Bridge building for mainstream is now incorporated into the care pathway for people recovering from mental health conditions.
Community mental health teams, occupational therapies, psychiatrists are all aware of the value of mainstream bridge building. Many community mental health teams actively promote mainstream as part of their in-house practice with clients. Service-user led initiatives are also widely encouraged.
Where mental health teams may not always the time and resources to promote mainstream fully, there are many outside organisations working alongside the teams. The benefits of referral to an outside non-clinical team can be considerable.
Mental health teams can often discuss mainstream with clients in a clinical or home setting. An outside organisation has more time and capacity to draw clients out into mainstream settings where a conversation can begin. This may well be and should be - a conversation about the client's hopes, dreams, goals and aspirations.
One of the bridge builder's roles is to help facilitate this conversation. Another role is to be clued-in with what mainstream has to offer. For example, a bridge builder specialising in arts and culture needs to know what outlets there are both locally and further afield. A client who wishes to develop skills in music production should be introduced to the mainstream venue or venues where this opportunity takes place.
Showing posts with label social inclusion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social inclusion. Show all posts
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Discussing Mainstream
Bridge building for mainstream is now incorporated into the care pathway for people recovering from mental health conditions.
Community mental health teams, occupational therapies, psychiatrists are all aware of the value of mainstream bridge building. Many community mental health teams actively promote mainstream as part of their in-house practice with clients. Service-user led initiatives are also widely encouraged.
Where mental health teams may not always the time and resources to promote mainstream fully, there are many outside organisations working alongside the teams. The benefits of referral to an outside non-clinical team can be considerable.
Mental health teams can often discuss mainstream with clients in a clinical or home setting. An outside organisation has more time and capacity to draw clients out into mainstream settings where a conversation can begin. This may well be and should be - a conversation about the client's hopes, dreams, goals and aspirations.
One of the bridge builder's roles is to help facilitate this conversation. Another role is to be clued-in with what mainstream has to offer. For example, a bridge builder specialising in arts and culture needs to know what outlets there are both locally and further afield. A client who wishes to develop skills in music production should be introduced to the mainstream venue or venues where this opportunity takes place.
Community mental health teams, occupational therapies, psychiatrists are all aware of the value of mainstream bridge building. Many community mental health teams actively promote mainstream as part of their in-house practice with clients. Service-user led initiatives are also widely encouraged.
Where mental health teams may not always the time and resources to promote mainstream fully, there are many outside organisations working alongside the teams. The benefits of referral to an outside non-clinical team can be considerable.
Mental health teams can often discuss mainstream with clients in a clinical or home setting. An outside organisation has more time and capacity to draw clients out into mainstream settings where a conversation can begin. This may well be and should be - a conversation about the client's hopes, dreams, goals and aspirations.
One of the bridge builder's roles is to help facilitate this conversation. Another role is to be clued-in with what mainstream has to offer. For example, a bridge builder specialising in arts and culture needs to know what outlets there are both locally and further afield. A client who wishes to develop skills in music production should be introduced to the mainstream venue or venues where this opportunity takes place.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
History of Social Inclusion
Social Inclusion and mainstream arise out of a history and out of a history of ideas.
Government think-tanks in the late 1990s and early 2000s had a key role in developing current thinking and practice around social inclusion. The envisaging of 'social domains' relevant to people's lives arises from these seminal ideas. The role of mainstream bridge builder is also developed around the concept of mainstream as a pathway for mental health recovery.
Social Inclusion goes back even further. A single act of defiance by Rosa Parks in 1955 in Alabama Mississippi. A black woman refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white person, thereby defying the segregration laws. A key moment that lies at the heart of the civil rights movement, not just for the United States but for equality and social inclusion everywhere.
Equal opportunities, diversity, social inclusion and fairness are now commonplaces, enshrined in the way we strive to live and work today.
Government think-tanks in the late 1990s and early 2000s had a key role in developing current thinking and practice around social inclusion. The envisaging of 'social domains' relevant to people's lives arises from these seminal ideas. The role of mainstream bridge builder is also developed around the concept of mainstream as a pathway for mental health recovery.
