Carols by candlelight concert in

aid of Solihull Mind

Enjoy a a festive performance of carols on the Packington Estate (Packington House) and help support Solihull Mind - all proceeds will go to us. It’s on the 16th December at 7pm and tickets are £15 (includes mulled wine and mince pies) from www.urbe.org

Re-opening of OASIS service

The OASIS (drop-in) service is now open again. There is social distancing inside our building and people will need to have a lateral flow covid test before entering - we can provide the test kits or you can use your own. The days and times are now: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 12 - 5pm, Tuesday evenings 6pm - 11pm, Saturday and Sunday 12 - 6pm, Friday 12 - 2-30pm women only. The art/craft group is on Thursday mornings from 10am until 12-30pm; however, the music group is still on hold as it’s more difficult to manage infection risks in it We continue to provide counselling in our building using masks, visors and clear screens, although there is still the option of receiving counselling by telephone. The horticulture/conservation project continues to be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10-30am until 4pm. The women only session is restarting from Tuesday 29th September, 11am - 2pm. There is advice and support available on the telephone and through email (0121 742 4941 or 0121 743 4237; and contact@solihullmind.org.uk). This is now available from 9-30am until 5pm, Monday to Friday, although the weekend service is now replaced by our seven day a week crisis service which is open from 6pm until 11pm from 4th October in our building in Faulkner Road.

Mental Health Helpline

The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0121 262 3555

Facemasks

The government has made the wearing of facemasks optional from 19th July, but many shops and organisations are still requiring them. However, there are exemptions from this requirement; including young children, people with breathing difficulties, and, most significantly, “people whose disabilities make it difficult for them to wear a face covering”- and this includes people who are unable to wear masks due to their mental health. As it isn’t obvious that people with “hidden disabilities” are exempt from wearing a mask, there are badges available that can be worn or displayed on your smart phone. The government issued ones can be obtained here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face- coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make- your-own. You can also buy a card and a lanyard or plastic holder at the Hidden Disabilities website: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/hidden- disabilities-face-covering.html

Black Lives Matter

Mind believes that Black Lives Matter and black mental health matters and we share our support for the Black Lives Matter movement. In mental health – as in other areas of life – there is a huge disparity in how black people are listened to and supported at every level. People from black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups living in the UK are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems, be diagnosed and admitted to hospital, experience a poor outcome from treatment, disengage from mainstream mental health services, leading to social exclusion and a deterioration in their mental health. Under the outdated Mental Health Act, Black people are more likely to be compulsorily admitted for treatment, more likely to be on a medium or high secure ward and more likely to be subject to seclusion or restrain. We know there’s no easy solution and that there is still a long way to go to make sure everyone experiencing a mental health problem and other forms of discrimination, is treated equally, both within our organisation and outside it.