People in York with experience of mental illness invited to co-produce new service in the New Year

In January 2022, residents will be invited to share their experiences and views on mental health services in the city

Author: Benjamin FearnPublished 5th Dec 2021

In January 2022, residents will be invited to share their experiences and views on mental health services in the city, in order to help shape a new hub as part of a visionary city-wide project.

The Connecting Our City project aims to enable and support people with mental health illnesses to live well in the city, supported by a range of community-based initiatives.

The latest of these initiatives is to develop a mental health hub to provide residents needing support with access to a multi-disciplinary team. To create this hub effectively, the input of people who have lived experience of mental ill health, their families and carers is central to the planning, as is the support of York’s voluntary and community sector.

This hub will have a particular focus on improving access and treatment for adults with a diagnosis of personality disorders, eating disorders and those in need of mental health rehabilitation. Residents with experience of accessing mental health support In York will be invited to share their thoughts and to get involved in these exciting developments.

York’s new co-production champion will invite contributors to drop in to sessions in the city, and ensure that their voices, and those of their families and carers, are at the core of all the work to improve support in the city.

Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

"I urge residents to engage in this co-production conversation in the New Year. This latest step is an important move towards realising the vision of Connecting Our City to provide the support, activities and services that people want and need within their communities. Do please get involved if you can."

Tim Madgwick, Chair of the York Mental Health Partnership, said:

"Our vision is to ensure that people and carers with lived experience are at the heart of designing future services. I am delighted that as a result of the hard work by partners across the city, we are now starting to deliver on this ambition, co-producing services for and by the individuals who have the greatest insight into what is required, and how it feels on a daily basis to try and get the support they need.

"Early next year we want to hear from anyone who feels they can help us by sharing their thoughts and experiences."

Alison Semmence, Chief Executive of York CVS, said:

"We are really excited to be hosting the co-production champion role as part of the Connecting Our City project. Jack Woodhams is in the role which will be vital in ensuring that the voices of those who have experienced mental ill health and their families, are at the heart of these new developments.

"Support should be available when needed, in a place which feels safe and welcoming and where people feel understood and can be connected to the right support."

David Kerr, Community Mental Health Transformation Programme and Delivery Lead at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"The Community Mental Health Transformation Programme is about transforming the way we approach mental health care within local communities. People with lived experience of mental illness, their families and carers are crucial in helping us to make sure we make the right changes that work for them.

"They can help inform us as to what will make a significant difference to them and help us to shape what this new approach looks like."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.