Many people value the support they receive from their local mental health services.

Peer Support Networks and User Forums

Peer support networks or service user forums provide people with an opportunity to meet and socialise with others who have experienced issues with their mental health.

Canterbury and District Mental Health Forum

An independent registered charity which aims to give a voice to users of mental health services; to make community care work; helping to shape mental health services into as comprehensive and socially useful a service as possible; and to educate the public in, and promote awareness of, mental health problems.

Tel: 01227 788211
email: cadmhforum@btconnect.com

East Kent User Forums

Rethink User Forums are currently held in many areas within East Kent: Ashford, Deal, Dover, Sandwich, Shepway and Thanet.

There are many ways that mental health service users (or former users) can become involved in the forums. You can attend a forum meeting and contribute to the forum newsletters. You may wish to become a user forum representative and (with support) attend local statutory and non-statutory meetings. You may like to become involved in local or national campaigns.

For example the Thanet User Forum provides an opportunity once a week to get out and enjoy an informal, fun, free walk along the beautiful coastline of Thanet. And the best thing is that, unlike some medications, the side-effects of walking are all positive. It makes you fitter, boosts confidence, builds social relationships and lifts your mood. As User Forum member Les says:

‘Going for a walk is the best medication anyone could take. Taking a stroll can also prevent you from dwelling on negative thoughts, and many people use walking to relieve stress. So if you feel like I did get out of that chair and come and join us. I guarantee you will feel a different person after half a dozen weekly walks.’

The user forum workers and volunteers, are always happy to hear your views, and if you would like to become more actively involved they would be very happy to hear from you. The forum’s Facebook page will keep you in touch with the forum and its activites.

Tel: 01843 230726
email: furst@rethink.org

Shepway Open Forum (SWOF)

Shepway Open Forum provides people with mental health needs an opportunity to meet others, make friends and have a say in the way mental health services are delivered.

Tel: 01303 850856

Swale User Forum

Swale User Forum provides a range of forums and groups across Sheerness and Sittingbourne. The forums provide an opportunity to meet others and help people have a voice and a say in mental health services in Swale and East Kent.

Tel: 01795 473048
email: surf@rethink.org

Reachout (West Kent)

Reachout provides friendly and confidential peer support groups for people with mental health difficulties based in the community. Their aim is to reduce isolation and encourage people to be pro-active in managing their own mental health problems. Those who attend the groups are encouraged to share their personal experiences and coping strategies, and in addition, they have the opportunitiy to feedback their experiences and views of treatment and care.

They meet for people to make friends and share personal experiences in an environment where members find they can understand one another. Groups offer friendly, confidential self-help support groups in a caring and non-judgemental environment, facilitated by a paid member of staff.

They give the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback, which they hope will improve mental health services within the local area. Occasionally they have guest speakers and social activities.

Reachout groups currently meet every two weeks in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Hawkhurst and Cranbrook.

Reachout Co-ordinator

Tel: 01892 676285
email: reachoutco@mentalhealthtunwells.org.uk

Platform (Maidstone area)

Platform is a project where people who are involved with mental health services in the Borough of Maidstone have the opportunity to meet one another and to discuss issues that affect their daily lives. So whether you would like to go along and enjoy a free cup of coffee, tea or sugar free squash and meet other people, or whether you want to represent others in the planning and development of mental health services both locally and throughout West Kent, you are most welcome to attend any of its forum meetings.

Maidstone - Platform

Tel: 01622 677337
email: volunteers@vam-online.org.uk