IMPACT publishes a regular newsletter concerning national and local campaigning issues, information and forthcoming events. Regular meetings are held. Last year we were very involved with the SOS (Save our Services) campaign with Oxfordshire Mind, Rethink and Mental Health Matters. This culminated in a successful public meeting at Oxford Town Hall. To receive the newsletter and/or to become involved with IMPACT contact Wendy Edwards c/o 19 Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD T:07753 455326 Email: [e-mail]

[wendy]

From IMPACT newsletter:
Two Years Old - IMPACT was formed in 2005 and we have just had our 2nd anniversary. Despite the challenges of people's illness and having to run on a shoestring, the feedback is still good and we hope to be around for a long time to come.

[Yogi Bear]

Thanks for the IMPACT newsletter. It contained many items of interest to me, one of which was this message board (very impressive, btw).
Adrian
www.mentalhealth2005.blogspot.com

[wendy]

Wendy Edwards, co-ordinator of IMPACT, was one of six people to speak at the Oxfordshire Mind Spring Meeting on 14th May 2007. Asked to talk about three significant moments related to mental health, Wendy spoke about the suicide of her aunt in 1983, the unexpected news of her withdrawal of CPN support in 2006 and the invitation fromJ ulie Waldront o get involved as a service user with the mental health trust in 1999.

[wendy]

First significant moment (see above)
In 1983 the police came to the door and told me that a very close relative of mine had gone missing. My aunt, my mother's sister had been suffering with depression since her mid-50's. For seven years she seemed barely alive. The warm, vibrant, life-loving, generous person that was once herself had become a shell. Her family and friends lost patience with her, her GP banned her from the surgery and kept her dosed up at a distance with Valium, so much so that she walked around like a zombie. Her medication was not reviewed throughout those seven beak years. Occasionally she was whisked into hospital for some ECT, and then quickly sent home,more confused, more depressed, just as abandoned, misunderstood and lonely. Two weks after she wentmissing my aunt's body was found in a secluded place. She had committed suicide.

[wendy]

Second Significant Moment (see above)
In October 2006 my CPN was att he door and just about to leave. 'Oh', she said,'It's been decided to withdraw your CPN support'. I don't intend to elaborate too much about this, except to say that this has left me feeling confused, abandoned and alone, and yes, sometimes angry and a bit un-hinged and wondering whether i will be able to survive. What has happened to involving service users in their care? What has happened to consultation and choice? Where is care in the community, or what is it? Questions race round my head and I can find no answers.
Anyway, I suppose at least I have my medication, but it's only very partially effective (they haven't yet insisted on the ECT), and I haven't been banned from my GP surgery (but I suspect my GP is at times as despairing at my lack of recovery as I am). I do have friends, butthey mostly suffer with mental ill health and have their own battles, including service rovision. I do have family, but they are are not nearby and not there for me, they do not understand. I have thought about finding my own secluded place, but at the moment I am still around.

[wendy]

Third significant moment (see above)
Part One
In 1999 I was standing at the door of DG117 at Littlemore Mental Health Centre. I had gone along to a workshop about implementing the National Service Framework with Patrick Taylor (Dir. of Oxfordshire Mind). It was the first mental health event that I had attended as a service user. A I was about to go in I was introduced to Julie Waldron, the Chief Executive of the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust. I told her that I had recently received a letter from her concerning a complaint I had made concerning my care on one of the acute wards, (that was my first ever complaint). At the end of our conversation Julie said to me, 'Why don't you get involved with things at the Trust? We are looking for service users to help improve our services.' i have to say that i was very surprised to receive such an invitation in response to a complaint.
So began a journey of service user involvement, first with the Trust and then more widely. I had to quickly learn a whole new language of of strange acronyms and abbreviations, diagnoses and treatments, and a new wold of policies, organisations and departments.

[wendy]

Third Significant Moment (see above)
Part Two
In 2005 I formed the service user led campaign group IMPACT, and in the autumn of 2005 was involved with the SOS (Save Our Service) campaign with Oxfordshire Mind, Rethink in Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Mental Health Matters.This, to my surprise, led me to being involved with a number of media appearances in the local press,radio and television, and BBC News at Ten.
Involvement with a national spirituality and mental health project has resulted in co-writing a chapter on spiritual assessment for a book on spirituality and mental health which is due to be published in September. The things I have been involved with are numerous and various.
Sometimes I have felt that my involvement as a service user has been tokenistic, but mostly I have felt that my contributions have been valued. My involvement has certainly given me a meaning and purpose to my life over the past years of mental ill health. I feel very privileged to have worked with some very committed and fine human beings, both in the statutory and voluntary sector, professionals, service users, survivors, carers and others.
So thank you to those who have valued and respected me for who I am, and who have had confidence in my gifts and abilities despite my mental health problems. T some I am a pain in the backside, to others I am seen as someone who gives positive input. Whatever your view of me, remember that it all started with that invitation from Julie.

[wendy]

There have been a significant number of people contacting IMPACT regarding bad experiences at the Complex Needs Service, being inappropriately referred with no choice and having diagnoses changed to a Personality Disorder. Please contact IMPACT if this has happened to you. The more evidence we can produce the better position we are in to campaign.

[wendy]

IMPACT will be conducting a survey on the implementation of the CPA in Oxfordshire. We have a draft questionnaire and are looking for funding to conduct this survey. If you are interested in taking part, please contact [e-mail]

[wendy]

There is considerable concern regarding the OBMH Trust's proposed return to cook chill food. Pease let IMPACT knowif yu are concerned about this.

[wendy]

I met a friend at the hairdressers today. She goes to RESTORE and says that the cook chill food is unappetising, bland and lacking in essential nutrients.

[wendy]

NO SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY
Increasing numbers of people are being left without support in the community and becoming very unwell. Please make complaints about this, either to the OBMH Trust or your MP. IMPACT can help. It seems that the move towards NHS Trusts becoming Foundation Trusts means that patient care is no longer a priority - it's all about making money.