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Welcome to Volume 2 of Overcoming
The monthly newsletter for primary care mental health workers
As publishers of the Overcoming series - a range of self-help guides and assisted self-help courses based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques - we aim to broaden access to assisted self-help by providing excellent resources and support to people working on the front line. In this, the first issue of Volume 2 (2008), we’re going to bring you up to date with all the latest news, events and opportunities. If you’ve got any suggestions about what you’d like to see us writing about this year, then do let us know, by emailing nova@overcoming.co.uk
Are Debt and Mental Illness Linked?
Having overspent at Christmas, many of us face the New Year worrying about money, but for some the worry can have a serious effect on their mental health. The charity Mind is calling for people to take part in research exploring the link between debt and mental health problems.
With money worries a Top 20 reason for calling its helpline, the charity has created an online questionnaire to look at whether debt can lead to more serious mental health problems. The results will be published during Mind Week, which runs from May 10 to May 17.
Funded by a grant from the Financial Services Authority, the charity will then undertake a nationwide series of surgeries to talk about debt management. Information will also be made available on their website.
To take part, or view the results of the survey, visit
www.mind.org.uk
How Safe is Patient Information?
The NHS Care Records System is designed to be a national database of patients medical records and personal information (sometimes referred to as the NHS “spine”), and will give over a million NHS employees and central government agents access to both medical records and demographic details.
Despite government attempts to reassure the public that their data is safe, the recent losses of information from nine NHS Trusts have further compounded the worries of patients and clinicians everywhere. Campaign groups suggest that as many as 200,000 patients will choose to opt out of the system.
People with highly stigmatized conditions such as mental illness may become especially worried and seek information about how they can opt out. Up-to-date information and pro forma opt-out letters can be obtained from www.thebigoptout.org, whilst information from the government’s Patient Information Advisory Group can be read here:
www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/PIAG/Index.htm
The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA)
With a range of services available in the community for people affected by mental ill health, healthcare professionals must be careful to ensure the agencies they are referring to offer a comparable level of care to statutory service provision.
The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme acts as a workforce ban on those professionals who have harmed vulnerable adults in their care, and stops known abusers from entering the care workforce. Although voluntary agencies and community services are often not required to adhere to the POVA scheme, they may agree through a process of mentoring and relationship building with statutory services that the added level of protection POVA provides is essential.
You can direct organizations to www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/ PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4085855 for further information about implementing POVA. Just remember that if an enhanced disclosure reveals a criminal record it may not be appropriate for the organization to refuse employment, and your expectations around this grey area should be clarified.
Overcoming Depression: Talks with Your Therapist
We know that depression is a very common problem, with as many as 1 in 5 people affected by it at some point in their lives. Professor Paul Gilbert uses his 30 years of experience working with sufferers of depression to outline a range of tried and tested strategies for tackling depression in an easy-to-use, 133-minute audio CD - the first of its kind.
This series of talks explores how depression affects people in different ways and offers insights into practical activities and techniques based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Uniquely, the CD can be offered as part of the stepped care approach to people who might find it hard to concentrate on a manual or a self-help book.
With compassion, clarity and authority, Paul outlines ways in which people can challenge and work on their negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours and try to develop and employ self-kindness when they feel at their worst. Anyone suffering from, or with an interest in depression will gain valuable insights into the nature of the illness, how it affects people and how to tackle this distressing experience.
The eight talks focus on:
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The nature of depression
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How thoughts and feelings are related
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Looking after your body and helping recuperate
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Relaxation: advice and techniques
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How styles of thinking affect depression
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Self-criticism
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Being kind and compassionate to oneself
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Becoming more active and exploring different ways to think about life’s challenges
You can listen to a short excerpt at the Overcoming website (www.overcoming.co.uk).
The CD is priced at £9.99 but if your wallet is feeling the January effect why not try your luck in this month’s competition? Just tell us what your New Year resolution is for improving mental health in your community (entries to newseditor@overcoming.co.uk), and the top three suggestions received by February 1 will win a copy of Professor Gilbert’s CD, Overcoming Depression: Talks with Your Therapist.
Notice for the Attention of Graduate Mental Health Workers who Trained at the University of Plymouth in 2004-6
The MSc in Mental Health is being revalidated, and former trainees who may be considering topping-up their PG Cert are urged to contact John Rawlinson, the academic lead for mental health (email: j.rawlinson@plymouth.ac.uk). Please note, this does not apply to anyone who is currently registered on the existing MSc/Diploma in Mental Health programme.
Direct Payments: Real Patient Choice
Patients who have been assessed as needing help from social services and who would like to arrange their own care can access the Direct Payments scheme. Although different councils have different rules on what Direct Payments can be used for and how much can be awarded, in general if an assessment identifies a need then payment can be requested for whatever the person thinks is the best way of meeting that need.
The freedom that this scheme brings can make an immediate impact on a person’s life, empowering and enabling them to choose their path to recovery. Those who apply for Direct Payments must be able manage them, and some people may require help with budgeting and setting up a bank account.
It is worth considering the implementation of a “bridge-building” scheme to bring together applicants and potential suppliers of care (i.e. gyms, personal assistants, cleaners, etc.). For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/ DG_10016128
Raising Awareness: Update
In our last newsletter we asked you for help in sourcing case histories that we could promote to journalists so as to raise awareness of mental health and assisted self-help. Thanks to everyone who emailed with questions, suggestions and contacts. We still need more stories, so do keep them coming.
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