Webinar – Peer Support, User-Led Organisations, and Mental Health and Prevention

This webinar, with Sarah Yiannoullou and Emma Ormerod from NSUN, will provide a short overview of the role of local user-led organisations and peer support initiatives in the prevention of mental ill health and social exclusion.

There is a significant role for prevention amongst people already in touch with mental health services, who are at risk of further marginalisation and social exclusion. It is widely recognised that working alongside communities to understand their needs and build on existing strengths, assets and resilience is key to prevention of mental ill health. It can be argued that user-led and peer-led groups demonstrate the ambitions of many policy papers and approaches such as promoting an Asset Based Community Development approach (ABCD). For many years, user-led groups have been enabling individuals and communities to be ‘active participants in planning, prioritising and implementing mental health improvement actions’. They have played an important role as community connectors and capacity builders, supporting individual wellbeing and empowerment.

NSUN are a network of people and groups living in England who have and do experience mental distress and want to change things for the better. By connecting their members, and amplifying their experiences and aspirations, NSUN influence policy, practice and perception, in order to reduce disadvantage and discrimination and stop people being ignored and isolated.

We are keen to encourage people to join this webinar live and ask the presenters questions, but if you cannot join on the day – do send your questions in advance to Dania, and we will put them forward on your behalf. This webinar will be recorded and will be made available shortly after.

Registration: Book your place here.

This event is being delivered with funding and support from the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance.