Young Persons Health and Wellbeing Service

Foundry offers a pre-booked one-to-one support service for young people aged 12 to 18 years.

When: Wednesday afternoons
Where: Foundry: St Andrew's, Southover Road, Lewes, BN7 1US

Each 40-minute session is led by a qualified Health & Wellbeing Youth Worker from the Young People’s Centre (Impact Initiatives). Sessions are confidential and offer:

•A safe space to talk about any issues affecting you.

•Immediate advice and guidance, including:
> Self-help tips.
> Signposting to organisations that can support (including online resources).
> Referrals to specialist services if needed.

How to book: You can book online via Anima, by phone, or by speaking to reception in person.

Please share this service with anyone who may find it helpful!

Lewes Men's Shed

Men's sheds (or Sheds) are similar to garden sheds - A place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making & mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men's Sheds are the opposite. They are about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter.

Come to Lewes' Men's Shed, have a cuppa, biscuit and meet everyone.

When and where?

• Every Wednesday from 10am, with lunch at 12:30pm & Thursday from 10am at a shared site on Ham Lane. Last gate on the left just before the Household Waste Site, BN7 1PS.

Any questions then simply pop along for a chat. Alternatively you can visit their website,  www.lewesmensshed.org or email, lewesmensshed@hotmail.com.

Mental Health Support Coordination

We have two Mental Health Support Coordinators working Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, based at our St Andrew's practice site. Employed by Southdown Mental Health, they offer non-clinical mental health support to our patients.

They can support you to:

✔ Improve your mental wellbeing
✔ Feel more in control of your mental health
✔ Become more connected with others
✔ Think about your options
✔ Gain confidence in your day-to-day life
✔ Build your self-esteem

They can support you by:

✔ Arranging the best way to communicate; either face-to-face in the GP practice, or by phone or video call appointments
✔ Providing time and a confidential* space to discuss what you feel is affecting your mental health
✔ Providing short-term support, starting with an initial meeting to establish your needs and goals
✔ Understanding and discussing how wider social and other problems can contribute to your mental health challenges, e.g. social isolation, finances, housing and work-related stress
✔ Assisting with referrals (with your permission), to community services specific to your personal needs, including therapy and counselling options
✔ Linking you to a clinical Mental Health Practitioner in your GP practice (if appropriate)
✔ Exploring other non-medical options

They are Not able to:

• Advise or prescribe medications (however, they can support you to book a GP appointment)
• Work with anyone currently in crisis but can refer back to the clinical team
• Diagnose mental health conditions
• Provide counselling or therapy services

Referral via a GP or Practice Nurse

SMI Annual Physical Health Check

Patients whom have a diagnosis of a severe mental illness (SMI) will be invited to have an annual physical and mental health check with our GP's and nurses. SMI conditions include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and history of psychosis.

Why it is important to attend?

We know that prevention and early identification can significantly reduce the likelihood, seriousness and impact of health conditions.

We also know that people living with SMI are:

• At greater risk of physical ill health

• More likely to develop preventable conditions like diabetes, heart disease, breathing conditions and some cancers

What will the health check involve?

The appointment is an opportunity to raise any health concerns you may have. It will include:

Measurements and screening of things like your weight, risk of diabetes and your heart health, and the impact of these on your life.
Discussions around your lifestyle, such as your activity levels, the foods you usually eat, if you smoke, and your alcohol intake.
Checking you have access to routine screening programmes, which monitor your health and find problems earlier.
Discussing how you might improve your health, including supporting you to access services which could help you identify and meet your health goals.
Asking how you are doing and what else you might need.

All elements of the health check are optional and you can ask questions on the day.

If you want to, please feel free to bring someone with you to the appointment.

What is Social Prescribing?

Many things affect your health and wellbeing. From feeling isolated or lonely, stressed by work, money and housing problems. Sometimes it's the stress of managing long term conditions.

That's where Social Prescribing comes in and it starts with a conversation. It might be a conversation you've just had with your doctor, or with another person in the practice team. They will refer you to a social prescribing link worker.

The Social Prescriber is there to listen to you,  and put you in touch with the people and activities that might help you feel better.

They might introduce you to a community group, a new activity or a local club. Or they might help you find legal advice or debt counselling. They might just help you find information and guidance: a bit of inside knowledge on your situation or what local resources there are. They could even support you to create something new such as a gardening club, a fishing group, a ‘men’s shed’ or knit and natter group.

Social prescribing can help you to have more control over your own health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you.

Studies show that people get better and feel better faster than those treated with medicine alone. And because it works, it’s happening more and more.

Find out about Social Prescribing at Foundry

For more information about social prescribing nationally visit england.nhs.uk

Social Groups

Loneliness and isolation are known contributors to poor mental health.

Foundry have introduced the following social groups for patients to attend, creating opportunities to meet new people, stay active and learn new skills.

Come along for a chat with people of all ages, in a nice relaxed atmosphere where you can make new friends, find others who have similar interests, or just sit and relax.

• Every Monday & Thursday from 10am to 12pm at St Mary's Church, Church Room, Church Hill, Ringmer

• Every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm at The Dorset Pub, Lewes

£1 per session contribution towards drinks and breakfast items.

If you require any further information please call Michelle 07429 345490

Swims for Wellbeing

This collaborative project offers Foundry Patients the opportunity to access outdoor swimming sessions at Pells Pool, Lewes. Find out more about this initiative here.

For referral information contact us on 01273 480888.