A book released earlier this month is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Recovery Academy – by helping those with mental health issues.
My Story has received great appraisal after it came out on World Mental Health Awareness Day on October 10.
The book contains 20 accounts from people who have been affected by mental health and addiction in one way or another with a mixture of short stories, artwork and poetry included.
The publication, whose release date coincides with Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust’s (GMW) Annual General Meeting, is the latest project that the ‘Recovery Academy’ department at GMW has undertaken to help its service users.
Claire Watson, Manager of the Recovery Academy and lead on My Story, told MM: ”We’re hoping that this book will give messages of hope. All the entries are meant to encourage people that they can recover with the right help and support.
“It was quite emotional and very inspirational reading through the accounts.”
The project to put the book together went public back in May this year when GMW first invited people to send in their stories.
A total of 65 entries were received by the deadline at the end of June, and a judging panel met in July to decide which 20 accounts would be included in the book such was the depth and high quality of them.
The panel comprised of Claire, Maria Clifton, Functional Skills Tutor for GMW, and Gerry Halpin MBE, President of the Manchester Academy for Fine Art.
After examining the 20 entries further, it was judged that a poem from a serving prisoner at HMP Wymott about dealing with addiction was worthy of the most powerful story.
At the event on October 10, three poems that feature in My Story were recited to give the audience an insight into the experiences of people who are affected by mental health illnesses and addiction.
GMW also held its Staff Value Awards on the day to celebrate the hard work that their employees have contributed in the last year. There were five winners and ten highly commended individuals or teams who were awarded with a certificate and glass trophy.
GMW’s Recovery Academy has now been open for three years, and Claire has noticed a change in this time.
She said: “The changes have been quite qualitative in that we see people gaining that sense of hope.
“We have had lots of feedback from people saying it has made a difference to their recovery in terms of understanding their own mental health, and developing knowledge and skills to be able to manage it in their own community rather than relying on mental health services.”
The Recovery Academy offers 50 free courses and also works with many partners in Manchester to share best practices for the benefits of their respective service users.
My Story is available to download on www.gmw.nhs.uk/mystory
