'Mind
Body Soul' encourages an all-embracing approach to mental
well-being |
A new venture
aims to benefit from the inextricable link between a healthy
mind and a healthy body in Mind Body Soul. The
seemingly unlikely pairing of a beauty salon and a mental health
advice and support service will be brought together at the centre
on Ber Street, Norwich.
In this new
project part of a building owned by Norwich Mind, the mental
health charity, has been let to a nail bar and beauty salon.
The rest is
taken up by the walk-in mental health centre and Mind's own
offices. Until recently the downstairs of the building housed
Mind's secondhand clothes shop.
'Heavenly
Hands' shares Norwich Mind's premises |
The idea
is that Heavenly Hands will be able to offer 'pampering' treatments
to relax and soothe away stress, while Mind's Mental Health
Advice and Support Service will give practical support and information
on all aspects of mental health care.
'Mind Body Soul' will provide a less stigmatised setting for
those seeking mental health advice: "We hope that because
it is almost concealed within the fairly generic identity of
Mind Body Soul it will be easier to use than many traditional
settings for mental health help," explains Peter Gianfrancesco
Norwich Mind's chief executive.
The
walk-in health centre which opens this month is aimed at anyone
who is concerned about their own or someone else's mental health.
Not only will there be members of staff on hand to give advice
and support to callers but the centre will offer take-away literature
on a variety of mental health issues. Funding has been provided
by Start-Rite shoes of Norwich.
Peter
Gianfrancesco, chief executive of Norwich Mind |
The project
approaches mental health services in a refreshing way: "We
want to make sure the people working here, at least some of
them, have experienced mental health problems themselves and
used the (mental health) system" explains Mr Gianfrancesco.
Visitors to the centre can be assured that the support staff
will empathise with mental health problems.
It is envisaged that with its informal setting will encourage
inquiries from people who might otherwise be deterred from seeking
mental health advice. Most importantly, unlike other mental
health services, a GP's referral is not necessary.
Easy access addresses the problems of both stigma and labelling.
Mental health issues have traditionally been poorly understood
by the public and people may fear by approaching conventional
support agencies they are crossing the line from mentally well
to mentally ill.
Amanda
McKenzie - mental health support worker |
The preventative
element of health care is strongly supported by Norwich Mind
which advocates that people seek help and advice at an early
stage. Mr Gianfrancesco emphasises the importance of taking
early action when mental health concerns arise:
"We're very keen that the people who use this service are
just starting to contemplate or are told by others that there
is a mental health problem"
Alongside this Mind will be working to help people to build
up resilience to mental health problems by offering stress management
and complementary therapies.
The launch
of Mind Body Soul is timely in the light of plans by Norfolk
Mental Health Care NHS Trust to offer a 24 hour home treatment
service for people in a mental health crisis.
In collaboration
with Norwich City Primary Care Group and Norwich Mind a service
will be offered where in the words of Mr Gianfrancesco: "People
will be able to stay at work, stay within their family setting
and stay in their local communities."
Mind
Norwich is poised to take an active role in developing the home
treatment service and along with Mind Body Soul and this constitute
the start of a new era in approaching mental health issues.
The shop
front of 'Mind Body Soul' on Ber Street in Norwich
|
Norwich
Mind's Mental Health Advice and Support Service will be open
from 6th February at 73 Ber Street, Norwich.
Opening hours will initially be 10-4 on Monday, Tuesday and
Thursday and the centre can be contacted by telephone on:
(01603) 629432
The Mind website can be found at:
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