Healthy minds: the key to realising potential

Healthy minds: conference programme

One-day conference aimed at improving the well-being and mental health of homeless people

20 May 2010 | London

About the event

A large percentage of clients who access homelessness services have poor mental health. Without the right support and access to the right services, their mental health is likely to worsen.

Most workers in the housing and homelessness fields are aware of this, as they often work with extremely vulnerable people, with a wide range of mental health needs. Very few staff feel sufficiently prepared and trained in this area, which can leave them feeling uncertain about how to interact safely and effectively with such clients.

This conference aimed to demystify the mental health care system and inform workers based in the homelessness sector, how they can more easily support clients with poor mental health.  It focused on the clients who have lower level mental health issues, as provision for these individuals is less readily available, despite a recognised, significant demand for this type of support. According to a recent piece of research:

  • 85% of clients in one hostel had a personality disorder
  • 40% had anxiety disorders
  • 25% had a depressive or post traumatic stress disorder
  • none of these clients have had a formal diagnosis of their condition.

This conference aimed to improve the mental health of clients accessing homelessness services, and prevent other clients’ mental health worsening.

speakers:

Please click on the speaker's name to download their presentation.

  • Shaun Clee, Chief Executive, Together NHS Foundation Trust: an overview of the mental health care system and how it works
  • Peter Cockersell, Director of Programmes, St Mungo's: a look at the level of mental ill health amongst homeless people, and how we can best support these clients.
  • Dr Geraldine Strathdee, MBBCH, BAO, MRCPsych, Clinical Director, London Darzai Mental Health Programme: an analysis of why we need to improve the provision of support for these clients

panel debate:

Stigma: how can we combat discrimination and build a fairer society?

  • Peter Cockersell, St Mungo's (Chair)
  • Martyn Warr, St Mungo's
  • Graeme Green, Framework Housing Association
  • Mark Brown, 1 in 4 Magazine
  • Claudette Lawrence, Time to Change Champion

workshops focused on:

Please click on the speaker's name to download their presentation. The missing presentations are to follow.

What the day offered:

  • an understanding of the mental health needs of clients and ways that you can support them
  • insight into the experience of clients in accessing health services and the type of support that worked for them
  • examples of good practice and innovation from a range of experienced agencies working with homeless clients with a broad range of mental health needs
  • tips and approaches for building links with the mental health sector and improving the access to appropriate mental health provision
  • networking opportunities with leading practitioners from across the country

The combined barriers of homelessness and mental health problems create a huge obstacle for individuals trying to re-integrate into mainstream society. We need to ensure that homelessness services are offering the right support, or know where to turn to for support, to alleviate this problem.

conference Fee

Member typeFee
  
Band community & A£120
Bands B, C, D & E£165
Non-member£300

 CONFERENCE VENUE

The Resource Centre
356 Holloway Road
London
N7 6PA

T: 020 7700 8102
www.theresourcecentre.org.uk

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