What this consultation is about
We, and the clinical commissioning groups (the organisations that fund these services) in Derbyshire, are consulting on opportunities to improve the way that mental health community services work in our area. It is estimated that one in four people has a mental health condition, which equates to over 84,000 people in Derbyshire living with a mental health condition.
A mental health community service (sometimes referred to as a day service or day centre) helps individuals to improve their mental health and wellbeing through community resources that promote social inclusion (being involved) by improving access to mainstream services. These services can play an important role in supporting adults with mental health difficulties and preventing their situations becoming more difficult.
At the moment there are five centres around the county funded by us and the clinical commissioning groups, that provide a mix of one-to-one support, group sessions, and support to people in local communities. Support is wide ranging but typically involves advice and signposting to volunteering, education and employment opportunities; sessions to improve physical and emotional health, and arts and cultural classes to learn new skills. Access to support is made by self-referral, or on behalf of an individual from a GP surgery or other health or social care service.
The five mental health community services (day opportunities and centres) in Derbyshire are as follows:
- Rethink Chesterfield - Chesterfield
- Derbyshire Federation for Mental Health - Derbyshire Dales
- Rethink The Croft - Amber valley
- Erewash Mental Health Association, ‘Touchwood’ - Erewash
- South Derbyshire Mental Health Association, ‘Bank House’ - Swadlincote South Derbyshire.
Share your views
We are engaging with the people who currently access these services, those who have in the past, and other people who feel they could benefit from accessing them in the future.
There is also other similar provision around the county who don’t receive funding from health and social care, and we welcome feedback on your experience of these as well. Please tell us the name of the centre or service if you are providing us with feedback through our questionnaire.
We are also holding focus groups at each of the five mental health community centres, to ensure we include as many people’s views as possible. The findings from the questionnaire and focus groups will help us to consider what future support should look like.