Mental HealthCarers TeamNewsletter Issue 1 - June/July 2011

Mental Health Carers Team

This is the first edition of the Mental Health Carers Team newsletter. We often find that there are lots of things that we think you would like to know about. This could be about some of the carers groups we run, educational and training courses, and opportunities to get involved and other news that maybe of interest to you within Leeds Partnerships Foundation Trust and across the city.

Support Groups for Carers in the Leeds area – 2011

North West Carers GroupHeadingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART), Bennett Road, Leeds LS6 3HN

Central Leeds Carers Support GroupIn office of Carers Leeds, 6-8 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PT

Brook House Carers GroupBrook House, Church Lane, Garforth, LS25 1HB

South Leeds Family and Friends Carers GroupParkside Community Health Centre, Dewsbury Road, Beeston, LS11

West Leeds Carers GroupResource Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Greenhill Road, Armley, LS12

MEFHIL Asian Women’s Carers Group233-237 Roundhay Road, Harehills, LS8 4HS

For more information contact the Mental Health Carers Team on 0113 2954445.

Morley Carers GroupMorley Fire Station Community Room, Corporation Street, Morley LS27 9NB

Wetherby Carers GroupMicklethwaite Room, Wetherby Town Hall, Market Place, Wetherby LS22 6NE

For more information contact Carers Leeds on 0113 2468338

Aspergers Carers Support GroupHeadingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART) Bennett Road, Leeds LS6 3HN

For more information contact the Mental Health Carers Team on0113 2954445 or Carers Leeds on 0113 2468338

Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders Carers Support GroupCongregate at Newsam Centre Reception, Seacroft Hospital, York Road, LS14 6WB

For more information contact Deborah Tee, 0113 3056400

Support Groups for Carers dealing with Mental Health issues

Support Groups for all Carers

Support Group for Carers dealing with Aspergers issues

Support Group for Carers dealing with Eating Disorder issues

7.00 to 8.30 pm2nd Mon of the month

5.30 to 7.00 pm2nd Thurs of the month

12.30 to 2.00 pm3rd Fri of the month

2.00 to 4.00 pm3rd Wed of the month

6.30 to 8.00 pm4th Thurs of the month

1.30 to 3.30 pm4th Thurs of the month

10.00 to 12 noon3rd Tues of the month

10.00 to 12 noon4th Thurs in January, March, May, July,September, November

10.30 to 12 noon4th Thurs of the month

7.00 to 8.30 pm1st Wed in the month

Keeping costs downWe are always trying to keep costs down and at the same time become a bit greener, if you would prefer to receive this newsletter through electronic means, either through email or by downloading from our Trust website please let us know and we can amend our records accordingly.

Please email us at carersteam.lpft@nhs.net if you would like to receive this newsletter by email or to remove your name from our mailing list. You can download this edition and future editions of this newsletter by going to our website: www.leedspft.nhs.uk/carers

Carers Week 13th 19th June 2011

On Thursday 16th June at and around Leeds City Museum we will be celebrating the work of carers in Leeds. As part of our celebration of Carers Week 2011from 11.00 am until 3pm you will be able to come along to take part in our FREE celebration and gain awareness of the services that Leeds provides for carers from the age of 5 to 95 plus years old.

During the event the public can join in with some carer led activities and enjoy performances from a number of carer groups.

The event will have at least 20 services from across Leeds on hand to discuss and support anyone who would like to know more.

The centre piece for the day will be an amazing attempt to break a record by providing 70,000 hugs over 70 minutes. The hugs represent the emotional support carers (family, friends and relatives) provide to the people they care for.

Up and coming events 4 June – Time to Change roadshow. This event will be a tea and talk event with a pop up living room for people to come along and talk about how they are feeling . There will be tea and biscuits available. The aim of this event will be to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage people to talk more openly about mental ill-health. This event will be

held on Briggate, Leeds between 10am and 4pm. Contact Gemma Wharton for more information on (0113) 305 5976.

9 June – Building your Trust with a focus on ‘the transformation project’. This event will be held at Leeds City Museum between 11.00am and 2pm. Contact Andrew Howorth for more information on (0113) 305 5951.

Carers Week – see main article12 July – everything you need to know about... event open to members of Leeds PFT. This session will be giving insight into eating disorders. This event will be held at Leeds City Museum between 5.30pm and 7pm. Contact Andrew Howorth for more information on (0113) 305 5951.

Information Advice Support Line Are you a friend partner or relative of someone with a mental health problem/Would you like Information Advice and Support? Call us 0n 0113 2954445 Open Monday to Friday 8am-5pm (24 hour answer machine)

Tell us what you think!We would like to hear from carers about your experiences of the services we provide.

We have an online questionnaire available at http://www.leedspft.nhs.uk/carers. There is also paper copies available that can be requested via the Carers Team on 0113 2954445 or through the service that offers support to the person that you care for. It is important that we hear what you have to say so that we can continue to improve the experiences of service users and carers