Service User Action Group (SUAG) - page being amended

The LDC has a long established  Service User Action Group to whom we are committed to share our work initiatives. 

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Working in partnership with a service user action group is vital if the LDC is to 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 original group known as User Survivor Reference group was set up in 2000 at the London Development Centre to promote mental health issues for the national NIHME programme.  The Group has undergone a number of structureal changes but fundamentally is formed of individuals with mental health user experience either as part of a mental health organisation, or network or as an individual.  This combination of expertise and networking helps with the specific roles of the Group.

Specific roles of the

The 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.

Activities

The 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 SUAGplease write  to the LDC at information@londondevelopmentcentre.org or telephone 020 8 433 6868.