Live It Well summary published

A summary of the final version of the Live It Well strategy for improving the mental health and mental wellbeing of people in Kent and Medway has been published, and you can read or download it here.

How health walks transform lives

An article in The Guardian discusses the benefits of "health walks." Groups were established by professionals and are now self-supporting. Walkers are convinced that, in addition to the obvious physical benefits, their morale and mental health is lifted.

"Art of Recovery" exhibition

"Art of Recovery" features work by people who have experienced emotional problems (mental health service users) and have found a therapeutic outlet through making art. The exhibition showcases ceramics, Tiffany style glass, paintings and drawings.

This free exhibition is held at the Nucleus Gallery from 30 October - 18 November 2010

NUCLEUS Arts Centre
272 High Street
Chatham
Kent ME4 4BP

Regulator says it will drive improvements for mental health patients

The Care Quality Commission today (27 October) highlighted areas of poor practice in mental health services for patients who are subject to the Mental Health Act, and pledged to use its regulatory powers to lever improvement.

Publishing its first annual report on the use of the Act, CQC said its findings raised important concerns about how some care providers, in both the NHS and private sector, were adhering to the principles of the Act and its Code of Practice.

The commission identified three priority areas where services needed to do much better:

• involving patients in decisions about their care and treatment;
• assessing and recording patients’ consent to treatment;
• minimising restrictions on patients and avoiding ‘blanket’ security measures.

Read the full press release or download the full report.

Working with Transgender people to improve health and wellbeing

You are warmly invited to an evening of discussion and social networking in a confidential and respectful space. The aim of this event is to engage transgender people further in helping to improve key areas such as access to support and information, getting help with substance misuse concerns and enabling  staff to deliver better services through improved awareness and training.

Refreshments and a buffet meal will be provided on arrival.

Please come along and get involved – your views matter!

Monday 13th December 2010 5.45pm – 8.30pm  at

Music for Change
Chaucer Technology School
Spring Lane
Canterbury, CT1 1SU.
www.musicforchange.org

To register: contact Deana Cook
To discuss: please call Sheree Bell 07949 037 347

See the flyer here.

Medway Combating Stress Week, 1-5 November

Most of us know what it feels like when things get tough, whether it’s caused by money worries, family or work problems, illness or loneliness. In Medway, the healthy living campaign, A Better Medway, which is running throughout 2010, is running a campaign to raise awareness of the five ways to wellbeing as a way of helping people combat stress and enhance their mental health and wellbeing.

The campaign kicks off with Medway Combating Stress Week from 1-5 November, when the aim is for as many people as possible to try to do one or more of the five ways to wellbeing, and share their ideas and experiences at www.abettermedway.co.uk

Voluntary organisations, businesses, the public sector, university students, exercise instructors, library groups, and many more are getting involved.

If you have an idea for achieving the five ways to wellbeing you’d like to share with others, please email contact@abettermedway.co.uk

Return of the Medway Wellbeing Blog

Since information relevant to wellbeing in Medway comes to us at Live It Well, we have decided to re-instate this blog and see what happens. The blog was suspended in January 2010, which is why the existing posts here are so old. Please feel free to submit anything relevant to wellbeing in Medway to us at info@liveitwell.org.uk and we'll try to keep the blog up-to-date, informative and worth following - thanks!