News

Free peer support training - March/April 2021

The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) are excited to launch some new training. These workshops will look at how peer support for mental health works, and help develop group facilitation skills. The first two-part workshop will take place on Tuesday 31 March and Tuesday 6 April 2021. Please note that…

An introduction from Julie, a new member of the IMHN staff team!

I'm Julie and I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Peer Support Facilitator/Team Leader following Independent Mental Health Network being funded by the Disabled People Organisation's Covid-19 Emergency Fund to develop Peer Support Services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has left people with…

People with learning disabilities to receive coronavirus vaccine sooner

In recent weeks, discussions about the prioritisation that is used to determine how soon people will be offered the coronavirus vaccine have been taking place. Members of the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service's Coping During Covid group…

Christmas 2020 mental health signposting guide for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Please note that this guide was put together for the December 2020 to January 2021 festive period. The information contained within the guide may now be out of date.   The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) has published the annual Christmas mental health guide for Bristol, North Somerset and South…

Improving suicide bereavement support in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

[Content note; this article contains references to bereavement by suicide] IMHN, in partnership with the Community Access Support Service (CASS) Bristol, are hosting a set of workshop sessions looking at improving what support is available to people who have been bereaved by suicide in the local area. We will be…

Join the IMHN team!

Please note: this round of recruitment has now closed.   Are you someone with a passion for improving mental health services and empowering those with lived experience of mental health? Do you support the principles of lived experience leadership and have a willingness to ensure this remains embedded in health…

Help shape the delivery of the Community Mental Health Framework in the South West

IMHN are running six focus groups in December that each look at a different element of the NHS' Community Mental Health Framework. These focus groups will help directly shape what the roll-out of the Framework looks like in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire areas. Developing peer support approaches…

Announcing the launch of the LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Fund

Content note; this piece contains discussions of LGBTQ+ and mental health issues. The Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire LGBTQ+ Mental Health Lived Experience Steering Group is excited to launch a micro-grants fund for projects that will raise awareness or shine a light on mental wellbeing in the LGBTQ+ community.…

First meeting of the LGBTQ+ Mental Health Steering Group+

Last Friday, the first formal meeting of the BNSSG LGBTQ+ Mental Health Lived Experience Steering Group took place. This was an exciting session because it represented the culmination of a number of planning sessions that have taken place over recent months. The main part of the meeting was welcoming a co-chair of…

News from the South Gloucestershire Wellbeing Network

Give us the benefit of your experience Get involved with the South Gloucestershire Wellbeing Network. Be part of establishing a vocal and influential group that will speak out about mental health support in South Gloucestershire. Join our mailing list today to receive updates about the network. The network is a…

Get involved with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire LGBTQ+ Steering Group

Click here to be taken to the webpage for the LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Fund The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) is a membership-led organisation that represents a diverse community of past, current and future users of mental health services, as well as those with lived experience of mental health. By working…

Opportunities to represent our network and support our work in the South West

There are three branches of the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) in the South West. These are the BIMHN in Bristol; Clarity-NSIMHN in North Somerset; and South Gloucestershire IMHN. Branches and members of branches support local projects improving mental healthcare and support in their respective areas, as well as working…