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Hello there!
As ever, you will find this, our October edition, packed full of our latest news and interesting bits and pieces from the world of mental health and work.This is the last time you will receive the newsletter in its current form. We have had some great feedback on ‘Wellbeing Works!’ over its first year or so, but as our project develops we’ve decided we’d like to create new versions of it that are more tailored to specific audiences. So, whether you are a Paritas candidate (or potential candidate), a Paritas employer (or potential employer) or one of our many partners, from the beginning of next year you will start to receive a newsletter just for you. We will also be bringing exciting changes to the Paritas website so look out for these too!
However, for now, whoever you are, you are bound to find something of interest in this final bumper edition of ‘Wellbeing Works!’ As you may know, October brings with it World Mental Health Day, and a host of activities and events to mark this increasingly significant date in the calendar.
For its part, Paritas will be publishing a ground breaking piece of local research identifying the cost of mental ill-health to West Sussex, and illustrating how we can help reduce it. We will publish this on our website, and provide hard copies for those interested, so keep an eye on www.paritas.org.uk for more information.
So, until next time, to steal the words from another departing (but soon to return) national treasure - this is not goodbye, it’s not even au revoir… See you later alligator!
Kirsty Mackenzie
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What makes you smile?
To mark World Mental Health Day on October 10th, the BBC’s Headroom campaign is asking you to stop and think,
'What Makes You Smile?'
It's a simple question, but answering could actually help lift your mood and improve your mental wellbeing. So don't keep it to yourself, let us and your friends know what you’re smiling about with a smile balloon.
You can share your smiles here
And you can download our fab Paritas Save our Smiles poster here
Why not contact the Paritas team to discuss our range of recruitment services?
Both films are launched as an exclusive YouGov poll reveals that more than a third of the public believe people diagnosed with schizophrenia are likely to be violent. The reality is that people are as likely to be struck by lightning as to be harm by a stranger with a mental illness.
You can watch the films here
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Following on from national research by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health we have detailed the impact on our region- and its huge!
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem. During a period of ill health a financial cost can be placed upon employers, welfare budgets, and health services such as GPs.
In relation to our businesses alone the cost is likely to be nearly £400 million.
During a time of recession there is a very real need to enable employers to keep their existing staff well, in work, and performing, as the financial costs of mental health within employment will have an even greater impact when running on tighter staffing resources.
And that’s just the impact on our business. We’ve found that the cost of welfare provision in relation to mental health across West Sussex could be as high as £80 million. In addition the financial price of GP appointments for mental health to West Sussex Primary Care Trust is likely to be over £25 million a year
Here at Paritas we know we can play a key role in reducing these costs. We also know we must act quickly to halt and reduce them.
If you would like to speak to our team about the Paritas business audit tools, our Paritas mental health and employment training, our wider recruitment service or how we can find you employment and improve your mental health then contact the team today!
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Paritas has put together an exciting new training course for employment professionals.
Do you support people into employment who have experienced mental health problems?
Would you like to gain a better understanding of mental illnesses?
Would you like to learn more about providing employment support and the barriers people face?
The Paritas training for employment professionals is designed to support you.
We’d love you to come along to one of our training events. The next available days are
Friday 30th October 2009 - Worthing
Friday 13th November 2009 – Mid Sussex
10am- 3pm
Only £34.50 inc vat until end of 2009!
We also provide training on mental health for employers! To find out more follow the contact link below.
Places for both dates are filling up fast so to find out more and to book a place contact Paritas team.
Beating that “after lunch” slump!!
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Reflexology is a therapy dating back over 5000 years, originating in China. It uses pressure applied to zones on the hands and/or feet to stimulate & sedate energy flow through the channels (called meridians) that correspond to the different organs of the body. Good health is found through balance and free-flow of these energies. It is relaxing and rejuvenating at the same time and you can do this for yourself.
Do you ever get that sluggish feeling after lunch? Yes... then try this exercise. When you return to your desk after lunch, spend a few minutes massaging along your fingers and thumbs that are related to the head and brain. By doing this you are stimulating those areas and so delivering nutrients and fresh blood to the brain. You’ll feel refreshed and focused in no time at all!
Chrysalis Complementary Therapy, based on the Arundel Castle Estate, provides a range of therapies, education courses and health products.
If you are interested in learning more or taking a basic course, please contact me. For information, contact Rachel on 01903 884510 or visit the website www.chrysalis-therapy.co.uk
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By our very own Michelle
Vegetable Stir FryServes 1
Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
½ chilli, sliced (seeds removed if you don’t like too much heat)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
4 spring onions, sliced
½ head broccoli, sliced
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp honey
splash vegetable stock
100g/3½oz rice noodles, cooked
Method
Heat the oil in a wok and stir-fry the chilli, garlic, spring onions and broccoli with seasoning and a splash of water for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the soy sauce, honey, vegetable stock and noodles.
