Does anyone else have this?

I have a support worker, who arranges my therapy, my pdoc appointments, and picks me up every week and takes me either for a drink, if things are ok.
Or to the cinema if i havent been out much and today we went to the beach and had a drink in a little bar, and just chat about things.
She is a mental health nurse who is part of the Early Intervention Team who deal with young people displaying mental health problems.

She also suggested i go to their group activities with young people my age who have depression, psychosis, bipolar, anxiety etc, i'm not sure i can bring myself to do that.

Anyway my question is whether any of you have a service like this?

No. Just me, myself and I.

I'm a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist. I help people with their mental illness by teaching them new skills to deal with their issues. I listen to them, take them out into the community, and help them with other needs such as appointments, housing, etc.

I used to have a case manager who would pick me up and we would go out for coffee or just a drive. One time, she took me to the movies.

I felt like I didn't need her anymore, so I broke off all ties with her.

I am getting a community support worker who does things like this. I'm excited. And I am older. Wouldn't be considered a young person anymore

Well i just think everyone should have access to someone like that because

1. Who else can i talk to, who understands stuff (other than you guys) she helps me make sense of things.
2. i dont have the worry of making pdoc appts and things, it takes the stress off them because she comes with me.
3. She even took me to hospital when i was ill through my medication and couldnt get there myself.
4. Sometimes i wouldnt see other people for a long time without her.

God, I would love to have someone like that - it's so lonely feeling like no-one understands/can help.

I have her for 3 years. Think I'll be upset when it ends

Hey Widgets,

I have a CPN- Community Psychiatric Nurse who I see once a month at his office.

I also see a Support Worker from a Mental Health Charity which I organised myself. They liase with my CPN if they think he needs to know things regarding my Mental Health. The Support Worker I get a choice of 3 I have a timetable with their names on it take us out and about once every so often to the cinema, park etc. My Support Worker helps me with coping mechanism's and they also help me get out of the house. For example they got me into Tai Chi, Swimming and Badminton. They came along with me until I was able to go on my own. I only go to the Swimming with them as it's with a group.

They also hold group meetings regarding Mental Health and what we can do to improve our Mental Health Status.

If it wasn't for them and my CPN I think I would be worse off if not hospitalised. I was just talking about this tonight with my friend and she agree's. I am glad for their help as my anxieties have been lowered greatly

I wish! I've often thought of how much I really need such a thing. Actually, more than that. Hell, I need a hand-holding personal manager(!) I'd like to keep one in my closet. If they were a computer geek, that'd be even better, because I'd like to have one of those at the ready in a closet too. I wish for the strangest things...

I'm so glad you have this resource, widgets!

I am jealous. I dont have someone like that. i dont think I would need all the services (like appointment making) but having someone to talk to and hang with when I need to not isolate would be helpful.

It's easier to have stuff like that here in the UK because we have the NHS. so it's paid for already.
She works on a ward and is a qualified nurse as well,'she also does CBT but not directly it's really helped me a lot that has.

no, i have never heard of a service like that.. i think it is nice it is available

I do go to a place that people with severe and persistent mental illness meet. It is called a clubhouse. They have activities planned for every day, including groups on employment, coping skills, cooking, arts & crafts. Every day at 3pm the planned groups are done and it is open time. I go then and play Skip-bo with a few friends on Wednesdays. I think you should give it a chance.

Wish there was something like that in my area!

Would love a support person or a support group.

You might want to contact mental health services from the county you live in. They usually know about support groups and usually sponsor clubhouses.

I don't actually have a choice, it's the outpatients service, when I was in a suicidal depression before It was even thought of that I was bp, I had to actually go to the mental health unit, where they had the inpatients and spend the day there, I didn't xo any of the groups i just waited until I could go home because I wasn't ready to do it.
Now it's better because they come out to me.
But they are actual nurses so at the same time they are assessing my condition and it goes in my medical record

I go to a place they call the clubhouse that is for bipolar people. They have case managers there that would do all that stuff if need be. They teach us coping skills, self esteem, how to deal with society, how to deal with people in general ect. I have only been going a couple of weeks but I really like it. It was a big jump for me to go there because I dont like to be around other people and it was way out of my comfort zone. So a friend of mine that is bipolar also has been going there for years so I would only go if she went but now I can go all by myself and I am starting to feel comfortable.

I wish I had someone like that!

God, the NHS have never offered me anything like that. I'm still waiting to hear back about a referral to Health in Mind 5.5 weeks down the line...