Social Inclusion goes back even further. A single act of defiance by Rosa Parks in 1955 in Alabama Mississippi. A black woman refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white person, thereby defying the segregration laws. A key moment that lies at the heart of the civil rights movement, not just for the United States but for equality and social inclusion everywhere.
Equal opportunities, diversity, social inclusion and fairness are now commonplaces, enshrined in the way we strive to live and work today.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Tools for Social Inclusion
Two major assessment tools have been developed for social inclusion. One is the social inclusion 'Web' and the other is the 'Star' or 'Recovery Star'.
Originally created by the National Development Team (NDT) the web is a simple and effective assessment tool based on five key social domains. The domains were identified as key in the research done in the late 90s and early 2000s around social inclusion.
On the web these domains appear as:
Employment
Education & Training
Arts & Culture
Faith & Cultural Communities
Volunteering & Befriending
Family & Neighbourhood
Services
What makes the web unique for mental health is that it does not record or measure symptoms or diagnoses. A client who wishes to record which services he or she accesses may include the psychiatrist or community mental health team. However, the main purpose of the web is to record the client's involvement in mainstream. More importantly, the web is there to identify client's goals and aspirations in terms of where he or she wishes to be in mainstream.
Originally created by the National Development Team (NDT) the web is a simple and effective assessment tool based on five key social domains. The domains were identified as key in the research done in the late 90s and early 2000s around social inclusion.
On the web these domains appear as:
Employment
Education & Training
Arts & Culture
Faith & Cultural Communities
Volunteering & Befriending
Family & Neighbourhood
Services
What makes the web unique for mental health is that it does not record or measure symptoms or diagnoses. A client who wishes to record which services he or she accesses may include the psychiatrist or community mental health team. However, the main purpose of the web is to record the client's involvement in mainstream. More importantly, the web is there to identify client's goals and aspirations in terms of where he or she wishes to be in mainstream.
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Social Inclusion - the mantra and the tantra
Social Inclusion - Does it exist?
Social Inclusion has long been a mantra for organisations representing clients who may be isolated or marginalised for one reason or another. Government think-tanks in the early 2000s identified key areas or social domains relevant to people's lives and development in the mainstream world. These are: employment, the arts, spirituality & cultural identity, volunteering, sports & healthy living, family and neighbourhood.
As a social inclusion bridge builder for mental health, I work with clients who wish to access Arts & Culture . The social inclusion approach will ask a client to identify which social domains they would like to prioritise for inclusion in mainstream. The bridge builder's role is then to signpost the client to the mainstream domain which has been prioritised. In order to facilitate this, bridge builders must have a wide network of local and regional contacts in his or her field of expertise. Further support relates only to how much or how little the client requests.
As Arts bridge builder for example, I need to know what is out there for clients who may wish to do arts courses or rehearse and record their music. Other clients may be seeking self-employment through tutoring, performing or composing. All of these aspirational goals have had successful outcomes, some of them quite outstanding. All the clients referred to mainstream come from a background of 'severe and enduring' mental health conditions.
The bridge building service is not a clinical or diagnostic one, although we work closely with Community Mental Health Teams. It is designed to enable clients to participate in mainstream, based on their own preferences, choices, skills and dreams. Clients are free to choose whether to disclose their illnesses or not.
When the arts bridge builder meets with a client, the key questions are 'what do you wish to see happen for yourself' or 'what would you like to do'. Bridge building focuses on aspiration, goals and innate gifts and talents. And that's it.
Social Inclusion has long been a mantra for organisations representing clients who may be isolated or marginalised for one reason or another. Government think-tanks in the early 2000s identified key areas or social domains relevant to people's lives and development in the mainstream world. These are: employment, the arts, spirituality & cultural identity, volunteering, sports & healthy living, family and neighbourhood.
