Page 4 - HGS Suburb News 133 - Winter2018
P. 4
Mental Health Awareness and Fundraising Become a volunteer
Many Suburb residents maybe
unaware that the Free Church
has recently been trying to
bring our attention to the
subject of our mental health. As
part of this welcome initiative
there was an opportunity for us
to learn more when Professor
Tim Kendall came to the church
to give a talk on the subject
entitled Mental Health: Present
& Future.
Ian Tutton, the Minister at
the church, introduced the Lead advocate, Shailja Kumar, with a volunteer.
Professor, and told us how there Volunteering has so many benefits transition from private living
was a serious challenge to whatever your age – it can open via hospital to a care home can
society in raising mental health up a whole new world and give be traumatic. Giving up one’s
awareness, and how important you purpose and satisfaction. home and independence can be
it was to support local providers. Becoming a volunteer helps a real blow to people’s sense of
Many readers of this article will you to strengthen your ties to themselves, particularly if they
have been touched by those your community and meet new are on their own. For people
with mental health problems, people. It is also beneficial to who are returning to their own
maybe in the family, in friends your mental health as it increases homes adequate support will
or the workplace, and perhaps your confidence and self-esteem, prevent avoidable re-admissions
even in themselves. Recognition gives you a sense of accomplish- and save the NHS money and
of a problem is the first step to Ian Tutton introducing the speaker, Professor Tim Kendall ment and helps you develop a resources. People sometimes
finding a solution. The Professor explained to cope with the speed of the need to remove the stigma more positive outlook on life. leave hospital without important
Prof Kendall is, among other that the situation in mental modern life, and the digital of mental problems. Problems Advocacy in Barnet is a small possessions, like their false teeth
things, National Clinical Director health was better than before, world; treating veterans, and related to modern living, such North London charity, which is or batteries in their hearing aids
for Mental Health NHS England but that there were still others, with PTSD; rising rates as those caused by the speed of celebrating 20 years of helping – a transitions volunteer will
and Consultant Psychiatrist at problems to be tackled; among of suicide, and self-harm. life or social media would only people in the London Borough of help to make sure these items
the Sheffield NHS Foundation them the Mental Health Act The answers to many really become apparent in the Barnet. It offers a free, independent travel with their owners to reduce
Trust, and he started his talk by was a one size fits all approach problems lay not so much in next decade, and treatment and confidential advocacy service anxiety and ensure wellbeing.
telling his audience of his early that limited the capacity for drugs, but in talking therapies would develop in tandem. to people over 50. Advocacy in A typical recent case was of
days working in mental health action, and private provision of and the use of psychological The most important thing for Barnet has a number of different an 80 year-old woman who
in Sheffield explaining how he facilities for those with severe well-being practitioners; working all of us was to raise awareness projects designed to help and lived alone. She was awaiting
felt to understand psychosis you problems was very costly. with families, friends and within in the community of the ubiquity support people through difficult discharge to a care home for the
had to live with those who suffered Despite the impression that the workplace; adjusting the of mental health problems, and times and is looking for people first time. As a result of a
from psychiatric disorders to one gets from the media coverage environment around dementia the ways of getting help without who have some time to spare and conversation with one of our
get a service user perspective. that there is a constant crisis in patients; recognising problems feeling shame. Ian and the Free wish to give something back to Volunteer Advocates she indicated
He explained how treatment mental health he, without in A&E and transferring patients Church congregation deserve their communities. that she really wanted to return
had changed with asylums being denying that there are problems, to psychiatric services. our thanks for trying to bring Don’t be put off by the word to her own home. Our Volunteer
shut and community care remains optimistic about the Suicide rates, which had been this subject to our attention. ‘advocacy’ – we are not legal Advocate liaised with a social
expanded. In the early 1980s future, which, although surprising, going down until 2008, had Suburb News wishes them luck types, although people with a worker on the ward and the
Sheffield, with a population of was somehow comforting. risen in every country after the with their ambition to raise legal background do make patient was discharged to her
half a million had 2,000 mental A question and answer crash, but had thankfully now £15,000 for an outdoor gym for excellent advocates. Advocacy own home supported by a
health beds – now there were 100. session chaired by Karen Turner, plateaued. Apparently 75% of inpatients at the mental health means taking action to help you package of care that included
Now the emphasis is on early Director for Mental Health suicide cases had never sought unit of Edgware Hospital. say what you want, secure your daily visits from a carer.
intervention with the intention England, followed with the help, a figure which demonstrates TERRY BROOKS rights, represent your interests We also provide a cancer
of helping patients to get back proviso that it was fine to be and obtain the services you need. advocacy service, which provides
home and into work, often using political. Ian opened by asking The Free Church Among our team of well-trained one-to-one support, help and
treatments such as cognitive- about the situation for 15 to 25 and experienced volunteers we advocacy for people over 50 living
behavioural therapy (CBT). year-olds, who were neither Mental Health Campaign have people from a variety of with cancer and their families.
