CAMPAIGNERS kickstarted National Mind Week by unveiling new initiatives designed to help bridge the gaps in Chester’s mental health services Lord Mayor Cllr Brian
Bailey, Lady Mayoress Mrs Raewyn Bailey and city MP Christine Russell were on hand as Mind in Chester launched their new developments. They follow the group’s “Mind the Gaps” report in October 2008 which highlighted what they claimed were major gaps in the district’s mental health services. “I am delighted to be involved in the next phase of Mind in Chester‘s development following the success of their World Mental Health Day event in October last year,” said Cllr Bailey. The association’s report highlighted what it described as “worrying gaps in the area’s health services” which were leading service users “to feel isolated and misunderstood”. This year it promises to introduce three new services.
Influenced by the findings of the report, the charity, after successfully securing funding from the Department of Health, has begun to develop a peer mentoring scheme. Open to the public in November 2009, this will recruit and train mental health service users to become mentors to other users with shared experiences.