Funding Support for Mental Health Self-help Project

Monday 26th October 2009

Advance Support's innovative programme of self-help for people with mental health problems, 'Safe Inside, Safe Outside' (or SISO for short), has received a huge boost in the form of two grants from Leicester-based statutory authorities.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has given its full support to the development of a Advance's self help toolkit, in the form of a grant of £20,000 which will go towards staff salaries.

And Leicester City Council has awarded the project a Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure grant of £27,500. This funding will go towards the delivery of workshops in schools & community centres, purchasing of project resources, and a fully functioning SISO van for outreach purposes.

SISO enables people to look inwards and focus on what they can do to help themselves rather than on what they can't, which can then help people move forward on their journey of recovery. It focuses on feeling well and staying well both on the 'inside' (within themselves) and on the 'outside' (within their community) living as an independent valued member of the community.

SISO Project Lead, Leon Herbert said,

"Recovery from mental ill health is a very personal journey and the SISO toolkit is designed to be used on a very individual basis. There's an array of different resources to help people deal with good days and bad days, including information on Complimentary & Holistic Therapies, Food & Mood, Arts, Music, Film & Creative Writing, Emotional Freedom Technique, Neuro-Linguistic Programming & information around Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy resources, including 'Why do I Feel So Bad, Are You Strong Enough to Keep Your Temper & 10 Things to Make You Feel Happier Straight Away to name but a few. Also contained are Wellness Recovery Action Plans, complete with coaching excercises & measurable outcomes tool. There is also information around Recycling, Personlisation, Direct Payments & Employment. People can dip in and out of the toolkit and explore and experiment with some of the great information & resources on offer, which adopts the 'Whatever Works for You Philosophy'.

"We all know that if we're feeling more positive about ourselves ('safe inside') it can help us be more resilient to the challenges of everyday living & life's unpredictable twists & turns, especially when considering issues such as anti-social behaviour, mental health stigma & harassment ('safe outside'). This is a really useful guide that can assist people to look at ways in which they can help themselves to better manage & maintain positive mental wellbeing, move forward in their lives and in their communities. SISO is about taking into account the panoramic view of a persons life & not just a life governed by a mental health diagnoses, this should be a pin prick in the landscape & not the very definition of who you are. Mental wellbeing is a consideration for everyone in society & not just the diagnosed few- therefore the SISO Toolkit can be used by anyone whether you have a mental health diagnoses or not."

The development of the toolkit originally evolved out of a 2-year programme funded by the Department of Health. Additional funds have been granted by the Big Lottery Fund Awards For All scheme to assist in the wider development of the work, help people use the kit & reach out to as many people as possible.

Posted by 0 for Advance Housing & Support Ltd.