NHS health and well-being review : Final report by Dr Steve Boorman

Source: Department of Health

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Follow this link for the Department of Health response

Date of publication: November 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This review, commissioned by DH gathered and analysed evidence relating to health and well-being across the NHS, to see the links between well-being and productivity, efficiency, and patient experience. The Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, has now considered this report and written his response, including a proposed action plan for implementing the recommendations from Dr Boorman’s report across the NHS.  One particular proposal is that SHAs work with local organisations to develop a health and wellbeing action plan for their staff.  It is noted in the report that if all NHS organisations reduced their sickness absense by a third the NHS could save £555m per year.

Length of publication: 37 pages

Fostering a culture of engagement: an evaluation of a 2-day training in solution-focused brief therapy for mental health workers

Source: Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, May 2009, Vol 16 (4), pp. 326 – 34

For fulltext link here

Year of publication: May 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This paper reports on a study designed to test the knowledge and skill acquisition and self-reported application of solution-focused brief therapy by staff following a 2-day training. This study  demonstrated that the 2-day training was effective in increasing participants’ reported knowledge and understanding of solution-focused brief therapy and their self-reported use of the techniques in routine clinical practice. In conclusion, this study has established that staff from a variety of professional and non-professional backgrounds can make good skill acquisition from a fairly modest training. This may support care given in the community and so reduce inpatient stays.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes:  Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library http://www.hlisd.org

Acknowledgement: MEDLINE

The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival: promoting social change through the arts

Source: Life in the Day, vol 13, (1)  pp 10-13

For fulltext link here

Year of publication: January 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Describes the aims of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, which include presenting positive mental health and wellbeing, tackling stigma and discrimination affecting service users through working together by arts and mental health organisations.

Length of publication: 3 pages

Some important notes:  Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library http://www.hlisd.org

Acknowledgement: BNI

Mental wellbeing of older people: Making an economic case

Source: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, vol 8 (2),  pp.1 – 5

For abstract link here

Year of publication: April 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This article makes an economic case for diverting resources now to the health and wellbeing of older people so that illness may be prevented, in order to save money later. Five parts are described:
a. Cost-effectiveness
b. Costs
c. Outcomes
d. Equity
e. Design

Length of publication: 5 pages

Some important notes:  Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library http://www.hlisd.org

Acknowledgement: PsycINFO

Collective Voice listens in Manchester

Source:  Mental Health News e-bulletin, Issue 062

For fulltext link here

Year of publication:  November 2009

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: Collective Voice North West held its 2nd sub regional conference on 12th October 2009 in Manchester and would like to engage with more service users at furure events and gain a general consensus for making Collective Voice happen – influencing change!
Future events :
21st January 2010 – Chester
21st April 2010 – Cumbria
6th July 2010 – Manchester / Liverpool
9th October 2010 – UCLan, Preston

Length of publication: Webpage

Acknowledgement: North West Health Improvement Programme

Comple@t is my Cup of Tea

Source: Mental Health News, Issue 065

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Date of publication: November 2009

Publication type: Newsletter

In a nutshell: Comple@t is a project run by Rochdale and District Mind which promotes social inclusion and improves wellbeing for people with mental health issues through creating viable alternative work experience and training options which reflect the needs of mental health service users.  The project builds confidence and self esteem. It has helped more than 450 people, many of whom have now moved on into full time education and employment. It is a City and Guilds registered training provider offering accredited courses covering basic numeracy and literacy, hospitality and mental health support work. The project promotes a positive image of mental health, helps reduce stigma and discrimination and offers healthy food choices and access to information and wider services in a non mental health setting.

Length of publication: Website

Acknowledgement: North West Mental Health Improvement Programme

Bibliotherapy pioneered as a treatment for depression

Source: Community Care

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: Describes the experience of setting up reading groups at Ashworth Hospital, a project that has been highlighted in the Department of Health strategy New Horizons.

Length of publication: Web page

Video diaries explore Walsall cabbie wellbeing

Source: Improvement and Development Agency

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: Walsall Creative Development team decided to look at the lifestyles and habits of the 1,500 men who are cab drivers in Walsall. The team realised that the health and wellbeing of cab drivers impacted on a much larger group of people. For example, many cabbies in the area provide for extended families and are an important link in the community.  Initially, not much was known about the cabbies. This was partly because, in many cases, their interaction with people outside of their families was only brief.  Several drivers took part in the research phase of the project. They kept a video diary of their working day, reporting on:
what they ate
how much sleep they took
how they were feeling
what they had been up to when not working
The project aims to show that small changes can help to overcome some of the health issues raised.

Length of publication: Web page

Acknowledgement: I&DeA

Learning for older people in care

Source: NIACE

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Follow this link for the press release

Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Press Release and Report

In a nutshell: The report Enhancing informal adult learning for older people in care settings is putting into practice the commitments of The Learning Revolution White Paper, which reported that ‘learning can improve the health and quality of life for older people in care, but too often it’s missing’.  Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the report draws on feedback from organisations and individuals and highlights examples of existing good practice, setting out the challenges in providing more learning opportunities for older people in care settings. An on-line forum has been created on the Learning Revolution discussion-site to capture thoughts and ideas; these contributions will be included in the production of a toolkit of best practice to be published next year. To contribute, visit http://thelearningrevolution.ning.com/group/olderpeople.

Length of publication: 32 pages

What’s your Recipe for Wellbeing?

Source: The Wellbeing Project

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Date of publication: 8 October 2009

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: The Wellbeing Project launched a unique social marketing campaign at the Wellbeing Conference in St Helens.  The Project invited delegates at the ‘Prescribing for Health’ Conference to record their ‘recipe’s for wellbeing’.
A film booth was set up at the venue to record short film clips of delegates completing the following sentence: My recipe for wellbeing is… The film clips will feature on the Wellbeing Project website as well as on You Tube.  “The film clips will form part of a social marketing campaign that aims to raise people’s awareness about mental health and wellbeing issues” explains Mrs Paula Gamester, Co-Director of the Wellbeing Project Community Interest Company based in St Helens.  Over the next 12 months the Wellbeing Project are setting out to record as many people’s ‘recipes for wellbeing’ as possible. The photo booth will be travelling all over the North West to canvass people’s opinions from a diverse range of communities.

Length of publication: Web page