Helping patients towards mental stability
Helping patients towards mental stability
Pressure continues on mental health services in Cambridgeshire in the face of a growing population and a shortfall in funding. What this means in practice is that adults who have been in crisis, but are now on the road to recovery, will be discharged from statutory services but are sometimes still unwell. Although their mental health may be stabilising, some people will find the transition back to their normal lives extremely challenging. This is where the charity Red2Green offers practical help through their Support programme, funded for the last year by the Evelyn Trust. Sixty-six clients from East Cambridgeshire have been supported to work through issues such as debt, risk of homelessness, drug and alcohol use, benefits claims etc. There are particularly high levels of need in East Cambridgeshire, which is a part of the county with higher than average unemployment, lower incomes and where many residents suffer from rural isolation and a lack of accessible transport.
“Clients come to us from hospital care, or perhaps from a GP referral and we offer a flexible support service in local towns that aims to take them from ‘red’, where they are struggling to cope, to ‘green’ where they report less stress and more confidence to deal with the challenges of everyday life. We use the Recovery Star tool to track their progress,” explains Elizabeth Froy of Red2Green.
Support helps clients through 1:1s and group sessions, weekly drop-ins, lunch clubs and through a walking group that enjoys some sociable exercise at local venues, including Wicken Fen and Anglesey Abbey.
Clients can move on gradually from the Support service as and when they feel able to cope without regular advice and input. The service is always available to past clients and they can self refer.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Quote from a father of two with severe alcohol dependency who referred himself to Red2Green’s service Support. By coming to the drop-in groups and with as much 1:1 support as he needed, he went through training at a local charity and was offered his first set of shifts. He has abstained from alcohol since August 2017.
“We’re really grateful for the funding secured from the Evelyn Trust. With their support, more than 60 local adults living with severe mental illness have had the help they need to develop stable lives,” adds Jackie Fernandez, Chief Executive, Red2Green.
There’s more information on the vital service provided in East Cambridgeshire by Red2Green: