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Social Prescribing: What it is and how it might help

Social prescribing is our current theme for blogs on the community, but what is it?
An article by Blurt answers this question:

Click here to read the full article.
If you'd like to catch up on all of our latest blogs then head to the guest blog posts board.
What do you think about social prescribing? What things do you think you'd benefit from doing? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!
An article by Blurt answers this question:
Social prescribing is person-centred. What this means, is that rather than a clinician meeting with us and telling us what we need based on our diagnosis or social demographics, they have a conversation with us about how we’re currently managing and what we want out of the service. Do we want to work on adding more activities in our week? Perhaps we want to start volunteering so that we can build up experience to go back to work? Maybe we want to meet other people who are in a similar position to us?

Click here to read the full article.
If you'd like to catch up on all of our latest blogs then head to the guest blog posts board.
What do you think about social prescribing? What things do you think you'd benefit from doing? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!
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Have you seen our employment services? We have a range of support which could help.
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We are unable to find much in the local area for little children. The only thing I can find is a playscheme for disabled children. Why is this acceptable? We must end this form of social isolation. Everyone needs friends. Plus the opportunity to learn new skills. What could be better?
That frustrates me. I am thinking of setting up my own care company for babies, children and adults with physical impairments. It should not be this difficult.
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Ails: I think maybe different parts of the country have this service under different names. Yours sounds great! I will give Social Prescribing a try and hope for the best.
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I'm really glad I've found this forum.
One of the big problems is after you leave a service. Usually mental health service or organisations. They do not want to know or have you back.
Have given you the tools and anything else. Besides with so many it is practical common sense.
In my situation used up all the resources of all the area . I am living in.
Reason moved a lot. Where do members of the community go after a life time of mental health.
Where to now. I cope the best way I can. My many posts on here gives a place to help me.
My other problem is I am aware of my issues and problems can I learn something new can I get the help and support with out any difficulties.
Often meet a lot of staff who see me as a problem sorry to say that and try to bully me or dominate me with there ideals.
I am prepared to listen as I do but it does not make it easy for me.
I know there are answers. Will discuss this with GP.
Thanks hope your doing OK.
Always happy to contribute.
Please take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
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So I'm hoping Social Prescribing is better.
Spice man- have you been with Social Prescribing?
I have used as I mentioned lots of mental health charities.
Stoneham, The Richmond Fellowship. MIND, Talking Changes many Local council services.
Used my wellbeing services as well many times.
Moved five times in to find help and support.
Use a lot of coping methods.
Might be worth a look.
Wish you well yourself it is something you would like to do.
Please if I can be supportive or you need to ask anything. Happy to help. I am one of the community champions on the forum.
Please take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
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No matter which so called support service i have come across the main problem is that thye have no understanding of the complex nature of my disability, and most are even unwilling to begin to learn about the complex nature of my disability. and as all of my family share my disability, this becomes even more stressful.
From my experience no support service has yet began by saying something along the lines of " I understand the complex nature of your disability, how are we best able to help"
so far we have only come across complete ignorance and incompetence even from the so called local medical professionals who should be trained and qualified to assess and diagnose our disability. such is the corrupt nature of UK audiologists, psychologists and speech and language.
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Never heard of it until it was mentioned on here a week ago.
From my perspective it comes across as another bogus support option just like the incompetent NHS WellBeing service which fails understand the complex nature of many invisible disabilities like mine.
So from my perspective it is more BS ignoring my real issues.
I wish I could go out into the community, but I have to avoid the lack of understand of my communication disability from all others in the community. They fail to understand my communication differences, and the communication problems i may experience, and they only treat me like an idiot.
So from my perspective now, the ignorance of my local community and the incompetence of the so called local support is the problem and why I am house bound. If it was not for my wife understanding our disability I would not be here.
I hope you find out more soon @Franstrahan.
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I have noticed that KateJopling has not replied to any of the posts on her so called Guest Blog, which comes maccrosss a pure marketing of a product rather then explaining a support option.
You should delete such marketing
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Thank you for joining, that is fine.
Please do not apologise. I am one of the team of community champions. We guide, advise and help new members who join the community.
Please if I can suggest go to Our Welcomes and Introductions webpage. You will see a post on Community Guide and house rules.
These are guides on how to post. What you need to do .
Please if you have any problems please get in touch happy to help. Be supportive.
Anything you wished to know.
I hope you enjoy your time here.
Please take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
Here is a list of our most recent discussions and here is a list of all the topics that we cover on the community. I hope this helps you navigate around.