As a social inclusion bridge builder for mental health, I work with clients who wish to access Arts & Culture . The social inclusion approach will ask a client to identify which social domains they would like to prioritise for inclusion in mainstream. The bridge builder's role is then to signpost the client to the mainstream domain which has been prioritised. In order to facilitate this, bridge builders must have a wide network of local and regional contacts in his or her field of expertise. Further support relates only to how much or how little the client requests.
As Arts bridge builder for example, I need to know what is out there for clients who may wish to do arts courses or rehearse and record their music. Other clients may be seeking self-employment through tutoring, performing or composing. All of these aspirational goals have had successful outcomes, some of them quite outstanding. All the clients referred to mainstream come from a background of 'severe and enduring' mental health conditions.
The bridge building service is not a clinical or diagnostic one, although we work closely with Community Mental Health Teams. It is designed to enable clients to participate in mainstream, based on their own preferences, choices, skills and dreams. Clients are free to choose whether to disclose their illnesses or not.
When the arts bridge builder meets with a client, the key questions are 'what do you wish to see happen for yourself' or 'what would you like to do'. Bridge building focuses on aspiration, goals and innate gifts and talents. And that's it.
How Social Inclusion is good for business
Social Inclusion - so good for business
The business case for mental health awareness is evidenced by the increasing numbers of employers who are commissioning mental health awareness trainings for their workforce. Employers want trainings which enable their staff to understand more about common mental health conditions. Understanding mental health means that staff can work better with clients and customers. It also allows staff to feel less isolated about personal issues around health and well-being.
Mental health awareness provides the opportunity for employers and employees to find out more about the law as it relates to employment and mental health.
Enlightened employers will seek to develop a workforce team which is happy rather than unhappy, fulfilled rather than excluded. Courses such as MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) show that attendees often feel that one of the benefits of the training in that it allows for a safe space. A safe space where individuals can share feelings about their personal well-being in addition to learning about the broader aspects of mental health conditions and the appropriate interventions.
In addition to mental health, it makes solid sense for businesses to incorporate awareness of social inclusion and mainstream. Returning to or accessing mainstream living is now a key part of the care pathway for those diagnosed with 'severe and enduring' mental health diagnoses. It is equally important for people who may be experiencing conditions such as anxiety, phobia or stress at work.
Both groups - those in primary and secondary care - are being signposted to mainstream life rather than to special settings as a central plank of the recovery process. The implications for any service provider - and that includes businesses - are crucial. Businesses and services are at the receiving end of mainstream.
Clients in recovery are choosing to access their personal goals through a diverse range of outlets. These could range from faith venues to volunteer bureaus, from retail outlets to sports centres, from recording studios to adult education colleges, from libraries to personal counselors, from training venues to department stores.
For businesses, it's not just one in four of their staff who may be experiencing mental health challenges, it's also one in four of their clients, customers and service consumers. Mental health challenges will also have an impact on one in three families. Disclosed or undisclosed, it's clear that mental health and well-being lie at the heart of our transactions and interactions.
The business case for mental health awareness is evidenced by the increasing numbers of employers who are commissioning mental health awareness trainings for their workforce. Employers want trainings which enable their staff to understand more about common mental health conditions. Understanding mental health means that staff can work better with clients and customers. It also allows staff to feel less isolated about personal issues around health and well-being.
Mental health awareness provides the opportunity for employers and employees to find out more about the law as it relates to employment and mental health.
Enlightened employers will seek to develop a workforce team which is happy rather than unhappy, fulfilled rather than excluded. Courses such as MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) show that attendees often feel that one of the benefits of the training in that it allows for a safe space. A safe space where individuals can share feelings about their personal well-being in addition to learning about the broader aspects of mental health conditions and the appropriate interventions.
In addition to mental health, it makes solid sense for businesses to incorporate awareness of social inclusion and mainstream. Returning to or accessing mainstream living is now a key part of the care pathway for those diagnosed with 'severe and enduring' mental health diagnoses. It is equally important for people who may be experiencing conditions such as anxiety, phobia or stress at work.
