People asked to help develop Recovery College

Wednesday 12 May 2021

Mental Health Concern and NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group have joined forces to offer extra mental health support for those living in the Northumberland.

People from Northumberland are being asked to help develop a Recovery College which will provide learning experiences, mutual support and access to activities to help prevent peoples’ mental health issues from getting worse.

The college won’t be housed in a building, but activity will instead be coordinated, across the area, by five groups of people based in North Northumberland, Tynedale, Morpeth, the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley area and in the Blyth and Ashington area.

These five groups will work with anyone who wants to get involved to develop the programme of activities to support peoples’ mental wellbeing – by suggesting activities that have helped them in the past or by running sessions.

Examples of what other recovery colleges offer include yoga, mindfulness, music sessions, creative writing, stress management, how to manage anxiety and emotional awareness.

Emma Fynan, who runs Yogacell and has supported the Northumberland Recovery College since November last year, said: “It feels great to be part of something that is making a real difference to peoples’ lives. What the college does is help remove barriers to people accessing activities in local communities that will support them, which is just fantastic!

“Yoga sooths the body and mind by using postures, breathing and meditation to move from fight or flight mode into a more relaxed calm state of being. A place where healing can begin and continue. I urge anyone to try it!”

Kate O’Brien, NHS Northumberland CCG’s senior head of commissioning for child health, learning disabilities and mental health, said: “This is such an exciting partnership and addition to mental health services in Northumberland. The special and powerful thing about the recovery college is that it will be developed and delivered by people who really understand mental health illness through lived experience.

“This will mean that everyone accessing or involved in running the college can truly support and understand one another and will hopefully result in friendships and connections being made so that people can widen their support network. Even more important considering how difficult the last year has been. I encourage people to get involved and help us to progress this exciting initiative.”

Adam Crampsie, chief executive at Mental Health Concern, said: “We are delighted to be working with the communities of Northumberland and the CCG to launch the Recovery College. We’re here to provide activities and interest groups that people are passionate about, so we encourage anyone who would like to get involved to make suggestions about what might help their wellbeing. Northumberland Recovery College is yours – this is your opportunity to shape it!”

To find out more or get involved people should log onto www.northumberlandrecoverycollege.co.uk where they can fill out a contact form, or text their contact details to 07515 326750 and someone will get in touch.