Letter - mental health day services

Hi, please see a letter below from Cllr Janet Burgess for publication, following on from last week's story about mental health day services. Hope you can use it this week, if possible.

Thanks

Chris

(begins)

Due to huge, ongoing funding cuts from national Government, we’re having to look very carefully at many services, including how we provide mental health day services in Islington. (Mental health services under threat from cuts, June 15).

At the same time we want to redesign our services so they better meet the needs of Islington’s residents. We know there are some people who need support but don’t currently use our mental health day services, and others who would like support to use other community facilities to help their recovery. We think redesigned, flexible services can save money and also better meet local needs.

We very much want to retain mental health day services in Islington. They provide vital support to recovery, reducing social isolation and a lifeline to many residents.

As Government cuts continue to bite, we need to consider very carefully how money in this budget is spent. We think some money can be saved by reducing money spent on buildings and utility bills, instead focusing on keeping good levels of staffing and delivering services in a more flexible way that better meets local needs.

We’re proposing to provide day services from The Mind Hub in Despard Road and Isledon Road Resource Centre, and to close either Mind Empower, on Southwood Smith Street, or The Mind Spa, on Ashley Road, or both. We’re consulting on these proposals and very muchwant to hear from people who use our existing mental health day services, their carers, and people who may want to access services in the future.

The consultation runs until July 27, and we will take all feedback into account before making a decision.

Cllr Janet Burgess

Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing

Islington Council

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