Devon residents hear how work is taking place to transform community mental health services

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in Mental health, News on 23rd May, 2022

During Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May), people across Devon were able to find out more about ambitious work happening across the county to transform community mental health services.  

Staff from Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) visited a number of community hospitals and events including Exeter Pride and the Newton Abbot Wellbeing Show to share information, listen to feedback and answer questions about the work taking place.

Devon Partnership Trust and Livewell Southwest – the providers of mental health services in Devon and Plymouth – are leading on work to transform, expand and improve community mental health services across the county as part of a national programme called the Community Mental Health Framework.

We are working alongside GPs, social services, other agencies such as housing and drug and alcohol services, the Devon Mental Health Alliance, and those with lived experience to ensure that care is more consistent, joined up and better meets the needs of individuals as well as their local communities.

Jane Dewar, Locality Change Co-ordinator at Devon Partnership Trust, is one of the people helping to bring local partners together in the eastern locality of Devon.

She said: “It was great to get out and meet people from across our communities, and share information about changes to community mental health services across Devon and the incredible amounts of work happening to improve our services to really meet the needs of people wherever they live.

“A lot of people we met were brave enough to share their own stories of how their mental health or that of a loved one had impacted them, and how they’ve found accessing services, and everyone we spoke to said how pleased they were that this work was happening.

“As it was Mental Health Awareness Week, it was really timely for us to be out in our communities, and we also made some brilliant links with local organisations who are helping to make a difference to people.

“At the heart of the Framework is our ambition to ensure we are joined-up as much as possible with other services and providers to not only make it easier for people to access services, but to also ensure that they don’t have to repeat their story over and over again and to make sure they receive the right help, at the right time and in the right place, and that it supports them to live well in their communities.   

“We will be attending even more events over the coming months and we’re always looking to hear from people and involve them in the work that’s happening, so we’d really encourage anyone interested to get in touch with us.”

To find out more about changes happening to community mental health services in Devon, visit the Together for Devon website. You can also stay up-to-date by subscribing to our newsletter via this link or alternatively, please feel free to email us:  dpt.cmhf@nhs.net