Body, Mind & Spirit is certainly our smallest Project but in terms of one of Maldon Mind’s aims, “to work with others to improve the mental health of the local community”, it is perhaps the most successful. This is because since its first steps in 1999, it has depended on working in partnership to reach a wide audience of people some of whom might not think about mental health as part of their overall needs in ‘Wellbeing’.
Initially funded by Maldon District Council, the continuing assistance of the Community and Leisure Services Section has helped BM&S to open doors to a wide range of services in the district - our ongoing membership of FitSteps, the health walks scheme, is an illustration of this. However things have moved forward with the targets set by the National Service Framework for Mental Health which made local Primary Care Trusts realise that improving mental health is just as important as stopping people smoking. Maldon Mind takes part in lots of Strategic work and planning and Maldon and South Chelmsford PCT involves us heavily in the local Mental Health Promotion Strategy, to help people understand that good mental health and good physical health are intrinsically linked.
The PCT now funds the individual monthly “Taster sessions” of activities for BM&S, and now most importantly has listened to the needs of the people taking part and set up ongoing activities where there were none locally. These have included a weekly “Healthy Mind in Maldon” exercise group using the PCT’s own gym at St Peter’s Hospital; Belly Dancing; and a number of art and craft related activities.
One of the good things about this scheme is that it has been a great help to a very wide range of people who have all had a common link - to enjoy the specific activity they have chosen. There has been a big increase in the number of people who have been introduced to BM&S, (no referral is necessary), by the local Community Mental Health Team as a result of its recognition. Because of the welcoming and non judgemental nature of the scheme, people have often found it a stepping stone to other Mind and local services. Similarly people use the scheme who have not got a recognised mental illness but appreciate that the opportunity to take part in activities is going to help them on many levels. This could be someone new to the area who wants to get involved in local things but does not know where to start; someone whose life has changed e.g. due to bereavement, job loss, physical illness; or someone who is just concerned about their health and lacks the motivation to get out there and do this by themselves.
One of the sessions which is always popular is learning to deal with Stress and we have worked with the WEA to set up local courses as a response to this. The “Stressbusters” activity which we are having at this year’s AGM is a tiny taster of our usual session and we hope that you find it both enjoyable and helpful in your own life.
