Mental health service success story returns to help…

Mental health service success story returns to help others like her

A success story from a mental health service is now working for the team that once helped her.

Sarah Buckley was introduced to Salford’s Living Well programme years ago and has since returned as a peer support worker. She stated that this was her ‘dream job’.

“You wouldn’t think that your dream job could ever exist, but mine does,” she said.

“I love every aspect of my peer mentoring role – it is all about using my lived experience to help other people. It’s so empowering to be involved in the decisions of how the service is going to work.

“This service is person-centred – we ask people what they want, what they like, and what keeps them well, and sort this for them. I spend time with people on a range of activities to help them move forward, from gardening, to art and sometimes we’ll just have a coffee and share stories.

“The feedback we’ve been getting has been really positive. Getting people involved in the social side of things keeps them well, and it’s so exciting to be a part of it.”

The service, which has been nominated for ‘Mental Health Innovation of the Year’ in the National Health Service Journal awards 2022 recently, offers holistic support for people struggling with their mental health in Salford. It listens to people and connects them with the support they need in the community, based on their individual needs, which could include areas such as finance, housing, employment, loneliness, and/or mental health support and treatment.

Salford's Living Well (Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust)

The community mental health service - delivered in partnership between Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), Mind in Salford, Wellbeing Matters, and START - has been hailed a success in a recent external evaluation report.

The final evaluation report undertaken by the Innovation Unit, found they had supported people to achieve improved outcomes, including recovering from mental health problems and staying well enough to live the life they want to achieve.

The report, published on August 15, 2022, found that 83 per cent of people that have been supported through the service have successfully reached one or more of their goals. It found that over half have experienced a ‘meaningful Improvement’ in their recovery and quality of life.

Since the service launched in July 2020, over 30,000 ‘interventions’ have been delivered through the service, including: community activities, trauma-specific support, employment support, mental health treatments and peer support. The report also found that people were able to access the service quickly. On average, people waited only 14 days from being referred to Living Well Salford to their introduction to the service.

One person who was supported by the service, and is quoted in the report, said: “I got matched up with someone who had the same condition as me, it was a peer mentor, and this made me feel at ease. Being with them made me see I could have this condition and still live a normal life.”

Another said: “Living Well has been life changing for me, they have helped me to understand why my brain moves so fast, and how to cope with it.”

Tammy Young, Service Manager at Living Well Salford, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “Living Well Salford is a new and innovative approach that has been co-designed with service users, voluntary organisations, local authority, health, and mental health service providers. I’m incredibly proud of the team and the way we have worked together with our local communities to create this service.

“There’s a real spirit of community and togetherness, where all stakeholders are valued equally and their views shape the way we do things. I am delighted to see the success of the service reflected in our final evaluation report; alongside our Health Service Journal Awards shortlisting.

“Going forward, we will prioritise implementing the recommendations to make our service the best it can possibly be to serve the needs of our communities.”

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