Mental health and substance misuse carers’ information
Contact Veronica Attah on 020 3031 2755 or carers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Family Skills Workshops
for relatives, partners and friends
These community based workshops are available in Richmond and Kingston at Carers in Mind (Richmond
Royal) and Kingston Carers Network (Noble Centre). They last approximately one and a half hours and are
suitable for people supporting someone connected to adult mental health services. They last approximately
one and a half hours and can be attended on a one off basis, there is no need to attend all of the sessions.
Responding to difficult behaviour symptoms - This workshop will look at some basic tips on how to
respond most effectively to some common behaviour symptoms such as inactivity and withdrawal, strange
thoughts and beliefs, aggressive behaviour and anxiety.
Richmond Royal Wednesday, October 5th
6.30pm-8pm Noble Centre Workshop was in September
The Recovery Approach - An introduction to the recovery approach used by mental health services and an
opportunity to look at how families can support someone with mental health problems. This workshop will
discuss the transition from caregiver to supporter in order to support your relative, partner or friend’s recovery
journey.
Richmond Royal Wednesday, October 12th 6.30pm-8pm Noble Centre Workshop was in September
Common Communication Barriers - Looking at the importance of communication skills when you are
supporting someone with mental health problems. This workshop will introduce the stress vulnerability model
and help to identify some common barriers to effective communication.
Richmond Royal Wednesday, October 19th 6.30pm-8pm Noble Centre Workshop was in September
Moving on Again after a Crisis - Looking at ways to support someone who has recently experienced a
mental health crisis. This workshop will introduce Personal Recovery Planning, Keeping Well, Managing ups
and downs, and Advance Directives.
Richmond Royal Wednesday, October 26th 6.30-8pm
Noble Centre Friday, October 7th 11.30-1pm
The Mental Health Maze - Information about mental health services available locally, who is eligible and how
to access them. This workshop discusses collaborative working with MH professionals, the rights of the
Nearest Relative and potential problems when confidentiality is an issue.
Richmond Royal Wednesday, November 2nd 6.30pm-8pm Noble Centre Friday, October 14th 11.30-1pm
Workshop Venues:
Richmond Royal, Kew Foot Road, Richmond TW9 2EP. Please use back entrance on Kew Foot Road and
ring bell. Tel: 0208 940 7384 or email carers@rbmind.org for more details.
Kingston Carers' Network, The Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, New Malden, KT3 4BD. Tel: 020 3031
2757 or email carers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk for more details.
Get involved... in Consultation
We are holding a pre-Christmas ‘consultation’ evening to establish a consultative group for mental
health and substance misuse carers. Enjoy a mince pie and share your thoughts:
On:
Thursday 1st December 2011
At:
Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4BD
Time:
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – drop-in and stay for as long as you like or are able
Please confirm your attendance by 24th November 2011 to Veronica at carers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk or
call 020 3031 2755.
Mental health and substance misuse carers’ information
Contact Veronica Attah on 020 3031 2755 or carers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Get involved... in Research
Siobhan Smith, a trainee Clinical Psychologist at Surrey University is looking for Black Afro Caribbean
carers to take part in a research study to share their experiences of caring. The needs of families and carers
from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities have been largely overlooked. This research study aims
to add to the literature about caring in a BME community. She is looking for Black Afro-Caribbean Carers
caring for those with severe and enduring mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. If
you are the parent, sibling or partner of somebody who has a mental illness, and you have been for 5-10
years, then she is interested in hearing from you. This research project involves conducting one-to-one
interviews of about an hour with carers. Refreshments will be provided and all participants will be entered into
a prize draw to win a £25 high street voucher. Please contact Siobhan Smith on: s.l.smith@surrey.ac.uk or
01483 683979 if you are interested in finding out more.
Do you care for a person with dementia? Fara Hamidi, a postgraduate student, is researching carers of
people with dementia and the difficulties they experience in making decisions for their loved one. She aims
to investigate whether carers are receiving adequate help and support from health and social care services
and if not, what more needs to be done. She has designed a questionnaire, which takes approximately 10
minutes to complete, aimed at current caregivers of people with any type and severity of dementia (but who
are living in the community). Fara was inspired to work on this project after speaking to a number of carers
who all expressed the same difficulties in their caregiving role. If you are interested in taking part in this
research, please contact Veronica for a copy of the questionnaire on 020 3031 2755 or email
carers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk.
What's On?
South Place Mental Health Carers' Support Group now meets at Tolworth Hospital. It welcomes all
relatives and carers of people with mental health problems on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at Tolworth
Hospital, Hughes Room B, Red Lion Road, Tolworth KT6 7QU. From 6:00pm-7:15pm on: 11th October,
8th November, 13th December.
Monthly evening Drop-in sessions on Lilacs Ward on the last Thursday of the month from 6:00pm7:00pm on: 27th October, 30th November, 29th December.
For your diary/dates to be advised:
10 week Family Recovery & Communication Skills Course for relatives, partners and friends of people
experiencing mental health problems, who have completed all 5 of the Introductory Workshops. This
experiential learning programme examines carers’ recovery process and addresses recognisable, cyclical
phases that all families go through when someone they love has a mental health problem. Family members,
service users and professionals can share narratives and combine their learning. As knowledge and skills are
acquired participants can discover, renew and grow through their personal caring journey. When/where?
November, dates, times and venue to be confirmed.
Dealing with Substance Misuse in the Family is a new 1½ hour evening workshop that has been
developed with input from carers and family members. It is part of a series of courses that take place on a
rolling monthly programme for carers and family members in the Recovery College. (The South West
London Recovery College is the UK's first NHS College, providing a range of educational courses and
resources for people with lived mental health experience, their friends, family and Trust staff.) When/where?
November at the Recovery College Headquarters at Springfield Hospital, date and time to be
confirmed.