Does anyone here have any experience attending one of these? It's a council funded one in the UK, if that's relevant. I've never done anything like this before, it's kinda daunting. I'd be grateful for any experiences (positive or negative) Thanks.
Last edited by nuclearnight : 01-02-2009 at 08:26 PM.
Reason: typo
I work at a social group where people with mental health problems meet up and we chat about things and play games. The same people come most of the time and if any new members join the group they are introduced and usually settle in quickly. Some day centres are more structured and they do activities but others just let you do whatever you feel like doing. Have you been given any information about it?
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I went to a day centre and I was a bit anxious about it at first and I didnt really want to go, but after a week or so, I got into it and when I started talking to people and stuff, I started to enjoy it and by the end I didnt want to leave. It really helped me grow in confidence and helped with the social skills. You'll have to let me know what its like when you go, it would be interesting to see if it is a similar set up.
Slightly different but I go to a drop in for young people with mental health problems. There are groups and stuff run at other times that I can go to aswell. Some of the time it is really helpful to just have a place to go to. I can sit and do nothing. Or play a game of pool...etc....
Don't know if that is any help sorry.
good luck xx
You made up your mind to torture mine!
If you read a scar like a book, you will relise the story in which you over look
I go to one to get my bloods taken and to collect my meds and it seems quite friendly and nice. I also went to a non NHS funded one and it was okay bnut i stopped going as eveyrhin was from 30-60+ adn me being only 18 at the time found they were just too old for me to get along wiht properly.I hope it goes okay xx
I go to the local NHS run one. It is OK I havea few good mates there.
I can come and go as I please so no obligation or commitment to attend.
I often go to have a coffee meet mates read papers and if I need to talk to staff if I'm not too good.
One of the CMHT teams are upstairs so my SW is close although I have contact with them only on appoinment days.
The food is good (If I'm brave enough to eat there)
It can be hit and miss as to whether it be for you. Give it a few visits as differant people go differant days and if they have groups on it is differant then also.
Give it a good try. Ya never know :)
I want to kiss the bottom of the ocean before I burst through its surface into the sunlight, otherwise I will always be wondering about what was left unseen at the bottom
i'm tired of chasing my dreams. i'm just gonna ask where they're going, and hook up with them later.
I went to a day centre and I was a bit anxious about it at first and I didnt really want to go, but after a week or so, I got into it and when I started talking to people and stuff, I started to enjoy it and by the end I didnt want to leave. It really helped me grow in confidence and helped with the social skills. You'll have to let me know what its like when you go, it would be interesting to see if it is a similar set up.
Take care
The one I go to is actually a MIND one, but is funded by social services. I was the same to start with, but with a few more times I actually feel safe and secure there, I don't feel discriminated against. OK, it's not ideal as most of the people are 40-65, and I'm 25, but the people are nice and one day (when I have a job) I could have to be dealing with older people than me anyway. Plus as the management are non-NHS it's easier to get a more impartial opinion about things that worry me (such as rights to services and mentalhealth rights full-stop).
I so far only have very basic information about it, but the woman I emailed is going to send me an information pack through the post :) Hoping that will be a bit more detailed.
It's not a MIND one, I did look for one of those at first but the only MIND ones near here would be a bugger to get to on public transport. The one I'm thinking about is run by Together. Sounds pretty similar from what I've read though.
I was slightly concerned about the age thing too, it says it is for people from 18-65, I am 23, I can't say I have an awful lot of experience socializing with people outside of my age bracket, but we will see :)
Thanks for the replies and wished of good luck. I will definitely pop down there and see what's what soon, but I'll wait for the information pack to arrive first as I'm still finding it a bit daunting.
Well i had a friend who went to a MIND one.It was ran a bit like a drop in centre.Open during the days and could drop in when she liked to talk to the staff or other clients, for lunch or to play card/games etc with the other clients.i went with her once or twice as a visitor seemed quite good.
i personally have been previously to one [in a different area to where i live now] that was ran by the NHS and linked to the mental health services and i went there anything from once a week to most days during my time there.However my times/days for being there were arranged beforehand, i couldnt just turn up and everything was very structured and there were quite a few activities.
i think it did help me though it would have helped if they could have been more flexible about if people just needed to pop in [but i understand why they couldnt] and also most of the people there were significantly older than me [i was probably 20 or early 20's but most of the other clients were 50+] but it was fine really.
i hope you find out more and good luck.
i do not always manage to be around but i wish you all the very best - love and luck to you all!
before i came to my TC where i am now i went to a day centre everyday it was really good i had my own support worker there who would come pick me up and on days when i was stuggling and couldnt go out she would come round for a chat etc
i made some very good friends with other clients there and staff also everyday there was a activity eg photogrgy classes relaxin group i wnr to yags young adult group every tue where we decide as group wot we wanted to do so we go bowlin cinema pub on weds was womens group which was all ages we go shoppin bingo etc
also staff did day trips out to seasides and every year we went on a week holiday with the centre i wnr to wales last yr with them it was so good
you had to be reffered there by your pysc cpn etc i did get alot out of goin as it it wasnt for that i wud be in units so much more and on my last day there before moving to here they gave me a surpise party with lots of pressis which was lovely.
make the most of what you can ur lucky to get change to attend somewhere as there is so many places that needs this and havnt x
