More than just a drop-in centre

[purplehaze]

Hi

I suffer from panic attacks and for the most part find it very difficult to get out of the house. Even when I do it is normally with the support of a family member or good friend. My attacks started over 20 years ago but I have gone through years of not suffering from them at all and this in a sense gives me hope that I will again overcome my present problems.

What I think would aid my recovery and that of most of us, would be to have a 24/7 drop-in centre.
Yet the centre would be more than just a drop-in centre, it would offer real support on a one 2 one basis.
EG- You could have a support programme tailor made to meet your needs. If like me you are not getting out, someone would meet up with you on a daily basis or every couple of days and support you to get out, thus helping you to confront any fears that you have.
I have worked in the mental health sector and most of the drop-in centres are poorly run (mostly due to finances) They are no more than a place to have a cup of coffee for a couple of hours.

If the money was available what would you want from a drop-in centre. What do you think would benefit you and others.

it could be;
1/ meet people with similer issues
2/ Group outings (without the stigma of having mental health issues)
3/ support with finding a job, while still suffering from your problems
4/ support with going to collage and learning a new skill
5/ help with just getting out the house or going shopping or speaking to the bank manager etc

I am sure there are many other things that we would all like but at the moment we cant find them within the NHS and thats why I am posting this.

Yea I would like to see centres all over the UK and in other countries financed by ourselves and run by an organisation like "no more panic". Would we be willing to give x amount of money each month to0 get a project like this off the ground and up and running. Oh I have no idea what it would cost but I am sure it could be done.
Maybe as you read this you are that person!

There is no doubt that this is an ambitious idea but I think it is one that could move forward.

What do you think?
What positive ideas do you have?
What would you like to see?

Take care

[Lindalou64]

i agree totally i think group outings would help me alot......meet people socialize,just have someone to talk too when your feeling like crap or even feeling good and have a good laugh...being with others who can relate and fight ya fears together........linda xx

[clickaway]

Hi, that's a very interesting post, purplehaze.

Here in Woking, I think we are quite lucky to have a drop-in centre and in my view it is well-run. It provides a lot of support to people at little cost. The building (a converted house) is owned by the NHS and employs a manager and assistant paid for by the County Council - of course there are other bills to pay such as maintenance, insurance and business rates. In terms of local NHS budgets, this is not huge and the labour costs are minimal, as the support is really given by volunteers leading the various support groups.

These support groups specialise in depression, anxiety, art therapy, emotional issues applying to the asian community, eating disorders as well as a social side which has 2 to 3 meetings per week that includes outings as well. I run the anxiety group and attend the depression one, and sometimes the Friday social.

What these kind of drop centres do not do is provide help in job-seeking, re-training etc. which is probably a task for the professionals. However, "neighbourly" help such as shopping would be a valuable task to be led by volunteers. In my neighbourhood we do have an organisation called St John's Care that undertake driving, odd-jobs, "company" visits for people whose life is restricted - of course many of their clients are elderly but they will help people of any age.

I would like to see groups such as ourselves, No Panic, Saneline, MIND and the National Phobics Society to keep pushing for an increase in these facilities as well as the much needed expansion of the NHS therapy service. Mental health will always be with us, and as the world gets more stressful and more and more people end up living alone, the need for support is getting greater.

I would urge members of this forum to consider starting some kind of support group in your area - maybe the NHS has a spare room in your area and can help with some of the costs such as publicity - it will help them as it may reduce the numbers of doctors visits by people who run to them as they feel so bad without the support.

For an idea of what the "CornerHouse" here in Woking provides, click this link.
http://www.cornerhousewoking.org.uk/index.html

Cheers!

[purplehaze]

Hi Ray

Totally agree with what you said and there needs to be more communication between the different agencies. Its true we as individuals can be a positve force in bringing changes into many areas of mental health support and part of that can be so eaily done by writing to local MPs etc
It can only benefit everyone in the longterm by setting up local groups and as you say will also take pressure away from our local GPs and bring about a change in those who have mental health issues.
Thanks for sharing the site you put a link to.