Shanika: my voices during lockdown

In the 16th post in our series #NSUNCovidLife, Shanika Ranasinghe talks about her voices during lockdown.

For the previous post, click here. For the next post, click here.

To see all the #NSUNCovidLife posts, click here.

Latest

NSUN Annual Report 2019-2020

Our 2019-2020 Annual Report is now available to read online. It covers our activities over the last year, including, briefly, the beginning of our response to COVID-19. This annual report also includes tributes to Jan Wallcraft (1949-2020), who was a pioneer in the survivor movement as a researcher and activist.
Peer Support: Working with the VCSE Sector

NSUN, AMHP and Mind have jointly produced a thought-piece outlining how voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations can meaningfully contribute to the provision of peer support in mental health; and offer practical examples of the diverse ways in which this is already happening.
Remote and Online Peer Support Resource

Over the past months, collaborative working has shown that we have shared experiences of what works. This resource, for anyone involved in providing peer support, outlines best practice, tips, and information about remote support, including the move back to face to face.
Another shocking scandal - why does this keep happening?

Blog post by Andrew Lee, Director of People First, on the recent news from Yew Trees Hospital in Essex of ten staff being suspended after a CQC report found they "dragged, slapped and kicked" people staying in the unit.

There is no normal - Alisdair Cameron

"There is no normal": NSUN Trustee Alisdair Cameron responds to talk of "the new normal". This is our first of a short series of three articles exploring unmet need & what "business as usual" actually means for mental health community groups & survivors of distress & trauma.
Another shocking scandal - why does this keep happening?

Blog post by Andrew Lee, Director of People First, on the recent news from Yew Trees Hospital in Essex of ten staff being suspended after a CQC report found they "dragged, slapped and kicked" people staying in the unit.
Talking Sense and COVID-19

Janey from Talking Sense, a Hearing Voices Group, tells us about their group and how moving online using funding from NSUN enabled them to expand their reach.
Wish and COVID-19

Wish, a user-led charity for women experiencing mental health difficulties in prisons, hospitals, and the community, talk through the move to online and their hopes for the future.
Youth Activism and Intentional Peer Support with Hearts and Minds

We hear from five young mental health activists from Hearts and Minds about their experiences on the Intentional Peer Support Training programme.
‘Call Before You Walk’ for A&E – how will this impact treatment for self-harm?

Naomi Salisbury, Director of Self Injury Support, talks about the proposed changes to A&E treatment for self-harm - a "call before you walk" system - and concerns around the approach.
Adira and COVID-19

This week we hear from Adira, a survivor-led mental health & well-being organisation based in Sheffield supporting Black people with mental health issues. They used money from the NSUN COVID-19 grant for listening training for their peer supporters.
Taraki and COVID-19

Shuranjeet and Kuljit from Taraki tell us how they adapted to lockdown, using the NSUN COVID-19 grant to expand the reach of their groups and engage more people using digital design tools.
Lived Experience Leadership

A project to help NSUN help understand more about this thing that some people call ‘lived experience leadership’ in England & Wales.
Traveller Pride and COVID-19

Tyler, the founder of Traveller Pride, talks about how the NSUN fund has allowed them to set up a phoneline and make therapy more accessible for their members during the pandemic.

Jobs and involvement opportunities

Vacancies with the National Survivor User Network
4Pi national involvement standards

Developed by people with lived experience as part of the National Involvement Partnership (NIP) project, the 4Pi National Standards ensure effective co-production, thus really improving experiences of services and support.
Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit - Open Letters

The UK government is hosting a Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London on the 9th and 10th of October, 2018. The Summit aims to “build momentum on global mental health issues such as early intervention, public health, research, tackling stigma, and promoting access to evidence-based services.”. Read the Open Letters to the Organisers, Partners and Delegates of the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, London
BME mental health service users launch manifesto

The Kindred Minds BME mental health service user led manifesto is a unique resource, has been written by BME mental health service users and has a comprehensive vision for the policy and practice changes needed to improve the mental well-being of BME mental health service users.
History

About the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) and the wider service user survivor movement. What we have achieved.
Join as a member

We are a user-led network of over 5000 individual and group members. Join us to find out what's happening across England to improve the experiences of people who need services and support when in distress. We aim to connect, inform and influence.
Survivor Researcher Network launch manifesto

Written by the Survivor Researcher Working Group, the SRN manifesto sets out the background and context to survivor and service user research and SRN's aims and values as a network
Alternatives to detention/sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983. Can you help with suggestions?

As part of her work for the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, Dorothy Gould is trying to collect as many examples as possible of alternatives to detention/sectioning.
Our vision

Our vision is for the lives of people who experience mental distress, discrimination and disadvantage to be better
The Principles of Peer Support Charter

A collaboration between statutory and voluntary sector organisations has facilitated the production of a peer led and produced Principles of Peer Support Charter.