Herefordshire Recovery Forum - Promoting Mental Health Recovery

Contacts:

Jeannine Alsop
25 St Owen St
Hereford
Tel: 01432 265123
Email: jeannine.alsop@herefordpct.nhs.uk

or

Caz Lythgoe
c/o Moor House
Tel: 07944 962252

Description:
An open forum challenging the barriers to mental health recovery and promote partnerships throughout mental health. Everybody with an interest in mental health is welcome - the forum is not a specifically service user organisation.
All members of the forum are equal.
"Labels are left at the door".

Interest in the vision of recovery has increased significantly since the inception of the Herefordshire Recovery Forum. The fact that recovery is now informing policy initiatives at a national and regional level is starting to be reflected in developments in mental health and housing services in Herefordshire.

In a short time the Forum has evolved to become the principal platform for the discussion and promotion of wellness and recovery in Herefordshire.

The Forum has been directly responsible for:

• The visit of Piers Allott a leading Recovery Educator in the UK
• Enabling members of the Forum to make up one of largest representations of any area at the launch of the West Midlands Recovery Network.
• Enabling members to access workshops run by Helen Glover an International Recovery Educator (a life changing experience for many who had this privilege)
• Providing Wellness And Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) Training

At the last meeting there was broad agreement that the Forum currently fulfils a valuable function. However, it has been recognised for some time that there is much to be gained by broadening the scope of the Forum beyond the current discussion group format.

In light of Members suggestions the following changes have been adopted:

Seminars and Workshops
The Forum will meet four times a year. These meetings will take the form of presentations by invited speakers or discussions on a pre agreed recovery related topic. By keeping the open discussion format it is envisaged the Forum will retain its uniquely creative and positive orientation. There will also be the opportunity to discuss local recovery related issues and activities.

Recovery Education
Some forward thinking training establishments are starting to recognise the value of learning from the "lived experience" of recovery. Forum members have established links with the Faculty of Nurse Training at Worcester College and Hereford College of Technology. It is envisaged that by working in partnership members of the Forum can "add value" to the training of mental health workers.

Literature & Information
A variety of recovery related literature including some written by local people has been collated. A list is enclosed and we would be pleased to provide copies of articles on request. We are in the process of compiling a list of key texts and relevant web sites and email addresses.
If you have any recovery related information we would be pleased to include it in the archive. We would also welcome suggestions on how we might make this material available to as many people as possible.

The West Midlands Recovery Network
Members of the Forum have been selected as guiding members of the Network. The Network will meet for the first time early in 2002. The involvement of local people will ensure we are involved with developments at a regional level.

A number of other suggestions were made including a peer support group. No doubt there are may other areas that the Forum could address. Your ideas would be welcomed.

The extent to which these initiatives can be developed will ultimately depend on the interest and commitment of the members. Jeannine and Caz have agreed to co-ordinate the Recovery Forum and act as contacts. However, your contribution to any aspect of the Forum would be welcome.