3. Serve.
Paritas partners Paritas works very closely with a number of local partners who provide employment opportunities for disadvantaged people.
If you would like to begin working with Paritas then drop us a line.
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Need a bank you can trust? Time Banks have been around far longer than the recession, but now more than ever citizens from all backgrounds, professions and abilities can make a useful and meaningful contribution to the community – and get it all back without a penny ever changing hands.
West Sussex’s first ever Time Bank is launched on October 9 at the Investing in Wellbeing conference in Horsham, and will join the 108 Time Banks already successfully up and running in the UK. In just a few weeks, people will be able to enroll at their very own local Time Bank, where they can ‘bank’ hour-long blocks of time, and ‘withdraw’ equal amounts of time as needed. Simple as that.
So what is a Time Bank and how does it work? Its genius lies in its simplicity, which is based on a simple idea – that everybody has something to contribute, and that all contributions are equal and reciprocal. The currency is not cash, but time. It works by each member depositing hour-long blocks of their time – that is, pledging to give an hour, or multiples of an hour, of whatever skills or abilities they have to offer, (cleaning, dog walking, accounting, massage, admin, whatever) which can then be offset by an hour ‘withdrawn’ from the bank’s other time deposits.
And the great thing is that all skills, abilities, and contributions are equal – there is no hierarchy of ability, which means that an hour of unskilled work has the same value as an hour of specialised or professional labour. In other words, an hour of washing up has the same Time Bank value as an hour of, say, legal advice. One hour equals one Time Credit. It’s democracy in action.
The West Sussex Time Bank is located in a beautiful resource centre in Southwick. So whether you’re a dustman or a doctor, a cleaner or a lawyer, get down there now and make a deposit – because it’s the only bank you can truly trust.
West Sussex Time Bank
Corner House Resource Centre
45 Southwick Street
Southwick BN42 4TH
Contact: Fran Creffield 01273 871574
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nextstep provides free, impartial information and advice on learning and work to adults aged 20 plus. We offer face-to face appointments with experienced, trained, advisors across a range of local venues.
Our advisors are completely independent and will base their advice on what’s best for you. As well as talking through your options, they can give you information about help that’s available, including funding, childcare and facilities for people with disabilities.
nextstep also offers workshops on a range of topics, including: CV design and layout; job searching, interview skills; returning to work and career change.
Rosemary is a lone parent and her son is now at school full time. She came to see her Nextstep Adviser as she felt she needed help with improving her English and Maths in order to be able to help her son with his homework. Rosemary says she was never read books as a child and left school with no GCSEs. In September 2008, Rosemary started a basic skills course in literacy and numeracy at her local College.
In February 2009, Rosemary made a further appointment with her nextstep adviser as she needed help to create a CV. Rosemary decided it was time to come off Income Support and find herself a job as she said “she wanted her son to be proud of her”. With her CV in hand, she started applying for jobs and when she was invited for an interview she went for a further session with her nextstep Adviser to prepare for the interview as she was very nervous.
Thanks to her determination and help from her adviser, Rosemary now has a job at Burger King part-time. She is still at College studying on her basic skill course in literacy and numeracy.
Call nextstep on 0800 1954 700 to arrange an appointment with an advisor or book onto one of our workshops. Alternatively, you can visit www.nextstepsoutheast.org.uk
UR in the Picture: Photographic project brings mental health into focus
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Developed out of United Response’s Mental Wealth project, UR in the Picture aims to use photography as a creative medium through which people can explore their feelings about living with mental illness.
Twenty-eight service users across West Sussex took part in the project, attending workshops to develop their photographic skills and to explore their own feelings about having a mental health need.
The project culminated this summer with a national exhibition of 84 images and captions from the project.
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“When I first heard about the UR in the Picture project, I had no other day time activity. I thought I would try and give it a go as it would help me try to get out of the house, but other than that I had no expectations.
“Now, I am so pleased I took part. I have surprised myself, but also learnt that I can overcome my fears by focusing on a goal I really want to achieve.”
Sharon Horton, works for United Response and headed up UR in the Picture. She said:
“It has been such a privilege to be involved in this project. I have seen people who may have lacked confidence in the beginning, grow in self-esteem, as they learn a new skill and build friendships with the other photographers.”
What’s on?
Synchronise forum
Wednesday 25th November 2pm
Chichester
If you would like to publicise your event then contact the Paritas team.
Wellbeing Works! is the newsletter of Paritas
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