Milton Keynes mental health service given ‘perfect’ thumbs up by patients

A Milton Keynes mental health service – run by national charity Rethink Mental Illness – has been given top marks by the people who use it.
The Community Support service, based in Winchester Circle and in other areas of the city, helps people with mental health problems such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, to achieve a better quality of life.

The service, which has been operating for over a decade, employs five staff who currently help more than 100 people in the area.

Staff from the service give emotional and practical support to people with mental health problems. They help people to understand and manage their illness and they run a variety of classes, from cooking skills and art to relaxation techniques.

They also help people feel less isolated by encouraging them to join their social groups which meet to chat, play pool, badminton and table tennis or go walking.

A survey published recently by the charity shows that 100 per cent of respondents who used the service between June 2012 and May 2013 said that the staff had listened to them, treated them with dignity, and supported them towards achieving their goals.

Julie Smith is the service manager. She said: “At Rethink Mental Illness we believe that people with mental health problems can recover and lead fulfilling lives.

“Our staff work tirelessly to achieve this.

“We’re delighted that people using our service feel listened to and respected and that we have played a part in helping them achieve their goals. This feedback is encouraging and we look forward to continue to support people in Milton Keynes.”