"Have your say (2) Mental Health Awareness Week"

A discussion forum took place at Millbrook Mental Health Unit in Sutton. Service users carers were able to share and discuss issues about mental health. These were some of the issues raised by service users:

Service users commented that GP's were not always understanding of what mental health patients need. It was suggested that more partnership working happen between GP's, service users and trust staff.

By having a lived experiences, individuals felt that they would be able to help GP's have a better understanding of mental health issues if they just listened.

Some service users have experienced a lack of support from leaving acute care to go back to their community. They felt that this didn't help them to progress with their recovery and their lives.

It was suggested that the Trust think about the tone and content of the letters issued to service users of mental health services. Some felt that the letters could be constructed in more friendly manner and easier to understand. It was feared that staff perhaps didn't appreciate how these letters may effect the individual receiving the letters.

Some service users have been discharged from services and referred on to other areas without consideration as to whether that service would be beneficial to that person. Service users felt that teams were too keen to dischagre people but had to refer them on somewhere else.