Better Together Spring 2017 - news in brief

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New community mental health hub opens at Lincolnshire seaside town

Community mental health services in the seaside resort of Skegness have received a boost thanks to the opening of the newly-refurbished Holly Lodge unit.
 
The million pound redevelopment now houses staff from steps2change talking therapies, adult psychology and adult and older adult community mental health, along with staff from CAMHS, learning disabilities and crisis and neuropsychology teams.

This investment really does demonstrate our commitment to providing high quality environments so we can continue to deliver on equally high quality patient care,

said Chief Executive Dr John Brewin.

It was a pleasure to meet with the staff, who all have a clear patient-focus and are all passionate about the vital services they provide.

Sexual Assault Referral Centre puts down roots with new sensory garden

People who have been the victims of serious sexual crimes now have a calm and peaceful sensory garden where they feel safe to sit and reflect.

LPFT’s Spring Lodge in Lincoln, has transformed a site that was previously a car park into a soothing, outdoor complex designed for all ages.

The garden features bamboo plants that grow taller for added privacy, as well as a hopscotch game, a large outdoor chalk board for children to use and a water feature.

 

Mental Health Awareness Week 2017

A number of events are taking place across the Trust to raise the profile of good mental health and what steps we can all take to look after ourselves, during this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (8 to 16 May).

The theme this year is ‘surviving or thriving’ and staff and patients will be getting together to help promote a number of Trust services across the week.

Our Grantham and Sleaford Community Mental Health Team hope to have a stall at a local supermarket, to let members of the public know more about the vital work they do.  This is in addition to staff from steps2change in Skegness who are hoping to do the same along the east coast.

Meanwhile members of our Recovery College hope to host a taster sessions for some of their courses and the Trust is lending its support to a special Positive Play mental wellbeing football session being hosted by the Lincolnshire FA at Ruston’s Sports and Social Club, Lincoln on Thursday 11 May from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.  No need to book – just turn up and play.

Full details on all the above including dates, times and venues will be publicised in our news and events section in the coming days, but for more information on what else is going on during Mental Health Awareness Week visit the Mental Health Foundation website.

Research team 'on tour' promoting innovative

Our research team is marking International Clinical Trials Day (20 May) by hosting a series of drop-in cafes across the Trust, aimed at showcasing the innovative studies and great work that is taking place across all the clinical divisions.

Research Week 2017 (15 to 19 May) will culminate with the Lincolnshire launch of the Join Dementia Research Champions at the Learning and Development Centre, in Sleaford on Friday 19 May.  The champions are a group of people throughout the UK, with or without memory problems, who have volunteered to raise awareness of the importance of clinical research.

Visit the National Institute for Health Research website’s Dementia Research Champions section for more information or contact tracey.collishaw@lpft.nhs.uk for details on how you can get involved in the events.

 

Supporting our veterans with improved access to mental health care

The Trust is now working in partnership with other NHS mental health services, Mental Health Matters and Walking for the Wounded to ensure Armed Forces veterans, their families and carers have access to improved mental health care.

Annually 22,000 Armed Forces personnel make the transition to civilian life. Most do it without difficulty however some find it more difficult and may need some help from mental health and social care provision.

The Midlands and East Veterans Service (MEVS) will be working together to ensure there is a proactive approach to care and treatment and a point of contact for servicemen and women and veterans when they need help support and advice.

 

steps2change make it easy to access their talking therapies

Our steps2change free talking therapies are now easier to access thanks to the introduction of their online, interactive self-referral service. There’s now no need to make an appointment with your GP or another healthcare professional - you can just go online and complete the simple self-referral application.

One in four of us will experience a common mental health problem – depression, anxiety, stress – at some point in our lives and steps2change Lincolnshire is there to help with a range of talking therapies tailored to meet individual needs.

They can also offer help with issues like bereavement or the impact of a traumatic event.

For more information or to make a referral today visit the steps2change website