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Menampilkan postingan dari Juli, 2016

Memory boxes – connecting with the past

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I recently found out about an innovative new dementia-friendly project in Brecon called the Memory Box Loan Scheme, which is run by Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund . “This new service is aimed at those working with, or caring for, older people. Each box has a particular theme and is made up of a range of objects from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The idea behind the boxes is that they can be used to stimulate memory and start conversation. They can be especially useful for talking about the past with a person with a dementia”. Martine Woodcock, Education Officer at Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery , told me more: The project was initially set up by our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Emily Tilling, who has since left Brecknock Museum. The project is now co-ordinated by myself and one of our curatorial assistants, Jacqueline Morgan. Emily spent a lot of time setting up the project and worked with a group of our Museum volunteers who were very interested i...

Mental health & money – 5 top tips

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If you are in the middle of a mental health crisis, or experiencing anxiety or stress, probably the last thing you want to think about is money. But bills still need to be paid. And stuff has to be bought. However much we cut down none of us can survive without the basics of food and shelter. Yet what are the odds it’s not actually the best time to go on a mega spending spree either, whether you have loads of £££ in the bank or hardly any cash at all to line your pocket. Money and mental health has been in the news recently. So we thought we’d take a look at some of the thinking, support and resources that are out there to help people, particularly when they are distressed or stressed, for whatever reason. It is tailored to help people in Powys, but if you land on this blog post from outside our county a lot of the information will still be of use. 1. Money and Mental Health charity launched First of all, there’s a brand new charity out there – the Money and Mental Health Policy Instit...

Dyfed Powys Police - Mental Health : Working Together - Part 2

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We found out in Part 1 of this post last week how Dyfed Powys Police has been rolling out mental health awareness training sessions for the force's staff and partner organisations over the past few months. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the May session as the PAVO representative. These sessions have focused specifically on Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 , and the collaborative nature of the approach to this 72 hour detention which can be instigated by the police.  The first half of our training covered a look at our needs and expectations, an introduction from the police mental health lead Inspector Brian Jones, setting of context by Lousia Kerr who is  Powys Mental Health Partnership and Project Manager,  and a consideration of "what is mental health?" by Powys psychiatrist Stephen Novick. Kath Arnold, manager of the Integrated Community Mental Health Team in Brecon, was next up before we ran out of space. In Part 2 we complete the picture....

Dyfed Powys Police - Mental Health : Working Together - Part 1

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Karen Clarke and Jason Hawkins - Police Community Support Officers in Brecon Section 136 If it appears to a police officer that you as a person in a public place  are:  “suffering from mental disorder ” and are: “in need of immediate care or control ”,  he or she can take you to a place of safety .  You will be kept in hospital, or the place of safety you were taken to, so that you can be examined by a doctor and interviewed by an approved mental health professional and any necessary arrangements can be made for your treatment or care.   Mind – About Sectioning. Over the past six months, Dyfed Powys Police has held regular mental health awareness training sessions for staff and partner organisations in Powys. As PAVO’s representative on the Section 136 sub-group, which was set up to reduce the inappropriate use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, I was invited to attend.  So it was in May I found myself at the Combined Services Centre in Llandri...