Relaunch of Mental Health Carers Support Group

Mental Health Carers Support Group

We are delighted to announce the relaunch of our Mental Health Carers Support group, a collaboration between Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Islington Carers Hub. The Mental Health Carers Support Group is especially for Islington carers who are supporting a family, partner or friend who has a mental health condition.

You can share tips and how you’re feeling with other carers. It’s also a great place to get advice and to meet members of the Islington Carers Hub team. The group is led by Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust’s mental health support team.

Each session with start with an information giving session, but there will also be lots of time available for informal conversation and to share experiences, thoughts and perspectives. The topics that will be discussed in each session were highlighted by carers as points of interest.

Upcoming online sessions

Session 1. Thursday 16 September, 1:30pm – 3:00pm SUICIDE RISK and TRAUMATIC LOSS

Dr. Nisha Shah, Consultant Psychiatrist Session chairs: Dave Fearon (Senior Service Manager) & Carer Expert Lead TBC

Carers play a critical role in supporting people who may be at risk of suicide or may have experienced the suicide of a loved one. Discussion of suicide is still widely stigmatised and the aim of this session is to improve awareness, consider how to seek support and talk about practical ways to look after your own health as well as the health of any person who may be experiencing suicidal feelings.

Dr Nisha Shah who is presenting this session is an experienced Consultant Psychiatrist in the Trust who has worked extensively in this area.

To book for Session 1, click here: info@islingtoncarershub.org

Session 2. Thursday 21 October, 1:30pm – 3:00pm THE ROLE OF MEDICATION IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

Dr Antonio Metastasio, Consultant Psychiatrist & David Rogalski Specialist Clinical Pharmacist Session chairs: Dr Issy Millard, Speciality Registrar in Psychiatry & Carer Expert Lead TBC

Medication is just one aspect of treatment and care offered in mental heath services. For some individuals this will be a vital part of achieving and maintain recovery from a mental health condition. Treatment decisions must be individualised and need to consider both the benefits, as well as side effects.

We will cover the main medications that are prescribed to treat mental health conditions, how they might help and commonly experienced side effects.

We will also talk about how and why we go about making decisions about medication? We will consider some of the issues frequently faced by carers who may be supporting someone taking medication such as where can I get further advice & information about medication and how can I support someone taking medication? What if I have different views to the person I care for about medication?

To book for Session 2, click here: info@islingtoncarershub.org

Session 3. Thursday 18th November, 1:30pm – 3:00pm PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Dr Dimitrios Chartonas,Consultant Psychiatrist Session Chairs: Dr Philippa Greenfield (Consultant Psychiatrist) & Carer Expert Lead TBC

Personality Disorder is often poorly understood and as a result can be associated with significant stigma. In the session, we will cover: what we mean by the term personality disorder, with a focus on emotionally unstable (borderline) personality disorder; why someone might receive this diagnosis and consider why a diagnosis may or may not feel helpful. We will address some key issues for carers of supporting someone who receives this diagnosis and where you can get more support for both the person you care for and yourself.

To book for Session 3, click here: info@islingtoncarershub.org

How to join a session or do you have any questions?

If you’ve any questions about the sessions or to get the Zoom link to join (please let us know which session(s) you want to book for), please email info@islingtoncarershub.org.