World Mental Health Day – making a difference to the future of mental health services
It’s World Mental Health Day and we are looking back at the research projects our Mental Health Team have worked on recently, which focus on making a difference to the future of mental health services and improving care.
Pathways to Change
From 2022 to 2023, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People (The Coalition) and Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) collaborated on a research project looking at the experiences of South-Asian adults within mental health services in Surrey and North-East Hampshire.
It specifically focused on whether South-Asians felt that their cultural and religious needs were accommodated by mental health services, and how language barriers affected the service they received.
The research project involved in person and online focus groups, an online survey and follow up interviews. As part of the project Immy, Salem and Alex from our Mental Health Team presented their findings at our AGM in September. The final report should be available on our website soon.
In and Out
The In and Out research project focused on speaking to people with lived experience, carers and professional perspectives on avoiding admission to mental health hospitals, and how discharges could be safely made more quickly.
Our Mental Health Team presented their findings to the Governors from the Surrey and Boarders Partnership. They’re also working on recommendations from the research project and the full report is available on our website: In and Out Project full report – Surrey Coalition of Disabled People
Compassion in Crisis
Compassion in Crisis is a research project which explores experiences of crisis which may have led to an unplanned admission to mental health hospitals and specialist units. It focuses on the experiences of autistic individuals, individuals with learning disabilities and or/both.
Alex, who is working on the research project, is being interviewed by Jon from Surry Hills Community Radio this week to discuss the project. Visit our blog for the latest updates on the project: Compassion in Crisis Updates – Surrey Coalition of Disabled People
If you’re interested in finding out more about our research projects, please visit our website: IMHN: The Independent Mental Health Network – Surrey Coalition of Disabled People
If you would like to become an Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) member please fill out our online membership form: About IMHN – Surrey Coalition of Disabled People or contact Guy Hill: Tel./Text 0730 500 9869, or email: guy.hill@surreycoalition.org.uk