Both groups - those in primary and secondary care - are being signposted to mainstream life rather than to special settings as a central plank of the recovery process. The implications for any service provider - and that includes businesses - are crucial. Businesses and services are at the receiving end of mainstream.
Clients in recovery are choosing to access their personal goals through a diverse range of outlets. These could range from faith venues to volunteer bureaus, from retail outlets to sports centres, from recording studios to adult education colleges, from libraries to personal counselors, from training venues to department stores.
For businesses, it's not just one in four of their staff who may be experiencing mental health challenges, it's also one in four of their clients, customers and service consumers. Mental health challenges will also have an impact on one in three families. Disclosed or undisclosed, it's clear that mental health and well-being lie at the heart of our transactions and interactions.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Is anti-stigma the new stigma?
Is anti-stigma the new stigma?
The 'Time to Change' campaign challenges stigma and discrimination against people with mental health conditions. For the next phase of the campaign Time to Change is helping groups and individuals organise activities which actively cooperate in challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviours.
Time to Change advises that 'at Get Moving events it is ideal if there is a 50/50 mix of individuals with experience of mental health problems and those without in order to maximise the amount of stigma broken down and the number of stereotypes challenged.' Events suggested are football games, group walks or 'a dance routine which is then performed'.
The campaign promotes 'social contact' and 'social contact theory' put into practice' to challenge stigma and discrimination'.
Why should people with mental health conditions have to access mainstream activities as part of a campaign?
Challenging discrimination is achieved primarily through engaging in mainstream as a contributor, a consumer or a provider. Many people with mental health conditions access mainstream activities, making their own choices as to whether to disclose or not. The most impact in challenging mainstream can be achieved by prioritising individual goals and aspirations. Support is also available to access mainstream from mental health organisations and bridge builders or through direct payments.
People who play football who happen to have mental health conditions are footballers. They aren't required to be 'positive mental health footballers'. People who play guitar who happen to have mental health conditions are guitarists, not mental health guitarists. People who are arts tutors who have a mental health condition are arts tutors. By continuing to tag mental health on mainstream activities and aspirations there is a danger of recycling stigma and not allowing people to move into valued social roles.
Could anti-stigma be the new stigma?
The 'Time to Change' campaign challenges stigma and discrimination against people with mental health conditions. For the next phase of the campaign Time to Change is helping groups and individuals organise activities which actively cooperate in challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviours.
Time to Change advises that 'at Get Moving events it is ideal if there is a 50/50 mix of individuals with experience of mental health problems and those without in order to maximise the amount of stigma broken down and the number of stereotypes challenged.' Events suggested are football games, group walks or 'a dance routine which is then performed'.
The campaign promotes 'social contact' and 'social contact theory' put into practice' to challenge stigma and discrimination'.
Why should people with mental health conditions have to access mainstream activities as part of a campaign?
Challenging discrimination is achieved primarily through engaging in mainstream as a contributor, a consumer or a provider. Many people with mental health conditions access mainstream activities, making their own choices as to whether to disclose or not. The most impact in challenging mainstream can be achieved by prioritising individual goals and aspirations. Support is also available to access mainstream from mental health organisations and bridge builders or through direct payments.
People who play football who happen to have mental health conditions are footballers. They aren't required to be 'positive mental health footballers'. People who play guitar who happen to have mental health conditions are guitarists, not mental health guitarists. People who are arts tutors who have a mental health condition are arts tutors. By continuing to tag mental health on mainstream activities and aspirations there is a danger of recycling stigma and not allowing people to move into valued social roles.
Could anti-stigma be the new stigma?
Monday, 14 June 2010
Traditional cohorts in care provision
Service providers, staff, service users and carers are often perceived as the main groups comprising the traditional cohort of secondary mental health care provision. All this changes when mainstream practice is incorporated into care pathways. The effect of mainstreaming is that it introduces new stakeholders into the equation. Stakeholders chosen by the client as part of his or her recovery. Person-centred practice is designed to enable the person in recovery to access activities and outlets of their own choice in the mainstream environment. These outlets can be anywhere and everywhere, depending on the client's personal goals, hopes and aspirations.
