Do you go above & beyond for someone with mental health challenges? Would you like to learn new ways to support both your own, as well as their mental health and wellbeing?

KS2 Bath (carers support group) and St Mungo's 'Bridges to Wellbeing' service is offering free training to help empower those supporting a loved one with lived experience of mental health problems.

Because mental health challenges are often not 'visible', and the support needed can be more emotional then practical, carers often don't see themselves as carers. But they are.

Being a non-paid carer can take many forms, you might be a friend, family member, neighbour, partner, peer, or colleague. You might provide practical, emotional support, or both. In fact, anyone could be a carer - a student supporting a housemate with early signs of an eating disorder, a family member supporting their brother-in law with depression, or a husband supporting his wife with complex PTSD.

The training is delivered over four 3.5hr sessions. Topics covered include: understanding mental health challenges, supporting people with mental health needs to make changes, conflict and crisis, as well as learning, reflecting and supporting.

"Carers do an amazing job of supporting their loved ones and, unlike staff, receive very little support or training. I was therefore really pleased when KS2 Bath asked St Mungo's to co-create and deliver the carers training sessions with them. Delivering the sessions is always great because carers really value having a safe space to reflect on their difficult role and I always learn something new", Ralph Lillywhite, St Mungo's Building Bridges Manager.

The next course dates are:

·       Thursday 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th Nov 2022, 6:00pm-8:30pm at BANES Carers Centre, Bath

·       Tuesday 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th Feb 2023, 1:00pm-4:30pm at Bethesda Baptist Church, Trowbridge

·       Friday 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th Feb 2023, 10:00am-1:30pm at Hope House Centre, Radstock

Training funded by BANES, Swindon & Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

"Caring for someone with mental health problems can often be challenging. Those that attend the training leave with a range of skills and approaches to aid their caring role, as well as a range of stress management techniques and self-care ideas", Carolyn Trippick, St Mungo's Volunteer.

Feedback from past participants:

"If you are a carer, this course is vital to understanding how looking after you helps look after the person you are caring for".

"The content was really informative. People were interactive with each other. Trainer was knowledgeable and friendly".

"Everyone was given time to have a voice "share" their stories if they wanted to, as much or as little as they wanted. No pressure. Looking at self was really useful tool to be a better carer and look after myself better….".

"Really helpful - covering quite a range of topics. Meeting other carers invaluable, too. Really well organised, wish I'd known about it ages ago!

Direct booking available through Eventbrite. For more information (or to sign up to a course), contact Ralph Lillywhite, St Mungo's Building Bridges Manager on 07825 115 775 or email [email protected]. Further information can also be found on St Mungo's Building Bridges to Wellbeing website www.bridges2wellbeing.co.uk.

Additional info

KS2 Bath commissioned and developed this training in collaboration with St Mungo's, with support from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP), BANES Carers Centre and funding from People's Health Trust. It brings together work co-produced between carers and mental health professionals.

St Mungo's

St Mungo's 'Building Bridges to Wellbeing' team works innovatively and creatively with people who have a lived experience of mental health challenges, volunteers and other agencies to empower, inspire and promote independence and wellbeing. We support mental health and wellbeing pathways which enable the positive progression of clients and volunteers. 

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 07825 115 775

Website: www.bridges2wellbeing.co.uk

KS2 Bath

KS2 Bath is a support group for carers of people with mental health difficulties. It is a voluntary non-profit organisation. We provide a peer support carer's group, as well as delivering carer's training to those with lived experience, as well as professionals. We also sit on many committees within the statutory mental health services representing carers, ensuring that carers' voices are recognised and heard. 

E-mail [email protected] Tel: 07528 668 040

Website: https://ks2bath.org/