October 2012

New Videos Explain Mental Health Measure For Primary Care Professionals

We've produced a short series of videos to help explain Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure and help primary care staff across Wales understand this new mental health legislation.

Part 1 makes it a legal requirement for Local Health Board and Local Authorities to work together to expand and strengthen primary care mental health services for people of all ages.

We urge you to spend a minutes of your time watching each of the following videos but you can also view them all on our existing WaMHinPC YouTube Channel.

We've also added a new section to our website - which you can access through the following link Part 1 - Downloadable Resource - to help GPs and their teams understand this first part of the Measure.

If you're a mental health professional, then we'd urge you to take a few minutes to explore this new section of our site which we have split up into the following 3 distinct sections:

  • Guidance - A series of links to supporting documents and guidance for Part 1 of the Measure
  • Legislation - A series of links to legislation and regulations behind Part 1 of the Measure
  • Videos - A series of videos explaining Part 1 of the Measure

We'll also be posting details of each section on our Facebook page over the coming week so please visit us there as well and pass on anything you find useful to your Friends and colleagues.

In the meantime, for further information on the Mental Health (Wales) Measure contact:

AND

Barbara Bowness - The All Wales Primary Care Lead for Part 1 of the Measure at:

  • National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, Innovation House, Bridgend Road, Llanharan CF72 9RP.
  • Telephone: 01443 233 333 / 07816 513 774. Direct line: 01443 233 364.  
  • Email: barbara.bowness@nliah.wales.nhs.uk

Alternatively, contact WaMH in PC via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

Online Mental Health Measure Section Launched for Primary Care Teams

We've created a new online resource to support primary care teams as Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure come into force across the country.

Part 1 makes it a legal requirement for Local Health Board and Local Authorities to work together to expand and strengthen mental health services at primary care level across Wales for people of all ages.

Our new website section will help GPs and their teams understand this first part of the Measure and can be accessed through the following link - Part 1 - Downloadable Resource.

The resource consists of a series of links to documents, websites and videos which explain how this part of the Measure will work.

If you're a mental health professional, then we'd urge you to take a few minutes to explore this new section of our site which we have split up into the following 3 distinct sections:

  • Guidance - A series of links to supporting documents and guidance for Part 1 of the Measure
  • Legislation - A series of links to legislation and regulations behind Part 1 of the Measure
  • Videos - A series of videos explaining Part 1 of the Measure

We'll also be posting details of each section on our Facebook page over the coming week so please visit us there as well and pass on anything you find useful to your Friends and colleagues.

In the meantime, for further information on the Mental Health (Wales) Measure contact:

AND

Barbara Bowness - The All Wales Primary Care Lead for Part 1 of the Measure at:

  • National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, Innovation House, Bridgend Road, Llanharan CF72 9RP.
  • Telephone: 01443 233 333 / 07816 513 774. Direct line: 01443 233 364.  
  • Email: barbara.bowness@nliah.wales.nhs.uk

Alternatively, contact WaMH in PC via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

BBC News Story - Mental health strategy tackles stigma and 'everyday pressures'

You might have seen a story on the BBC News and BBC News Online yesterday which is about the Mental Health (Wales) Measure.

The stories opening couple of lines went as follows and you can find it under the following link - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20016491


"Health Minister Lesley Griffiths has promised to "tackle stigma" over mental health and give equal access from "cradle to grave" to vulnerable groups.

The commitments are being made in the Welsh government's first strategy for a decade to improve mental health."


The Strategy the story is talking about is the Mental Health (Wales) Measure which you can read all about on this website.

In fact, the first part of the Measure has been put into place this month and in a couple of weeks we're going to launch a new Downloadable Resource explaining all aspects of Part 1 of this new legislation.

The aim is of Part 1 is to help Local Primary Mental Health Support Services come to terms with the new rules and we'll have full details about everything connected with this section of the strategy on this site from next week.

In the meantime, if you require information about the Measure please visit our website for an introduction and background information about this new legislation.

Alternatively, further information about the Measure is also available from:

Mental Health Legislation Team, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.
Telephone: 029 2082 6988.
Email: mentalhealthandvulnerablegroups@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

Latest Facebook Cover Picture of Landscape Surrounding Borth in North Wales

Our latest Facebook cover image is of the landscape around Borth on the west coast of Wales.

