News

New OCD Peer Support Group

Tracy is a member of the Independent Mental Health Network in Bristol. Tracy has been working with IMHN to set up a peer support group for people who have OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder), or have a close relationship with someone who has OCD. Please find a message from Tracy below about…

IMHN publishes response to proposed Mental Health Act reforms

In January, the government launched a public consultation on proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act. This included publication of a white paper, setting out how the Act would be reformed. This was also the response to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, set up in 2017. Members of…

IMHN members encourage people to respond to the Mental Health Act consultation

Members of the Independent Mental Health Network have produced videos encouraging members of the public to respond to the consultation about the proposed Mental Health Act reforms. In January, the government published a white paper setting out how the Mental Health Act might change. The consultation on these changes is…

Announcing new weekly peer support sessions in Weston-super-Mare!

The Independent Mental Health Network are excited to launch new weekly peer support sessions. These face-to-face sessions will take place every Monday between 2 - 4pm at the For All Healthy Living Centre, in Weston-super-Mare. Peer support brings people, who experience a common issue, together in a supportive space. The…

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.…