Help move mental health out of the shadows
08/06/2007
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust is urging local people to join their Trust as a member to help improve services and break down the stigma surrounding mental illness. The Trust has applied to become a foundation trust and is waiting to hear if its application has been successful.
Foundation Trusts are a different type of NHS organisation, run locally with local people as members, having a say in how services are developed. Chief executive Shaun Clee explains, "Although one in four of us will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness. Becoming a foundation trust is a fantastic opportunity to work together to combat this stigma, which will make it easier for people to come forward if they have a problem and seek the help they need. We'd like to encourage local people to join us and make a real difference to the future of mental health, substance misuse and learning disability services in the area."
Here are some interesting facts relating to mental health:
- 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year
- Approximately 30% of all GP consultations involve mental health issues
- Over an 18 month period, 23% of people in Britain said they received some treatment or service, not necessarily provided by the NHS, for a mental health problem.
- It is estimated that approximately 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem
- 1 in 4 families worldwide is likely to have at least one member with a behavioural or mental disorder.
- People without a degree are almost twice as likely to experience depression as those with a degree.
- Depression affects 1 in 5 people over the age of 65 living in the community and 2 in 5 living in care homes.
- A person with a severe mental health problem is four times more likely than average to have no close friends.
- 1 in 4 people using mental health services has no contact with their family, and 1 in 3 has no contact with friends.
- The average age of onset for psychotic symptoms is 22
(all statistics taken from 'The Fundamental Facts 2007' Mental Health Foundation)
Joining the Trust is easy and costs nothing. You will have the opportunity to help shape our services for the future and you will receive regular information about our services. You don't need any special skills or experience and there is no minimum time commitment. You just need to be interested in our services and the people we care for. Anyone 16 years or over who lives in Gloucestershire can became a member of Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust.
To become a member you can
- Enrol on line at www.partnershiptrust.org.uk.
- Call : 01452 891165 and enrol over the telephone
- Email foundationconsultation@glos.nhs.uk
- Write to :
Freepost RLYA - XAKR - HABZ
FT Consultation
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Rikenel
Montpellier
Gloucester
GL1 1LY
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