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Hi Dolfrog, I read many of your comments and understand how frustrating life is for you. I get this as I have been wrongly diagnosed twice and undiagnosed for many years. With rare disabilities, it is hard to find support groups. Might be a daft question but have you thought of starting one for your condition? There is a support group for rare diseases, which I expect you already know about.
back in 2002 -2003 I set up the UK support group for my disability at the request of the UK Medical Research council so that they could get government funding for a 5 year research program, they got their funding in 2004 vfor a 5 year research program. I helped run APDUK to explain and support those diagnosed as having APD. I even helped run a telephone help line, which still gets the odd call, even though APDUK was wound up in 2014.
I know many of the researchers and leading clinical consultants personally, as we met on various occasions while the research was being carried out and my family were assessed over the years.
I do have a Facebook Support group which currently has over 14,000 members (mainly parents of children who have APD in the USA)
To be quite honest I am fed up with having to explain what my disability is, especially to the so called medical professionals who should be trained and qualified to understand, assess, diagnose, explain the complex nature of our disability.
I just want to be understood by others so that I can just be me and my family to be able to be themselves.
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Well done on the marvellous support group you started. It is a shame it had to be wound up. I know just what you mean about having to explain your condition. It`s a pain. So may health professionals have never heard of HSP either.
Did you pick a form up? Does it have any useful info?
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I know theres waiting lists and all, but just want a general idea as I'm anxious for something to happen, other then just waiting.
Yes, I think that`s a good idea. x
Yes I'll ring them in the morning.
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Is there a long wait for Social Prescribing do you know?
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I do understand one thing about Mental Health if you not happy or need to ask questions. No one is listening used this charity.
https://www.rethink.org.
There an advocate charity speak on your behalf. Explain to those who care for you what you need.
Any questions you need answering. Have a chat with you before any appointments then be with you as attendance add a voice in the room.
Hope that helps.
One other aspect is finding what is right for you.
I used this one last time.
https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk.
Mental health charity helped me a lot might not be in your area. Only problem sorry if that is the case look at MIND.
Consider looking on line for support in your area.
MIND is another one.
https://www.mind.org.uk.
Please if I can help with anything get in touch.
Please keep safe and warm.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
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I will look at those, especially Rethink. Thank you
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I dont know. It's a bit weird I think. I said I would like to carry on with the counselling but she doesnt think I could take it and thinks Social Prescribing is the better way to go at the mo, but says I can come back straight away after finished with SP. The first section of counselling I had was kind of 'light' I suppose. Basically just trying to lift your spirits by encouraging you to do things you enjoy. I wanted the kind of counselling where you could talk it through more. Two sessions only with last counsellor. She says it will be like open heart surgery and I'm not ready for it yet. Suppose they know best.
Spicemans given me Rethink to look at, so I'm going to search through their website.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for social prescribing and please take care.
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Thanks Chloe
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Social Prescribing that is. So will post here once heard from them.
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Just read your comment, and seems to me that what we often need is old-fashioned, sensible advice. And the chance to talk through options with someone who understands how the system works. When I had cancer, I just wanted a sane and sensible person who could advise me - but instead I kept on being offered counseling when I really needed sound, practical advice. It's rarer than the proverbial hen's teeth!
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Its asd that makes the whole social thing, being misunderstood etc, difficult. More then 'once bitten' and now extremely 'shy'. I avoid.
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They rang back. The link worker in this neighbourhood is just getting back to work after sick leave, and unfortunately theres now a six week waiting list. So I should hear by Christmas. Bit disappointing, but nothing I can do.
It's not really a great situation as counselling cancelled till I've done the Social Prescribing thing. So I'm a bit isolated and without support for now.
This includes looking at any thing like this. I apologise if I have given you these before.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk.
https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk.
https://www.mind.org.uk.
https://www.rethink.org.
Please have a look at that . Also speak to your local council does often have a website and a booklet issued to every household. Saying the services they provide.
Wellbeing, community health and anything else such as local community projects. Another one is the volunteer bureau.
Please may I suggest you contact them, you have skills, abilities and talents that could be useful to use.
Please can add depends what you wish to do but many organisations who accept volunteers. Will and should assist with transport to get to places there.
Offer expenses to pay for costs of transport.
Please remember we are here as a community anytime you wish always available to chat have a talk. Be and offer compassion, empathy to any thing .
You are coping with, happy to be listening.
Please ask the community anything .
Please keep safe and warm in this chilly weather.
Please take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
I'm so glad I signed up for this Scope forum as it does get me out and about in the community albeit an online one, but good to know you are here, and all I need to do is shout out. Someone always picks up.
Thanks again.
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Hope this works! Above is a bit about Social Prescribing, with a link to click for more info.
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