Bournemouth Vision 2026

Local Innovations in Lead up to This Year's Natonal 'Depression Awareness' Week

As this year’s Depression Awareness Week (17 – 23 April) approaches, Dorset HealthCare NHS Foundation Trust is announcing exciting developments to its mental health services in Southampton.

The Trust has successfully secured £5,000 from NHS South Central to help improve mental health through early identification, effective treatment and recovery. Specifically, the funding will enable the creation of new 'Wellbeing Champions' to work with targeted groups in Southampton - including 18 to 35 year old men, BME communities, multi-faith groups, adults with learning difficulties, the homeless and offenders. The champions will help to educate and inform these groups about the importance of positive mental health and the early identification of common mental health problems - such as depression and anxiety.

Jo Trosh, Clinical Lead and Service Manager for the Trust’s Southampton Steps to Wellbeing Service explained: “One in five people suffer from depression and our aim is to continuously improve people’s access to high quality psychological therapies in order to aid swift recovery. The Wellbeing Champion initiative will enable us to talk to groups who find it more difficult to access healthcare, which we hope will see a more balanced pattern of people referring themselves to our services.”

In addition, the Southampton Steps to Wellbeing Service – established by the Trust just six months ago – is also now able to provide 100 per cent coverage for the online aspect of its services.

The recent purchase of more licences for the ‘Living Life to the Full interactive’ programme means that all Southampton-based service users can now access the simple, convenient and confidential online course without any delays. The six session course includes a workbook and an assignment every week to encourage a change of behaviour and improve wellbeing. Individuals using the resource are monitored and supported by a trained practitioner who checks their progress online and offers personal support.

The purpose of the Southampton Steps to Wellbeing Service is to enable any patient with mild to moderate mental health issues – that is registered with a Southampton GP – to self refer themselves for psychological therapy treatment (mainly in the form of Guided Self Help, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT], Group Therapy and Computerised CBT). This is in response to the Government’s national ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ initiative.

For further information please contact Paula Quigley on 02380 382970 or email paula.quigley@grayling.com

By Hannah Keddie (HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust )

Posted: Wednesday 21 April 2010

No comments have been posted.