Our new Facebook image was taken and submitted local GP Dr Julie Hood of the swathe of Cardigan Bay which the town sits in and the Dyfi Estuary to the north.

We've been updating our Facebook page every Wednesday for the past few weeks with an entry from a photographic competition being run by RCGP Wales called “Where I Work” which celebrates the organisation's 60th Anniversary this year.

As part of the contest, the College has asked members to send it images associated with their workplace with the winning entries set to be displayed in the Cymru Wales Room in the RCGP's new HQ in Euston Square, London, when it opens later this year.

WaMH in PC has an interest in the College as we were established by its Welsh branch back in 2003 to act as a special interest working group to promote primary mental health care and improve mental health services across Wales.

We're trying to contact as many entrants as possible to ask for their permission to show-off their photographic skills via Facebook so if you've entered and would like to see your photo on our page then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

All you have to do is email your image, its name and your details to our Project Manager Lesley Hills at lhills@rcgp.org.uk and we'll look into adding it to our page over the coming weeks.

Information Sheet 12 - Concerned About Suicide? Recognising Signs and Risk Factors

Our latest Information Sheet is a briefing note for GPs and primary care practitioners entitled Concerned About Suicide? Recognising Signs and Risk Factors.

Most people who feel suicidal don’t really want to die, they just want an end to their pain.

Of those who go on to complete suicide, 45% will have been in contact with Primary Care in
the previous month. GPs who attend suicide prevention training are 20% more likely to
identify those at risk of suicidal behaviour.

Our Sheet explains how you can recognise some of the signs that may indicate someone is considering suicide as well as providing advice on some of the other risk factors and how you can respond.

Like all our Information Sheets the aim of Information Sheet 12 is to improve mental health services - in this case for situations concerning potential suicide - across the country.

Each Sheet has been developed to provide valuable information, training and support tools on primary care mental health in Wales and their publication comes under the set objectives of our Gold Standard Project which has set the goal of providing good communication on mental health issues at the heart of its work.

We have a range of other Information Sheets which are all available to download and view on and from our Information Sheets page.

If you have any questions about Information Sheet 12 or trouble downloading it please contact our Project Manager Lesley Hills via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

Latest Facebook Cover Picture of West Wales Sun and Surf Spot

Our latest Facebook cover image is of a well-known West Wales sun and surf spot.

Our new Facebook image was submitted Swansea GP Jo Thomas GP of someone on the sand dunes at Llangenith on the Gower.

We've been updating our Facebook page every Wednesday for the past few weeks with an entry from a photographic competition being run by RCGP Wales called “Where I Work” which celebrates the organisation's 60th Anniversary this year.

As part of the contest, the College has asked members to send it images associated with their workplace with the winning entries set to be displayed in the Cymru Wales Room in the RCGP's new HQ in Euston Square, London, when it opens later this year.

WaMH in PC has an interest in the College as we were established by its Welsh branch back in 2003 to act as a special interest working group to promote primary mental health care and improve mental health services across Wales.

We're trying to contact as many entrants as possible to ask for their permission to show-off their photographic skills via Facebook so if you've entered and would like to see your photo on our page then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

All you have to do is email your image, its name and your details to our Project Manager Lesley Hills at lhills@rcgp.org.uk and we'll look into adding it to our page over the coming weeks.

Facebook Cover Picture Shows off South Wales Shore

Our latest Facebook cover image again is of the South Wales shoreline.

Our new Facebook image was submitted on behalf of Dr Mair Hopkins by Civil Servant Rachel Hawkins and shows off the shoreline in Porthcawl.

We've been updating our Facebook page every Wednesday for the past few weeks with an entry from a photographic competition being run by RCGP Wales called “Where I Work” which celebrates the organisation's 60th Anniversary this year.

As part of the contest, the College has asked members to send it images associated with their workplace with the winning entries set to be displayed in the Cymru Wales Room in the RCGP's new HQ in Euston Square, London, when it opens later this year.

WaMH in PC has an interest in the College as we were established by its Welsh branch back in 2003 to act as a special interest working group to promote primary mental health care and improve mental health services across Wales.

We're trying to contact as many entrants as possible to ask for their permission to show-off their photographic skills via Facebook so if you've entered and would like to see your photo on our page then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

All you have to do is email your image, its name and your details to our Project Manager Lesley Hills at lhills@rcgp.org.uk and we'll look into adding it to our page over the coming weeks.