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Somerset Peer Connections and SMI Community and Outreach

Community

0800 138 1692

peerconnections@rethink.org

Open daily

This page features 2 services - Somerset Peer Connections and SMI Community and Outreach. Both of these services are for people 18+ living in Somerset with severe mental illness.

Both of these services are delivered as part of Open Mental Health is an alliance of local voluntary organisations, the NHS and social care, Somerset County Council, and individuals with lived experience of mental health. We’re working together to ensure that people get the right support they need when they need it most.

Read the section below and download our leaflets for more information.

Peer Connections

Peer Connections is a free service that offers support to people aged 18+ living in Somerset with a diagnosed or undiagnosed Serious Mental Illness (SMI)—Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Bipolar or a Personality Disorder. Our peer volunteer team have had their own challenges with mental health and found coping strategies and skills that worked for them. They will have a good understanding of your experiences, feelings and thoughts.

The Benefits of Peer Mentoring: Some of the benefits of either giving or receiving peer support are:

Increased understanding and insight into mental health issues
Improved coping strategies
Increased confidence and self-esteem
Improved optimism and hopefulness
An increased understanding and/or new perspective on owning a wellbeing journey

A peer mentor will listen to you without judgment. They will offer you support based on their own lived experience and give you the opportunity to think about what you’d like to achieve and
share ideas that have worked for them.

Volunteer to become a Peer Mentor

People become peer mentor volunteers for many reasons: to connect with other people, support others through their experience, find a sense of purpose, or gain experience and confidence for employment. Peer mentoring can help maintain a mentor’s recovery as well as aiding those receiving support. We value your experience Mentors are supported at every step in a way that meets their individual needs, from starting training, all the way through to being introduced and mentoring someone who needs support. The free training gives mentors the information, tools, resources and knowledge they need to help others.

Our peer mentors’ experiences are powerful tools that help them support other people facing similar struggles with mental health. Please check Spark-a-Change volunteering database to see current
vacancies for Peer Mentors.

You can get in touch with us at peerconnections@rethink.org

SMI Community & Outreach Service

The Community & Outreach team offer 1:1 support delivered by our Physical Health & Wellbeing Navigators. This is available to those 18+ living in Somerset with Serious Mental Illness:
Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Bipolar or Personality Disorder. This is time limited support of around 8-10 weeks. Through tailored and person-centred support, Navigators work with clients before, during and/or after the SMI Physical Health Check to help identify goals and work towards them. The Physical Health Check is an annual health check for people with severe mental illness is designed to pick up on signs that someone may be at risk of diabetes, stroke, or heart problems.

This may include: