An inaugural meeting of the Essex Mind-Spirit South-West Essex Cluster Group will be held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday, March 10th in the Todman Centre (Rayleigh Age Concern), Castle Road (junction with Daws Heath Road), Rayleigh SS6 7QF.This meeting may be of interest to anyone who has a stake in mental health, either from personal experience of mental illness, or as a carer, as a mental health professional, or as an interested 'observer', AND who either believes, intuits or knows from personal experience or faith that there may be a relationship of the spiritual life to the mental life. Or wants to explore this possibility in the company of others. Or wants to find or offer support from this perspective.
We aim to meet twice a month, in informal surroundings, and without obligation. There is no charge for attendance. No experience is necessary. There will be no religious line pushed. Groundrules will be negotiated and agreed by participants. Participants will develop their own group agenda and action-plan as the group gets going.
Further information can be had from me, Peter Goble*, on 07951 869265 or by email to me at
petergoble.1@btinternet.com.
BACKGROUND
Essex Mind-Spirit (EM-S) was established in 2004 by a consortium of Essex NHS Primary Care Trusts, The Church of England in Essex and East London, the mental health charity Interact, Anglia Ruskin University, and a number of other 'mental health' stakeholders.
The broad mission of EM-S has been fourfold:
To foster cooperation amongst those whose care embraces a mind-spirit dimension (or implies a relationship of mental life and spiritual life); to promote the role of 'people of faith' (or faith communities) as partners in mental health recovery; to reduce the stigma attached to spirituality/religion in mental health (i.e. amongst some mental health workers); and to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness amongst some 'people of faith' members of faith communities.
The term 'people of faith' acknowledges that faith is not necessarily religious or even 'spiritual'. Since EM-S was established, faith communities other than the Church of England have slowly 'come on board'. I was invited to join the organising committee in 2006 as a Buddhist representative. There is a Jewish and a Muslim representative. The Roman Catholic Church is also represented, and there is some "Free Church" interest, but not much representation.
THe Church of England (especially the Diocese of Chelmsford) is prominent in servicing this project, and in running Cluster Groups around Essex. Churches have been active in promoting training days, running talks or putting out literature on mental health, and offering drop-in facilities etc.
So far the EM-S has held three well-attended annual conferences, intended to spring-board action in furtherance of the mission stated above. These have led to the establishment of "Cluster Groups", one in each "quadrant" of Essex. These are local action-groups, free-standing, and generally autonomous within the broad EM-S remit.
I am charged by EM-S with establishing a new South-West Essex Cluster group. This (notionally) will draw support from people in Basildon (including Wickford and Billericay), Rayleigh, Rochford, Castle Point (Hadleigh, Thundersley, South Benfleet), Canvey Island, Thurrock, Tilbury, and other points along the Estuary. It's a large patch.
At present I intend to host a meeting twice a month (on the SECOND and FOURTH WEDNESDAY of each month but NOT EVERY TWO WEEKS ~ check the dates) at the time and place above. The meetings are supported and funded by a Faith in Action grant from the Government. The EM-S project is above-board and officially endorsed by the NHS and other statutory bodies.
I look forward to hearing from anyone interested.
*Peter trained and has practised as a mental health nurse for over 50 years, but has also learned by being father to a son who has suffered schizophrenia, and has suffered clinical depression himself. Peter's understanding of wholistic mental health has been broadened by working closely in Africa with
nganga (African traditional healers), and by training and accreditation in integrative body-oriented psychotherapy. Peter taught mental health subjects at University to social workers, nurses and counselling students for several years.
