User Survivor Reference Group
The LDC has a long established User Survivor Reference Group to whom we are committed to share our work initiatives. This ensures that we focus squarely on the issues around mental health at the individual, the family and the professional practice levels.
Here is a summary of how the LDC encourages and empowers User Survivor members to become actively involved with our work through a variety of activities and skills development...
Our History
The USRG originated at the end of 2002 superseding an earlier core user group set up in 2000 at the London Development Centre to promote mental health issues for the national NIHME programme. The USRG is formed of individuals with mental health user experience and wide networks and links with other mental health organizations. This combination of expertise and networking helps with the specific roles of the Group.
Specific roles of the USRG
The USRG informs LDC activities by:
- Informing the work of the LDC in improving practice and creating best practice in local areas including communicating and working with a number of organizations at both statutory and non-statutory levels. Work undertaken may be undertaken at the statutory or non-statutory levels with a variety of organizations including:
- NHS London
- Local Implementation Group
- Being an effective user/survivor forum for LDC
- Advise and act as a sounding board for the LDC
- Create a user/survivor voice for London to be fed into all aspects of the work within LDC including where work at the local regional and national levels eg the NIMHE programme
- Promote the approach that treats people with mental health support needs as individuals who have a range of needs and wishes in relation to their whole lives and that people’s life experiences often contribute to distress.
USRG Activities
The USRG Group members have undertaken work among other issues, on the following:
- Analysis of Risk Date Sharing Project
- Participation in the Making A Real Difference commissioning product
- Input in national and regional policy initiatives eg Mental Health Legislation
- Actively take part in LDC networks including Personality Disorder
- Taken learning opportunities to improve self development and overall contribution to the Group
- Training of London Ambulance teams in handling mental health crisis situations
- Input into the Metropolitan Police’s Equalities Review
- Consulted on research into homicides by mentally ill people
- Spread awareness among linked network organizations of Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency
- Spreading awareness of a user run crisis home in Barnet.
Useful Links
Future trends
Current health and social care reforms create new opportunities and demands - for people with mental health issues. LDC can help mental health service users to maximize opportunities and influence change.
If you would like to find out more about the USRG please write to the LDC at information@londondevelopmentcentre.org or telephone 020 7307 2431.
