NEWS
Tenants' rent arrears soar in pilot benefit scheme
22/04/2013 14:31:20
The BBC has reported rent arrears among tenants on a government pilot project that pays housing benefit directly to recipients have seen a big increase. One area is predicting a £14m loss if the new system is implemented for all its tenants, the BBC has learned. Read the full article here.
The most toxic issue facing those with mental health problems is stigma
22/04/2013 14:10:51
Clare Allan, writing for the Guardian on 3 April 2013 has reported that an evaluation of Mind and Rethink Mental Health's anti-stigma campaign, Time to Change, shows no wholesale shift in attitudes, but some significant impacts. Read the full article here.
Mental health anti-stigma campaign fails to shift health professionals' attitudes
22/04/2013 13:57:51
David Brindle, writing for the Guardian on 3 April 2013 has reported that people with mental health problems are experiencing less stigma and discrimination, but attitudes of health workers are not improving. Read the full article on the Guardian website here.
Volunteering England statement: “Infrastructure is being undermined as never before”
12/04/2013 16:38:01
Volunteering England (VE) has published a statement in which they say that, despite volunteering having a higher profile than ever and being in such high demand, the local infrastructure it relies on is being “undermined as never before”.
VE conducted a survey with NAVCA in 2012 which found that half of Volunteer Centres in England had seen their funding cut by an average of 25%, following a 12% cut the previous year.
Find out more here.
New mental health hospital at Ryhope, Sunderland to be named Hopewood Park
08/04/2013 12:42:23
A new 137-bed purpose-built mental health hospital development at Ryhope, Sunderland will be called Hopewood Park, it has been announced. The new hospital is being built by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and will replace the old Cherry Knowle Hospital, Ryhope. The scheme is part of the NHS Trust’s £60 million Pride Project, which also includes the building of a new specialist dementia care unit at Monkwearmouth Hospital, Newcastle Road in Sunderland.
A new North East service could offer Veterans much needed support
08/04/2013 12:36:53
In recent years an increasing focus has been placed on the availability of appropriate mental health services for military veterans, particularly given the British military action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and the Charity Combat Stress, in collaboration with the Royal British Legion introduced a Veterans� Wellbeing Assessment and Liaison Service (VWALS) in June 2012 which is running as a pilot for twelve months.
VWALS is a new mental health and wellbeing service for veterans and their families in the north east. So far the service has supported over 160 veterans.
Handheld tablet computers to help improve children's therapy sessions
02/04/2013 15:31:17
Children and young people will be able to use tablet computers in their therapy sessions to give them and their therapist instant access to information that details how close they are to achieving treatment goals.
MHNE interviewed by Washington School for BBC Schools Report
21/03/2013 16:11:23
MHNE were invited to Washington Comprehensive School on News Day as part of the BBC Schools Report programme, which gives pupils the opportunity to get a taste of reporting and journalism by turning their classrooms into?newsrooms.
The students decided to produce an article related to Comic Relief, and chose mental health as a focus after looking at the different areas they fund as shown on?their website. MHNE were approached for an interview about mental health and our work, in particular how we acquire and use funding. Pupils conducted the interviews and composed an article, and were also involved in interviewing several of our members including Waddington Street Centre and Washington Mind.
MHNE would like to thank Washington School for?deciding to interview MHNE, and applauds them for choosing mental health as a key topic.
You can read the full article on Washington School?s website: http://www.washingtonschool.co.uk/community/bbc-school-report/?
Mental Health Services Improved - Auckland Park Hospital
20/03/2013 13:05:27
Auckland Park Hospital in Bishop Auckland has made a number of improvements to its mental health services for adults. The hospital provides specialist mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services for adults over 65, and people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act and people with dementia.
MHNE was alerted to this by an article which appeared in the Northern Echo yesterday (19 March 2013).
MHNE's Chair, Neil Kelly, commented: 'Following the Care Quality Commisions inspection, which highlighted two areas of concern? MHNE is really pleased to hear that a programme of improvements have been put in place for the two standards highlighted by the inspection, and we hope that the next Patient Survey illustrates this'.
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MPs criticise disability benefits tests
12/03/2013 17:46:26
The BBC recently reported (8th February 2013) that MPs have criticised the test being used to see whether people claiming disability benefits are fit to work. The Public Accounts Committee said the Work Capability Assessment had resulted in too many wrong decisions which were overturned on appeal.