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HUG Communications Project

Country

Scotland

Project Description

HUG, the Highland Users Group, is a collective advocacy group, which represents the interests of users of mental health services across the Highlands. The group's main aims are to improve the way in which users of mental health services are treated by campaigning to improve the rights, services and treatment of people with mental health problems and challenging stigma and discrimination through the work of the Communications Project.

The HUG Communications Project was established in 1999 as people with mental health problems living in the Highlands identified stigma as being one of the major barriers they have to face.

Project Aims

The aim of the project is to challenge the stigma of mental illness, and to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues.

The main strands of work of the Communications Project are to:

  • Support users of mental health services to speak out about their lives.
  • Deliver a mental health educational programme for young people.
  • Deliver user-led mental health awareness training to professionals, such as psychiatrists, social workers, teachers.
  • Media and PR work to increase public understanding and to challenge negative, irresponsible reporting on mental health issues.
  • Produce training DVD's based on users' personal testimonies.
  • Using Information Communication Technologies to explore innovative ways of involving people.
  • National and International Work. To share good practice in user-involvement and anti-stigma work throughout Scotland and Europe.

Areas

Education, Training

Effectiveness

The work of the Communications Project supports the needs of people with mental health problems by:

  • Giving a voice to people with mental health problems.
  • Reducing stigma and discrimination.
  • Improving the skills, confidence and self-esteem of service users.
  • Increasing knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by people with mental health problems.
  • Improving the wellbeing and personal/social development of users of services.
  • Improving attitudes and understanding of young people.
  • Ensuring accurate and responsible reporting of mental health issues in the media and educating the wider general public about the lives and experiences of service users.
  • Improve communications (and ultimately service delivery) between people with mental health problems and professionals.
  • Increasing understanding of how people with mental health problems wish to be treated and encouraging good practice in the treatment and care of mental health service users.
  • The success of this work is based upon the unique involvement of trained and supported users of mental health services, who work in a collaborative way with our key target groups to learn from each other and work together to reduce stigma and raise awareness of mental health issues.

HUG reaches out to people with mental health problems across the Highlands of Scotland and finds solutions to combating their exclusion by overcoming psychological and geographic barriers to participation, and promoting inclusiveness and equal opportunities by:

  • Paying full user-involvement expenses (e.g. childcare, subsistence, travel).
  • Meeting people in their local communities (overcoming barriers of rural isolation/lack of transport or confidence).
  • All communications in understandable English.
  • Newsletters, minutes and reports on tape/large print if requested.
  • Members' skills and confidence developed through training, work placements and shadowing.
  • Ground rules for meetings to ensure safety.
  • Volunteer placements support full volunteer rights and good practice, such as induction, training, and on-going support/supervision.
  • Fully accessible office.

Other ways in which HUG ensure accessibility and equality of opportunity:

  • Structure of HUG network: To ensure that HUG was accessible it was agreed that it wouldn't be centrally located, except for the administration, but it would generate a network of groups across the Highlands (branches) and meet where people felt comfortable.
  • Reports: Are written in plain English and describe the full range of opinions of the members: opposing points of view are welcome in recognition of the fact that we are all different individuals and hold a variety of differing beliefs.
  • Steering Group: the HUG Round Table is 100% user-led.
  • Open-door policy: HUG operates an informal open-door policy which enables any member to express their views and feelings about the work and the way in which the project is run and managed.
  • Encouraging participation: a questionnaire is sent to all new members detailing the wide range of ways to be involved. Workers follow up by visits to individuals (in their own home/communities if needed) to discuss opportunities for involvement.

In terms of value for money and outcomes/impact this work is extremely effective and efficient. The work of the Communications Project is carried out by two part-time workers (= to 47 hours per week), a core group of 20-25 HUG members and the vital and strong partnership links we have with other agencies (particularly statutory agencies) which enables the project to undertake a substantial volume of work.

It is also important to view this work in the context of the geography and culture of the Highlands

Sustainability

Ongoing consultation and feedback from the members (collated via HUG reports, branches meetings, independent focus groups, self-reflection forms and informal feedback to staff) and decision makers/statutory service managers strongly illustrate that the impact of the Communications Project is significant in meeting the needs of service users.

The necessary capabilities or inputs of the organisation implementing the practice are:

  • Consultation and involvement at all levels and areas of work.
  • Direct involvement of core group of members.
  • Dedicated staff time.
  • Workers have unique relationship with members due to shared understanding of living with mental illness.
  • Partnerships with other agencies.
  • Core project funding ((£75-90,000 per year)

The economic impact of mental illness and stigma is huge: only 21% of people with long-term mental illness were employed - the lowest of any disabled group. The cost to the economy of missed employment opportunities is £23bn a year. Less than four in 10 employers said they would recruit someone with mental health problems. (Mental Health and Social Exclusion)

By reducing stigma and giving users the skills and confidence to access employment the negative economic impact can be reduced.

Innovation

The users of mental health services can play a crucial role - they are the ones who experience mental illness and can give a unique and realistic perspective that will not be found elsewhere.

HUG members are directly involved in all aspects of the work of the Communications Project, including: participating in training to professionals; educating young people on mental health issues; speaking to the media; speaking at conferences and facilitating workshops and seminars; planning DVD/video production; producing HUG newsletters; developing website; being committee and board members.

