Minutes from 25 January 2009

Dear friends

Thank you for your interest and contributions towards the next Epsom Mental Health Week.  At today’s meeting, after hearing about Paul and Sue’s visit to Buckingham Palace, we went through some basic details for the week:-

1.    Dates – 4-10 October 2009
2.    Title – “Epsom Mental Health Week – Promoting Wellbeing”
3.    Publicity – we need to be far more proactive in this area
4.    Famous people to attend: negotiations will take place
5.    Ideas for funding gratefully received.  Comic Relief is focusing on Mental Health this year.  It was also suggested that we could hold fund-raising dinners
6.    Faith – one criticism we received of EMHW08 was that we underrepresented the opportunities for people to explore faith and spirituality.  We will seek to rectify that this year
7.    Diane Lynch has kindly agreed to be our schools liaison person
8.    We hope to have themed events, and once again use the resources of art, poetry, drama, film and other creative initiatives.

We then moved to ‘dreaming the dream’.  What are we about and what is needed?  We looked at the spectrum of mental health and illness in our society and felt that there are three broad areas:  services for people with a diagnosed mental illness and their carers - the breaking down of stigma  - the exploration of what good mental wellbeing means for people who are not currently ill.

One of the areas identified was young mums and people with post natal depression.  We considered agencies with which we may like to make contact, including Homestart, Midwives, WVA, and Obstetricians.  A possible venue for events during the week could be the new Epsom Primary School Children’s’ Centre.  A crèche and befrienders, possibly working before the week, would be needed and possible activities could include pampering for mums and dads and baby massages; an education function on the practical aspects of baby care; and talks by educational psychologists on attachment theory.  Publicity could be given via Health Visitors, leaflets given to all new mums via the Babyface photographer and the NCT (who charge for their services)

Other topics for consideration include parenting skills; financial management; housing management; modelling new ways of family life; examining issues of identity, belonging and relationships; raising understanding generally about mental health and mental illness; cyber bullying; emotional literacy; and an evening for people who would respond to the question ‘is there somebody you are worried about?’

In discussion it was felt that EMHW09 may have a valuable function in providing a bridge between those who with a need  (be it aloneness or whatever) and those who with a service to offer.  EMHW09  could provide a sign post to future help.

Becky Owen would be willing to help develop a play for schools on a relevant topic.

Tracey Matthews volunteered to give a talk on accessing services and journeying on.

Other agencies which may be contacted include Hubble Community Enterprise (puppets with a message, mentioned by Rebecca); Residents Associations; Gingerbread; and Families Need Fathers.

It was felt that the issues of loneliness and aloneness affect all people to some extent and that the week could helpfully explore all aspects of the human life cycle.

These are very brief notes.  Please do respond with your thoughts and questions, if you would like.  The next meetings will be on
Monday 2 March
Monday 23 March
Monday 20 April
All between 12noon and 2pm at St Barnabas Church, with lunch included.

And finally, if you receive this by post but would be happy to receive future correspondence by email, please could you send your name, address and email contact to info@epsommentalhealthweek.org.uk

Thank you so much.
With kind regards.


Sue Bull