Self Help Services: helping people to help themselves
| Date | 24 May 2013 |
| Published date | 24 May 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301311330126 |
| Pages | 76-81 |
| Author | Nicky Lidbetter,Dawn Bunnell |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Self Help Services: helping people to help
themselves
Nicky Lidbetter and Dawn Bunnell
Nicky Lidbetter is Chief Officer
at Self Help Services,
Manchester, UK.
Dawn Bunnell is a
Communications Officer
at The Big Life group,
Manchester, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Self Help Services is a pioneering charity in how it champions personal experience of mental
health and uses these experiences in the treatment of people living with common mental health problems –
anxiety,depression, phobias, and low self-esteem issues. This paper aims to describe how the charity grew
from one individual’s journey with agoraphobia to being the main provider of primary care mental health
services in the North West of England.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper charts the growth of Self Help Services over time, with a
particular focus on its employment of people with personal mental health problems. It describes the
experiences of its founder and Chief Officer and includes case studies of a user of its e-therapy services and
the charity’s Informatics and Governance Lead.
Findings – The case studies illustrate how the charity has grown in both size and success as a result of
harnessing the skills and experience of large numbers of staff and volunteers living with a mental health
problem. The case studies illustrate that, rather than being an issue, these personal experiences are vital
tools in helping others work through their own difficulties.
Originality/value – The paper provides a detailed overview of a charity which was unique when it was
formed and now thrives as a result of its uniqueness. It provides other similar organisations with advice on
lessons learnt along the way, and advice for individuals or groups looking to establish similar organisations.
Keywords Self Help Services, Mental health, Primary care services, Self help groups, Peer support,
Social inclusion, Mental health services, Primary care
Paper type Case study
Helping people to help themselves: Self Help Services
Self Help Services is a user-led mental health charity based in the north west of England which
aims to provide help and support to people living with common mental health problems –
depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and anger issues. The charity provides services to around
12,000 people a year through its wide ranging provision.
Personal experience of mental health problems is central to the charity and its ethos.
Empowering people to use their own experiences to help others living with mental health
difficulties is the backbone of Self Help Services, and as such the majority of its services are run
by individuals who have a personal journey with mental health issues. The charity’s services are
run by 80 staff and 100 volunteers, some 50 per cent of whom have personal experience of
mental health issues.
Services for the community, at the heart of the community
Running community based self-help groups are the foundation of Self Help Services, and is how
the charity first began nearly 20 years ago in Manchester.
PAGE 76
j
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 17 NO. 2 2013, pp. 76-81, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/20428301311330126
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