New mental health programme
New course receives backing from Department of Health
It is estimated that one in four people in the UK will experience some kind of mental health distress each year, ranging from anxiety and depression to dementia and schizophrenia.
In a bid to enable more people to gain a positive outcome from their experiences, and with the backing of the Department of Health, LJMU has developed an innovative new course.
LJMU is the first university in the UK to offer the innovative Leadership and Empowerment in Mental Health programme, which offers people who have used mental health services the opportunity to gain qualifications while also helping to improve services.
The Certificate in Professional Development, which started in June 2005, offers mental health service users the chance to draw on their own personal experiences in empowering and imaginative ways in a bid to improve the provision and delivery of mental health services.
As the course is offered in collaboration with the Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust Learning Foundation and the National Institute for Mental Health in England, North West Development Centre, the students’ insights will help to improve the type of services offered to sufferers of mental health distress.
Malcolm Kinney, LJMU’s programme leader, said: “To our knowledge this is the first fully accredited higher education course specifically for mental health service users. The course is based upon principles of empowerment, offering students the chance to have a greater say and stake in services. It offers those who have used mental health services the chance to apply their own experiences to improve services.”
LJMU student Janet Hayes has already found the course really helpful. She said: “I'm amazed how much I have learned while having such great fun and I've never laughed so much. This course should be available on prescription - what a tonic.”
She continued: “I wish to thank the team on the delivery of such an eye opening informative course. I have gained so much. I owe them a great debt of gratitude and can't thank them enough.”
Oi Mei Li of the National Institute for Mental Health in England said: “It is important that mental health service providers value the contributions that people who have experienced mental ill health can make to local services. This course helps to develop skills that enhance involvement and act as a stepping stone on a pathway to further opportunities in education or employment.”
Tina Stanier of the Learning Foundation, added: “We have been pleased to be involved in the development of this innovative programme, and look forward to working with service users in the future to create further educational courses that will improve the recovery process and social inclusion."
Health Minister Rosie Winterton MP, said: “I am confident that this course will help people who have previously suffered mental health problems to get the skills and qualifications they need to help them get on the road to employment.
The Minister continued: "However, it's not just about getting people back into work, important though that is. The course will boost people's self-esteem and confidence, helping them to move on to the next stage in their life. I wish it all the best."
For more details on the course, contact Malcolm Kinney on 0151 231 4377.