Mainstream effectively destroys the stigma attached to recovery as it is longer attached to special settings, wherever this is the individual's preferred choice.
Mainstream effectively destroys the stigma attached to recovery as it is longer attached to special settings, wherever this is the individual's preferred choice.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Planning for Good Mental Health & Social Inclusion: Course Testimonials
Planning for Good Mental Health & Social Inclusion
Training testimonials:
'Such a huge subject - well covered in the time allotted'.
'The course has enabled me to be 'more assertive in recognising and prioritising mental health issues'.
I shall 'develop a knowledge base of local services and encourage others to make appropriate referrals'.
'John is a very calm person. Used the background music to create a non-threatening, relaxed atmosphere'.
I shall 'explore in greater depths what services are available to individual clients'.
'I feel I am more aware of what to look for in myself and others'.
The course 'has made me more aware of the need to ensure people return to mainstream after illness'.
'Ideas and information given to think outside the box'.
The course reinforced 'the importance of mainstream social inclusion'.
I now have 'more awareness of organisations and can utilise the social inclusion 'web' tool in assessments.'
Training testimonials:
'Such a huge subject - well covered in the time allotted'.
'The course has enabled me to be 'more assertive in recognising and prioritising mental health issues'.
I shall 'develop a knowledge base of local services and encourage others to make appropriate referrals'.
'John is a very calm person. Used the background music to create a non-threatening, relaxed atmosphere'.
I shall 'explore in greater depths what services are available to individual clients'.
'I feel I am more aware of what to look for in myself and others'.
The course 'has made me more aware of the need to ensure people return to mainstream after illness'.
'Ideas and information given to think outside the box'.
The course reinforced 'the importance of mainstream social inclusion'.
I now have 'more awareness of organisations and can utilise the social inclusion 'web' tool in assessments.'
Sunday, 9 May 2010
How businesses profit from mental health
How businesses profits from mental health.
Businesses and services are developing the understanding that informed practice around mental health benefits both service delivery and profits. Staff are happier and more productive when they know that their employers' practices and procedures do not stigmatize or discriminate against illness or experience.
Days lost to absenteeism, sickness or unproductive presenteeism decrease when employees are not anxious about being dismissed should they choose to disclose a mental health condition. The attrition of unexplained job resignations or sudden departures decreases when taboos around mental health are dismantled by enlightened policies and staff trainings.
Business and services profit from individuals who are being signposted to mainstream as part of their recovery plans. Mainstream social inclusion takes place in any outlet where a recovering individual feels he or she can prioritise a personal goal. Venues such as education and training centres, sports facilities, colleges, recording studios, voluntary organisations and arts groups are benefiting substantially and financially from motivated people accessing mainstream. Where individuals are not paying all the costs themselves, there may well be contributions from schemes such as direct payments or from built-in concessions and offers. The increased business generated by mainstream social inclusion is considerable.
Businesses and services are developing the understanding that informed practice around mental health benefits both service delivery and profits. Staff are happier and more productive when they know that their employers' practices and procedures do not stigmatize or discriminate against illness or experience.
Days lost to absenteeism, sickness or unproductive presenteeism decrease when employees are not anxious about being dismissed should they choose to disclose a mental health condition. The attrition of unexplained job resignations or sudden departures decreases when taboos around mental health are dismantled by enlightened policies and staff trainings.
Business and services profit from individuals who are being signposted to mainstream as part of their recovery plans. Mainstream social inclusion takes place in any outlet where a recovering individual feels he or she can prioritise a personal goal. Venues such as education and training centres, sports facilities, colleges, recording studios, voluntary organisations and arts groups are benefiting substantially and financially from motivated people accessing mainstream. Where individuals are not paying all the costs themselves, there may well be contributions from schemes such as direct payments or from built-in concessions and offers. The increased business generated by mainstream social inclusion is considerable.
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