New mental health service saves Christine – and thousands more like her in Rochdale

Christine, 53, was unable to leave her bedroom after a trauma left her depressed, anxious and suicidal. But with the help of a new mental health service, she is slowly getting her life back. It took four months for her to make it downstairs, but now she has left her house and has even been to the gym

 

Syke resident Christine, 53, has praised a new mental health service which “saved her from hell”. She and more than 3,000 other people with severe mental health issues in the borough have been helped by the Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale Living Well Service in its first 18 months.

The service brings together a range of mental health professionals, including the NHS, voluntary sector staff from Rochdale and District Mind and Turning Point, adult care professionals from Rochdale Borough Council, Greater Manchester Police, talking therapy practitioners from The Big Life group, as well as experts in homelessness, substance misuse, employment, benefits and many other areas.

And with their help, she is turning her life around.

Christine said: “I was too scared to do anything. My daughter brought my meals and looked after me. I felt so isolated I started having suicidal thoughts. I was going through hell.”

Desperate, Christine found the courage to speak to her GP, who referred her to the Living Well Service.

 

Referral

Pennine Care’s senior mental health practitioner Cassie Jones-Branagan and consultant psychiatrist Dr Hossam Marey reviewed Christine’s medication, and it was agreed that Christine would be supported by Alex Cussons, wellbeing co-ordinator and Joanne Murphy, peer support worker – both from Rochdale and District Mind – and therapist Gail Ashton from NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Talking Therapies, provided by Big Life group and Pennine Care.

And it is this holistic approach that Christine believes has really made a difference.

She said: “The ladies were really keen to help me. They came up to see me in my bedroom and we talked about what I wanted to achieve. My main goal was going to the gym. Because I felt so scared, we took little steps.

“First, they challenged me to feel comfortable leaving my bedroom, then to go to the top of the stairs. I had lots of panic attacks but eventually got there. Next, I had to go downstairs, which took me around four months. I’d stopped looking after myself, so my next goal was to put makeup on.

 

 

“I then had to go for an appointment at Mind, with my daughter to support me. It took me two attempts to get there but I did it.”

To achieve her gym goal, Christine was supported by community health and wellbeing champion Farah Rehman and the exercise referral team from local charity Your Trust.

Christine said: “Thanks to support from Farah and the team, I’ve now been to the gym twice. Farah comes with me and she’s amazing. Gail is supporting me with cognitive behaviour therapy, which is helping change the way I think. My next challenge is to get into voluntary work.

“I feel better, but anxious that something small will set me back. It’s reassuring to know I can phone Cassie and she’ll help.

“My advice to anyone struggling is that help is out there. When you feel so bad everything can seem hard. Even if you don’t think you’ll get somewhere, you will – just stick with it!”.

Cassie Jones-Branagan said: “Our new joined up approach meant we could combine our skills and expertise to quickly provide Christine with all the support she needed.

“Christine has shown real courage in overcoming her fears and we’re so proud of her progress.

“Our no wrong door approach means we can help more people like Christine achieve a happier and more hopeful future.”

 

Uniting services

The goal is to make services more co-ordinated, accessible, and consistent so that adults with severe mental illness can quickly and easily receive the right support. And providing early support by the right professional, in the right place, will benefit people’s recovery and experience. At the same time, the aim is to reduce demand on GPs and referrals to specialist and hospital mental health services.

People aged 18 and above can easily be referred to the Living Well Service via professionals such as GPs, health and social care, education, police and the probation service and a plan is developed around which services or professionals would best meet their needs.

Following discharge, people can easily get back in touch with the service if they need more support. Previously they’d have to go through a re-referral process.

People experiencing severe mental health issues should speak to their GP, or another professional who can refer them.

For more information, visit www.penninecare.nhs.uk/hmrlivingwell