News
Together service user launches graphic novel documenting inhumanity of asylum life
Posted on 01, March, 2013
This week Andrew Voyce, former user of Together’s services, launched his book Side effects at the mental health charity’s Our Space Gallery in London. The graphic novel charts Andrew’s experience of schizophrenia over the course of 20 years – his journey through psychotic episodes, asylums, medication, encounters with the law and homelessness. Following the closure […]
As Together launches its new ‘Common sense approach to working with women offenders’, our Curator, Eve McDougall recalls her experiences of prison.
Posted on 26, February, 2013
As Together launches its new ‘Common sense approach to working with women offenders’, its Our Space Gallery Curator, Eve McDougall recalls her experience of being sent to an adult Victorian prison when she was just 15 years old. Over 30 years ago, Eve was sentenced to two years and actually served two years for breaking […]
Guide launched to ensure women’s health and wellbeing needs are not missed by criminal justice staff
Posted on 26, February, 2013
Today, mental health charity Together launches a new guide that offers professionals the tools to recognise and respond to the health and wellbeing needs of women offenders. Despite recommendations made in the 2007 Corston report, around 13,500 women are still sent to prison each year1. More than half of these women have severe mental illness and […]
Individuals at The Priory unlock their creativity at new exhibition
Posted on 11, December, 2012
Thornford Park and Chadwick Lodge, residential units that are part of the Priory Group, are holding an exhibition at Together’s Our Space gallery to showcase service users’ artwork. The UNLOCK art exhibition features a range of mixed media artwork completed by service users and demonstrates the potential of art as a mode of therapy, allowing individuals to […]
Charity launches transformed service for Southwark residents with mental health issues
Posted on 07, December, 2012
As part of its work to transform its services and drive personalisation forward, mental health charity Together has launched its latest project Southwark Your Way for local people in need of support. Southwark Your Way, formerly known as Castle Resource Centre, has now been transformed into a community based service that offers individuals experiencing mental […]
Together wins Specialist Provider of the Year award for Your Way service
Posted on 28, November, 2012
Together’s Your Way model – the charity’s answer to personalisation has won Major Specialist Care Provider at this year’s Independent Healthcare APEX (IHA) awards.
Together’s response to Schizophrenia Commission report
Posted on 15, November, 2012
In response to some of the issues raised in the The Abandoned Illness report released by The Schizophrenia Commission, Michael Smith, Transformation Lead at Together says:
Listening to women in police custody. Why is it so important?
Posted on 04, October, 2012
Matina Marougka: Women’s Forensic Mental Health Practitioner and co-author of new IARS report: Listening to Young Women in Police Custody: Mental health needs and the police response comments on the findings: I am a psychologist and work as a Women’s Forensic Mental Health Practitioner at Together’s Court Liaison and Outreach Project based at Thames Magistrates’ […]
New charity report reveals: adoption of ‘peer support’ by mental health services poses threat to grassroots ethos and survival
Posted on 25, September, 2012
Good practice guidelines are needed to prevent the ‘professionalisation’ of peer support and preserve its grassroots, user-led ethos, says a new report published today by Together for Mental Wellbeing. Peer supporters have become increasingly valued in formal health settings for their positive role in mental health recovery. However, warns the report, “The Freedom to be; The Chance […]
How do we protect authentic peer support from the threat of professionalisation?
Posted on 21, September, 2012
Anne Beales at Together argues that the formation of ‘good practice’ guidelines is essential to ensure the survival of authentic, user-led peer support and to safeguard it from being used as a form of cheap labour. Check out her blog piece here: http://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/Blog/blog.aspx