Become a Member of The Mental Health Forum
Welcome.
We can help you find confidence, improved wellness tools, peer support, new life skills, ways to direct your passion for helping others.
Every voice matters, and in our membership meetings we can help you use yours in coproduction with Southern Health & Social Care Trust Mental Health Division.
All our members have opportunities to learn more about mental health services and to give feedback on developments, and for those who want to delve deeper into the world of coproduction skills and practice we have the option to progress into the Forum's Capacity Building Programme.
This additional membership option offers peer-mentored learning and experience.
you can enquire about this at any time after joining... just ask to speak with us after the monthly meeting and we can answer your questions and get you started.
(More information about coproduction below)
What Time commitment is needed per month?
What does the overall structure look like?
What does the optional Capacity Building look like?
What is Coproduction
Co-Production is about mindset and culture. In a health care setting this means the key stakeholders (people involved/affected) are those of Lived Experience (Service Users), Carers and supporters, frontline and support Staff/Professionals, Managers, Peer Workers, Community and Voluntary representatives and Advocates. Respectful, reciprocal, and rewarding involvement are the building blocks of Co-production.
Noone is more important or more valued than another.
This kind of partnership working is not something that can rest in a tick box or slot into a process towards an approaching deadline because Co-production exists only if it runs throughout the entire process. It is the natural way of doing things from the very beginning, and without pre-conception about where the most useful skills or expertise may lie within the group.
“It is more about the WAY things are done than WHAT is done”
It is a coming together of people interested in and affected by a shared issue, to work together as equals to achieve the best shared outcome. They value and utilise the experience, expertise and vision of all stakeholders who have the courage to think and act in ways that promote positive change. Good practice will always measure progress and decision-making against the ‘CUP model’ and ask whether all stakeholders are equally informed and involved (Carer, User & Professional.)
Co-production is the pinnacle of Service User and Carer involvement in Health & Social Care. Processes within Personal & Public Involvement (PPI) and Quality Improvement (QI) rely on it. Patient & Client Experience (PCE) drawn from many different points of feedback puts Service User and Carer input at the heart of efforts to work as equals in creating better services. From a personal, professional, governance, and community development perspective, Co-production is evidenced to be effective. It places people at the heart of building systems, services and relationships that work better. Quality care in a Mental Health setting is now being underpinned and driven by Co-production - it is the direction of travel , for all divisions in The Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
Tell us about your interest, your ideas, your passion
Learn what opportunities are available right now
* This is about using your lived experience as an asset...
You already have something very valuable to contribute and the Forum will provide, and signpost to additonal skills and
opportunities that will help you become more knowledgeable,
confident, articulate . We will help you direct your passion into
improving the expereinces of other carers and service users in
mental health services.
* You start by joining the Forum Consultation Group and begin
learning more about Services and Coproduction practice, by giving
direct personal feedback on the range of documents, policies and
new initiatives that are at the heart of mental health care. You do
this be email within manageable timeframes and from the comfort
of your own home. You will be given the information and help you
need for this important coproduction work.
* As a member of this group you will have one to one support and
mentoring as you develop your skills and become more confident.
You will be an important part of positive change and help
improve experiences of care for others.
You can begin making a difference RIGHT NOW
& without any major time commitment.
* Your time availablity and personal life circumstances may change
and so you can adjust the level to which you contribute feeback in
the Consultation Group to suit your needs. You can take a break at
any time, or leave if you need to, knowing you made a difference.
* Any member of the Consultation Group can explore opportunities for
deeper Coprodution involvement, Personal development, or Training
at any time. The Forum coordinates a wide range of Coproduction
activity in Southern Trust and has a dedicated Capacity Building
Programme to inform, guide and support you.
You will have a named contact throughout your involvement for support.
* You have options - If you become a member of the Capacity Building
Programme, you will be supported one to one as you develop skills
and identify your strengths as a Coproduction representaitve.
Not all opportunites are long-term or have a
high time demand, so we will help you find the
pieces of work that best suit your life/work balance and your condition management or caring
commitments.
We can also provide information about becoming involved in
community volunteering, learning about mental health & personal wellbing, and personal development.
* Everyone working with us, in any part of our Learning and
Coproduction Pathways, will be given opportunity to learn about
suicide awareness and prevention.