Our Social Prescribing Sefton team have been supporting National Mental Health Service, Mind, who have introduced a new service that allows people to manage their mental health and wellbeing independently. One of our own Sefton Social Prescribers, Hannah Bland, has been involved in the development of this new tool from her involvement in the Lived Experience Network. The aim of this new support is to give low-level wellbeing support to those who prefer or need a hands-off approach with their mental health – also hoping to give some support to those on waiting lists for more 121 help and advice. Hannah was part of a focus group workshop last year and now the results of its findings is finally here.

The aim was to have something that clients and patients could work on in their own time, with support along they way – especially if patients are moving away from a service and still feel they need guidance in their wellbeing journey. This will also help our Living Well Sefton teams to give support to those referred to us on a local level in Sefton.

Hannah noted a gap in the support we can offer at the moment and jumped at chance to be involved with something that supported clients, along with her ability to look at things from both a user and a professional perspective. Hannah has a passion for supporting her clients through other opportunities, promoting awareness of mental health overall and getting people to talk to reduce stigma. This gives our clients both sides of the coin, along with empathy and understanding from our service providers and colleagues which is always available when you work with Living Well Sefton.

Hannah said: ‘I consider it a privilege being able to use my own personal experiences and challenges with mental health issues to benefit others, it’s something I am passionate about and I am particularly keen to be able to use and share this Lived Experience positively.

‘Taking part in opportunities such as the development of the MIND Supported Self Help tool offers me the chance to make a positive impact for other people, and contribute to improving access to support and services that can often prove difficult to navigate.

‘I feel proud to have been involved in shaping the way the Self Help Tool has been developed and seeing it being launched as a much-needed resource to help with a gap in service.’

To try the self help tool, visit here: https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/supported-self-help.

On a local level, Living Well Sefton support mental health through our Think Differently, Cope Differently courses delivered by our Healthy Living Centres – Brighter Living Partnership in Southport, May Logan Centre in Bootle and Feelgood Factory in Netherton.