Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Our Trust has created an Anti-Racist Framework as we work towards becoming an Anti-Racist, Anti-Discriminatory organisation.💙 The framework includes things such as, barriers, myths, wellbeing and belonging. Read more about our Anti Racism Campaign👉 https://ow.ly/tAJJ50PYAWq

Supporting people with their mental health requires a range of talent from all disciplines. You don’t have to be a frontline clinician to work for us, we offer a range of roles, and we are recruiting! 👀 What are you waiting for? Join Team BSMHFT today. 👉 https://orlo.uk/2IhhH #NHSCareers

Struggling with feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress or obsessions and compulsions? NHS Talking Therapies can help. The service is effective, confidential and free. Your GP can refer you or refer yourself at nhs.uk/talk

Helen Brown, Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Clinical Lead for OpCourage Treatment Pathway for Military Veterans, was invited to the House of Lords recently for a special reception held to celebrate this year’s Soldiering On Awards finalists. The reception, hosted by Jeremy Vine, and attended by Al Carns, the new Veterans and People Minister, brought together the 36 finalists alongside key figures from defence, government, military charities and businesses. The Soldiering On Awards recognise outstanding achievement in the Armed Forces community. Individuals, groups and organisations are showcased, including serving personnel, veterans and family members. In June, the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership was named as a finalist in both the Working Together and Healthcare and Rehabilitation categories. Helen was joined at the event by Midlands Op COURAGE clinical lead Dr Dan Barnard and Doug Wing (RNMH), Operational Lead for the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership, along with Mo Amjid, Assistant Practitioner (non-urgent team) from the West Midlands Hub. Helen said: "It was an honour to represent the Op COURAGE team at the Soldiering On Awards. The team are an extremely dedicated group of individuals and it is a total privilege to work alongside their passion and dedication to improve mental health support for veterans. The event was a double celebration, as it took place on the same day that Birmingham was awarded the Invictus Games for 2027!" The finalists will gather together again on Wednesday 16 October for a special black-tie event at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel. Read more about the event at on the Soldiering On Awards website. 👉 https://orlo.uk/M2qrz About Op COURAGE Op COURAGE is an NHS service developed with people who’ve served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill-health. Working together with NHS services and charities, Op COURAGE makes sure people who have served and are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing get the specialist care, support and treatment for their specific needs. Since April 2023, the service has supported more than 1,500 veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families across both the East and West Midlands. Midlands Op COURAGE is proudly delivered in partnership with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, St Andrew's Healthcare, Walking With The Wounded, The Ripple Pond, Tom Harrison House, and Mental Health Matters. Veterans, their families, or other health professionals can refer, or self-refer to services by calling 0300 323 0137 or emailing [email protected] Please visit the Op COURAGE website for more information. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dzAwd8KT

Meet Chekaine Steele, a Health Instructor who works within our Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) based at Newington and Lyndon. 🏃♂️ 🏋♂️ 🚶♂️ 🤸♀️ Chekaine’s role is unique in that he primarily focuses on supporting 18–25-year-olds towards becoming more physically active. Between the ages of 14-16, Chekaine suffered with severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and found that sports and exercise helped to reduce his social isolation and gave him something to overcome his anxiousness and routines. Working at the Trust for almost two years, Chekaine brings his lived experience to work every day. He is passionate about his role and how physical activity can help to transform the lives of the young people in our care. Regular exercise has lots of physical and mental health benefits for young people, such as: improving fitness, providing an opportunity to socialise, reduce stress, increase concentration, encourage healthy growth and development and can even boost self-esteem. When asked what makes his job so rewarding, Chekaine said: “For me, seeing the positive impact physical activity and engagement can have on our service users’ mental health is what makes this job so rewarding. My advice for anyone wanting to improve their fitness levels would be start off small and build it up… Also don’t be too hard on yourself.” If you need some inspiration as to the types of exercises you can try, why not visit www.nhs.uk/exercise today. #HealthandWellbeing #NHSCareers #NHS #MentalHealth NHS England

For our last Feedback Friday of July, we are shining the light on the Sutton Community Mental Health Team. 👏 “I was listened to and good interventions were discussed. The appointment was not rushed - which I was pleased about. The doctor displayed warmth and empathy - we have built a good rapport.” You can find out more about our Community Mental Health Teams on our website. 👉 https://orlo.uk/0FLI4 You can also find out more about our Friends and Family Feedback Test on our website. 👉 https://orlo.uk/DGuN6

"Living with MS has made me appreciate life more, as you never know what is around the corner." During Disability Pride Month, we have asked Team BSMHFT colleagues to share their stories to help us raise awareness of all types of disabilities and health conditions. We want to celebrate the diversity and dignity of people living with disabilities. We also want to emphasise that with the right support and understanding, people with disabilities and long-term health conditions live happy, healthy lives with good mental health and wellbeing. Chloe Kimberley, Communications Officer wanted to share her story. "Raising awareness of disabilities has always been important to me as my dad, who has a rare condition called Arthrogryposis has been a wheelchair user his whole life and has inspired my outlook on life. He has never let his disability define him and has gone on to achieve many things – like being the European 9-Ball Champion and British 9-Ball Champion for the British Wheelchair Pool Player Association (BWPPA). In March 2019 I experienced numbness to the left side of my face for several months. I was later diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) at the age of 22. Then in May 2020, I experienced another relapse that left me without sight in my left eye for a long period of time. I am very fortunate that my vision is nearly back to normal, and I am very grateful for the support of my family and friends during this time. MS is a condition that causes damage to the brain and central nervous system and affects approximately 130,000 people in the UK. I am currently receiving Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) infusions every six months. In RRMS, it reduces the number of relapses by about two thirds (70%). Ocrevus suppresses the immune system, which reduces my ability to fight infections. But overall, this treatment has been very successful for me and since starting it I have had no relapses! Both relapses happened when I was at university, although this was a challenging time for me, I still managed to graduate with a First! For my dissertation I focused on the inaccessibility of airports and planes for wheelchair users, a challenge I have experienced first-hand with my dad. This issue has recently been raised by Rights on Flights and British presenter, Sophie Morgan in her documentary Fight to Fly. This documentary shows the issues many wheelchair users experience. Living with MS has made me appreciate life more, as you never know what is around the corner. On World MS Day, 30 May 2021, I raised over £1,000 for the MS Trust by completing a 10,000 ft skydive! Although there is no cure for MS, ongoing research offers hope that by 2025, treatment will be available to slow relapses or stop the progression of disability. In the meantime, the MS Trust helps fund MS nurses and provides essential information and support."

Have you or a loved one received exceptional care from one of our teams? If you would like to see a specific team get recognition, why not nominate them for a Team of The Month award? 🏅 👉 https://lnkd.in/egFcR_kr 👈 Nominations will close on the 15th of every month.⏱️

Our Trust has created an Anti-Racist Framework as we work towards becoming an Anti-Racist, Anti-Discriminatory organisation.💙 The framework includes things such as, barriers, myths, wellbeing and belonging. Read more about our Anti Racism Campaign👉 https://ow.ly/tAJJ50PYAWq

Are you seeking a new challenge? Join Team BSMHFT! As part of a new national pilot, we are looking for experienced mental health clinicians for our newly commissioned Enhanced RECONNECT Service.   This service adopts a partnership approach to support individuals with complex needs following their release from prison, aiding their reintegration into the community. 🏙️   We have roles across various disciplines, providing the opportunity to contribute to the development of this vital new service through innovative practices.   For more information, visit our website. 👉 https://ow.ly/ru4O50SyF2s   #MentalHealth #Careers #TeamBSMHFT