Mental Health Engagement and Involvement

We have previously asked people who access services, carers and family members about what matters to them the most when they need to use the services we provide. We intend to build on previous and informal work already undertaken.
In summary, people who use mental health services told us what matters is that staff and services:

• Take time with them and listen to them
• Take care of people, look after them and make sure they get the right treatment when they need it
• Explain all they need to know and involve them in decision making
• Are knowledgeable, safe and can be trusted
• Show they care, are compassionate and show empathy
• Are friendly, kind, competent and staff are professional
• Communicate with the people who matter to them regarding their progress and condition
• Provide good continuity of care and well-managed frequent service delivery in relation to their needs, at the right time and at the right intensity
• Offer assertive community treatment and respond more adequately to people’s diverse social, psychological and biological needs as opposed to being hospitalised

Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow

Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow are an independent and user-led key organisation. Their support has led to very well-developed engagement structures across the NHSGGC area for people who are receiving mental health treatment and support. This engagement takes place across the breadth of the mental health treatment journey from inpatient settings to community services and includes development of strategy. In their own words:

” Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow is a Glasgow charity working with individuals and their carers living with mental health challenges. Our mission is to provide accessible, compassionate support that empowers people to take control of their mental well-being and lead fulfilling lives. To our members we offer a safe place that people can meet up with others who have their own lived experience of mental health challenges.

In our groups we offer peer support, wellbeing sessions and workshops designed to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. With a strong focus on the voice of lived experience. Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow is committed to mental health education, striving to influence policy changes that promote better mental health services across the country.

We believe in building a community where no one feels alone in their mental health journey, and everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive. “

Their work with NHSGGC mental health services includes:

• Conversation sessions across inpatient wards with service users and carers
• SPSP (Scottish Patient Safety Programme) and Royal College of Psychiatrists Accreditation work to engage with the most vulnerable and unwell people using hospital services and give them a chance to feedback on the service they receive, with a particular focus on their safety.
• ‘15 Step Challenge’ visits, which use mystery shopping approaches to help understand what service users and carers experience when they first arrive in a healthcare setting, and provide feedback to services.
• Community and unscheduled care – Collecting / collating postcard feedback, completing questionnaires with service users, and organising and participating in reference groups.
• Strategy and services development – including the mental health strategy programme board, physical health care for mental health service users, and service reviews.

One reference group facilitated through the Mental Health Network is the BPD Dialogues Group. This is a group of people who have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder) and living experience of using NHSGGC services. The group’s purpose is to contribute to planning better services for people with a BPD diagnosis. The name of the group was chosen by its members to represent the fact that there are different views about diagnosis and many aspects of care, and that this group aims to respect and represent all views.