PPN NW Blog - October 2024 Edition

Reflecting on World Mental Health Day 2024 and the event held at Liverpool Central Library

Listen to the Blog     audio Here: (2.72 MB)

Attending the event at Liverpool Central Library for World Mental Health Day, the first thing that struck me was the positive energy in the space. Around stalls and stands representing a wide range of organisations, services and wellbeing providers, life carried on as normal for students staring at their screens but the public arriving in the city centre location were eager to explore, chat and experience (more on that!) the fantastic range of possibilities to support mental health, health equity and reduce stigma on World Mental Health Day.

I looked forward to introducing the PPN NW- Psychological Professions Network North West in conversation and to share the benefits of membership and to drop in at the M-RIC stand (I am new Public Advisor) and to find out more about their public engagement at the event.  I have to thank Talking Therapies too who organised the event. TT gave me a fabulous, compassionate and empathetic welcome, as they did to everyone arriving in the foyer to help orientate them with what was on offer from across the city and the North West. In particular, for me, it wasn’t just being able as a service user to have access to information on what mental health support and groups are available, but actually to experience the demonstrable warmth and interest from every person at each stall. And then there was the uplifting sensory input of sound that filled the astonishing central library atrium space with performances from the Liverpool Signing Choir and the Chinese Wellbeing Dementia Choir. On that golden sunny autumn day, chair yoga and meditation sessions were available alongside important conversations on mental health and reducing stigma.

I lingered at the Mary Seacole House stall to find out more about their work and sessions they run across the week, discovered the Volunteer Gardening Sessions offered by Nature Growing Sudley CIC (a social enterprise group supporting wellbeing through nature), and heard about the wonderful Incurably Wonderful from the founder Rocio who offers a wide range of activities, physical, social and arts-based for people living with chronic illness and mental health. I was informed on how Health Watch use patient and service user experiences to effect change within NHS decision making and about the work of Sanctuary Family Support who give support and advice on debt, housing, bereavement, alcohol, drugs and gambling - thank you Kushi, for explaining more about SFS and sharing with me that your name means ‘Happiness’.

Reaching the M-RIC (Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre) stall they had opened rich conversations about public engagement in research which is vital to communicate as within M-RIC the Service User/Carer Representatives or Public Advisors with lived experience are members of the public who inform and drive forward research in this joint Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool University initiative. 

Gail, Michaela, Jeanette and Jennie communicated that M-RIC message and mantra “Our research offers hope” from Don Bryant (M-RIC Lead Service User and Carer Representative). It is so important for people to know that their voices and experiences are heard and can create change through research involvement. Training, support and payment make inclusion possible within the M-RIC model for people like me who may have no previous knowledge of research but the determination to make the future a better place for people experiencing mental and physical health challenges.

I asked Michaela, Gail, Jeanette and Jennie to share the experience of engaging the public about M-RIC at the World Mental Health Day event.

Gail- “I was so proud of our team today. The service user, carer and public advisor group were amazing advocates for our centre-greeting everyone so warmly. They were also really pro-active at networking with other services. The Chinese Wellbeing choir were so inspiring!!”.

Michaela- “I felt that we had a good chance to let people know what M-RIC is. I was really interested in the LifeRooms stall”.

Jennie- “I’ve had the opportunity to talk to smaller organisations from around the city and connect with other service users. It’s so important that we speak openly about our mental health and break down the stigma”.

Gail Faragher (public engagement research coordinator PPIE team M-RIC) front left with Jeanette Murray- service user and carer representative and Michaela Jones front right with Jennie Wishart -public advisors.

I left the Library with a message of hope and optimism that resonated with me, not just about the phenomenal effort and energy on display from the organisations and individuals present to showcase what they offer, but also on their commitment every day working steadfastly, often with volunteer commitment, to make a real difference to people, carers, families and communities in the North West.

This event was also a really valuable opportunity for organisations to network and learn about each other and to grow their own knowledge and contacts, both at an organisational level but also to inform and signpost the people and populations they work with to other support and services.

I may not have mentioned every organisation involved on World Mental Health Day at the Liverpool Central Library but I hope this gives you a flavour. Below please find contact details for some of the organisations mentioned in the blog.

Until the next PPN NW EbE Steering Group Member blog take the best care of yourselves

Ali Bryant

Talking Therapies                            www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/liverpool/talking-therapies

LifeRooms                                       www.liferooms.org

Mary Seacole House                       www.maryseacolehouse.com

Nature Growing Sudley CIC           www.growingsudley.com

Incurably Wonderful                      This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Health Watch                                www.healthwatchliverpool.co.uk

Sanctuary Family Support             www.sanctuaryfs.org

M-RIC                                            www.mric.uk