The effect of changing attitudes and reducing stigma across the Highlands include:

Quantitative results:

  • 25-30 HUG members are actively involved in delivering the key elements of the Project.
  • 320 HUG members are empowered to speak out about their experiences through consultation, use of technology and getting their views across in HUG publications.
  • 6-8 HUG members take part in training, e.g. media and communications skills.
  • 4 new members shadow workers and active HUG members, e.g. training.
  • Media and PR campaign reaches out to the 1 in 4 of the population who will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives.
  • Monthly reporting on mental health issues in the local or national media
  • 4 feature articles bring mental health issues into the public domain.
  • 12 user led training sessions delivered to professionals.
  • 150-200 professionals hear direct testimony from users.
  • 10 young people are involved in the Peer Education project.
  • 200 young people via Personal Social Education classes, 150 young people through the interactive drama.
  • Increase in the number of young people accessing help and support through child and adolescent services.
  • Produce 3 educational/training DVD's of direct personal testimony reaching 200 professionals/young people.
  • 3-4 newsletters will be produced (by HUG member on supported placement) and distributed to 600 people.

Qualitative results:

  • People experiencing mental health problems will feel less isolated within their communities, be more active citizens and no longer feel ashamed or stigmatized as a result of their illness.
  • HUG members will have increased confidence and gain specific skills e.g. communications and group work skills.
  • Users of services will have a louder and more effective voice in speaking out directly to improve services and treatment and challenge stigma/discrimination.
  • People experiencing mental health problems for the first time will seek help earlier.
  • Professionals will develop good practice in the treatment and care of service users.
  • There will be improved communications (and ultimately service delivery) between people with mental health problems and professionals.
  • Young people will gain a greater understanding of mental health problems and issues and will act with greater empathy towards people experiencing mental health problems.
  • Young people experiencing mental health problems will feel more confident in receiving support and understanding from their peers and encouraged to access professional services if required.
  • The media will report on mental health issues in a more responsible, accurate and balanced way.
  • A reduce in rural isolation and strengthening of the Highland-wide communications by utilizing a range of Information Communication Technologies (including an accessible and interactive HUG Website)

HUG members report an overwhelmingly positive effect of the HUG's anti-stigma work, with people reporting: increased self-confidence; enhanced self-esteem; feeling more valued; being more proud of who they are; experiencing improved social networks; sense of empowerment; reduction in stigmatising actions and attitudes, and recovery from illness.

"[getting involved] in training was a therapy ... a way of giving something back and gaining self-worth and self-esteem ... it is empowering."

Young people credit people with mental health problems as more ‘credible' in the messages they convey and professionals consistently state that the direct personal testimonies of HUG members is unique within their training experiences and can (and does) improve professional practices.

Added Value

The work of the Communications Project contributes to, and adds value to, the following Highland, national and European practices and policies:

  • National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing of the Scottish Population, Scottish Executive.
  • See me (Scotland's national anti-stigma campaign around mental illness).
  • Choose Life (Scotland's Suicide Prevention Programme).
  • Mental Health Action Plan For Europe

National policy consistently advocates the importance of developing and sustaining a preventative agenda; Choose Life: A National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland; National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Transferability

This work could be transferable providing it is lead by an independent user organisation with skilled and committed workers (who, ideally, have direct experience of mental illness themselves as this builds up strong trust and a unique relationship with staff and users).

Financially there is an on-going issue with gaining sustainable and longer term funding as none of this work is funded by government/statutory agencies and is dependent on annual fundraising.

The work also requires strong project management skills and an ability to work under pressure, and most importantly to support and enable the involvement of people in the midst of mental illness.

HUG has produced a number of reports detailing the work of the Communications Project, which is part of its commitment to sharing good practice and helping others learn from its experiences and the key lessons learnt over the last 7 years.

Mainstreaming Potential

There is a strong regional, national and international policy commitment to eradicating stigma and promoting the social inclusion of people with mental health problems. National and European directives advocate the importance of sustainable and proactive preventative and educational work within this field.

The work of the Communications Project is incorporated into Highland and Scottish policy documents.

Costs of the Project

£75-90,000 per year

(core running costs = £60,000 with project costs variable depending on work undertaken)

People involved in the Project

Two part-time HUG project development workers (= 47 hours per week) and core group of 20-25 HUG members.

Partnership work is essential to this project e.g. with staff from voluntary and statutory services, including child and adolescent services, education services, schools and community group

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Project

Strengths:

  • User-led
  • HUG members receive on-going support and training
  • Breadth of experience of our members
  • Willingness and commitment of members to give personal (often painful/emotional) testimony
  • Strong trusting relationship between worker and members
  • HUG has strong reputation locally and nationally
  • Supported by workers with experience themselves of mental health problems
  • HUG's approach is not confrontational but is about learning and sharing from each other i.e. users and professionals
  • Strong partnerships with statutory and voluntary agencies

Weaknesses:

  • Capacity of HUG members i.e. relatively small pool of very active members
  • Capacity of staff to support greater user involvement
  • Unpredictable nature of mental illness
  • Lack of time for planned project development
  • Wide geographical area
  • Cost of involving users of services - again due to geography/distances to travel
  • Secure, long-term funding

Contact Person for the Project

Emma Thomas, Project Development Worker
http://www.hccf.org.uk/projects/HUG/HUGcom.html