Although mental health care children nor adults, and whose professions, for example GPs, If any of our work would be
is better than it used to be, access problems became more severe Over the past year the Free Church Scott Unit by collecting money lawyers and teachers. of interest to you and you have
is still difficult and despite the and difficult to treat when Our newest project is about around four hours a week to spare,
provision of additional resources tackled later in life. has been raising awareness in to enrich the ward environment supporting lone older people why not call on 020 8201 3415?
the church community around
beyond that which the NHS
we were told that, for instance, Questions followed about issues of mental illness, health provides. The church congregation leaving hospital, whether it is We provide excellent training
still only one third of children recognising problems while at and wellbeing. has developed contacts within to a care home or their own and on-going support and
get the treatment they require; so school; the reaction of employers home. Our volunteers provide would love to hear from you –
Some one in six adults have
the public campaign to ensure when confronted by problems at either a common mental health the Unit and initiated various support through all stages of change your life and join the
projects – Christmas presents
politicians understand the need work; the treatment of an ageing disorder – usually depression or for all those on the wards, Easter the discharge process. The Advocacy Volunteers.
for adequate provision continues. population with dementia; how
anxiety, or a severe mental illness, eggs & daffodils in April and
such as psychosis e.g. schizophrenia strawberries & cream tea for Archives Books
or bipolar disorder. This one in Wimbledon finals weekend. We
six figure comes from the most have now been asked to fund-
recent survey and paints a raise to provide outdoor gym An interesting article from the John Atkin: Hampstead Garden
Brownhill Insurance Group particularly worrying picture of equipment (as you will find in Archives Trust analysing the Suburb during the Great War. £10
have been insuring the mental illness in young women many of the parks in Barnet) to details from Hampstead Way in Henrietta Barnett: The Story of the
Growth of Hampstead Garden
the 1911 Census has been held
residents and businesses of aged from 18-25, where the rates encourage physical activity for over to our next issue due to Suburb. £5
Hampstead Garden Suburb are higher than any other group. those who are inpatients. lack of space. Handlist of the Hampstead Garden
Mental illness has a high
We all know the benefit of
for over 25 years. cost – to the individual, to those exercise for our physical and In the meantime the Suburb. £1
around them and to society. It mental well-being, and at Archives team would like to Kitty Slack: Henrietta’s Dream. £5
Join hundreds of residents and can prevent people from enjoying present, the facilities within the remind readers that they could Micky Watkins: Henrietta Barnett,
Social Worker and Community
take the opportunity to visit
businesses by insuring with and taking part in life, as well as outdoor areas are bare and
Brownhill Insurance Group. looking after themselves or others. hence some basic equipment is Fellowship House and select a Planner. £10
The links between mental illness urgently needed. Depending on book from those listed below to Micky Watkins: Henrietta Barnett
read instead:
in photos. £3
call us on: and physical health are also how many pieces of equipment
020 8353 8907 now better understood; some are placed in the two areas for the
require approximately £15,000. Welcome to St Jude’s
long term physical conditions, three wards, this project would
visit us online: such as diabetes or severe neuro-
www.brownhillgroup.co.uk logical illnesses, can be hard to Each piece of equipment costs Ash Wednesday February 14 Plus the regular:
manage which can cause about £1,500 including installation. 9am Imposition of Ashes Sunday 8am
email us: depression and anxiety. This in We are approaching various Mothering Sunday March 11 Said Eucharist,
info@brownhillgroup.co.uk turn makes the management of organisations on the Suburb to 8am & 10.30am Sunday 10.30am
the condition worse. So a cycle ask if they would collaborate Palm Sunday March 25 Sung Eucharist,
of difficulty emerges. with us in this project by 10.30am Liturgy of the Palms Thursday 9am
The Dennis Scott Unit, arranging fundraising activities. (begins at Church Rooms) Said Eucharist
For over 25 years we have been serving the Edgware Hospital, is the inpatient So far we have organised a Maundy Thursday March 29
8pm Liturgy of the Last Supper
psychiatric unit that covers the
flower festival, two concerts, a
community of the Suburb. Borough of Barnet. There are seminar and have raised £2,000. Good Friday March 30
three wards with capacity for 62 We did a sponsored walk from 10.30am Liturgy of the Cross
We understand the uniqueness of this area and patients, and the wards are the Dennis Scott Unit to our Holy Saturday March 31
8pm The Easter Liturgy
almost always full. All of us
therefore can provide the most appropriate within our local groups will church on January 20. Easter Sunday April 1
Please do consider whether
cover for both residents and businesses. have knowledge of people who this is a community activity 8am & 10.30am
have required the support of you would like to join in with. Easter Celebration
mental health services and may Any donations that individuals All Welcome
even have required admission would like to give would also be
In partnership with:
to the Dennis Scott Unit. gratefully received. SAINT JUDE-ON-THE-HILL • THE PARISH CHURCH OF HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB
At the Free Church we have PENNY TRAFFORD, www.stjudeonthehill.com
been supporting the Dennis IAN TUTTON
4 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS