In Hertfordshire, there is one Recovery In-Sight self-help group which meets in Watford.

The group is run by people affected by bipolar disorder for people affected by bipolar disorder, whether they are service users or carers.

Over 400 people have used this self-help group (or the group that was held in Stevenage from 2008 – 2012) or followed the recovery training at some time since the creation of the first group in Watford in January 2006.

About a quarter of Recovery In-Sight members are carers of people affected by bipolar disorder.

The group runs monthly and organizes a variety of events (see below).

If you wish to receive advice on setting up a self-help group in your area, or suggestions on offering peer support to service users or carers, then please email Recovery In-Sight.

Hertfordshire Recovery In-Sight Bipolar Self Help Group

Meetings & Events for 2013

Training News: If you wish to enroll for the free Recovery In-Sight course taking place next year, contact Heather on 01923-239489. You must be a service user or carer wishing to improve your recovery or the recovery of your family member, and you must be a Herts resident. A waiting list is being drawn up for the next course which is limited to 12 people.

Watford Group News

The monthly self-help group meetings and venue for the events is every SECOND Saturday of the month from 10.30am – 12.30pm at the Friends Meeting House (Quakers), 150 Church Road, Watford, WD17 4QB. The group welcomes people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and their supportive carers and friends.

We alternate speakers and training with self-help group sessions and ideas for these come from group members. We ask for a donation at each meeting, to contribute towards the refreshments we provide at the start of each meeting and at the break. A library of useful literature is available to borrow, with a small donation. Go to multimap.com for free directions/map.

* 13th April – self-help meeting.

* 11th May – self-help meeting.

* 8th June – self-help meeting.

* 13th July – Walk n Talk in the Park. Members meet at the Quakers at 10.30am prompt to move off for a leisurely walk around Cassiobury Park, stopping off for refreshments at Cha-Cha-Cha Tea Bar. Possibility of a picnic if members wish to bring a packed lunch or have a simple lunch in the Tea Bar.

** August: no meeting **

* 14th September – self-help meeting.

* 12th October – self-help meeting.

* 9th November – Dr Stephanie Sadler, consultant psychiatrist, is welcomed back due to popular request to speak about developments in bipolar disorder. Dr Sadler is a user-friendly psychiatrist and one who is knowledgeable about bipolar disorder. Dr Sadler has been presenting to group members every year for the past five years and this has proven to be the most popular and helpful meeting. Thank you Stephanie for agreeing to present again this year!

* 14th December – self-help meeting followed by a Christmas lunch in a local pub.

If you are a group member – let your leader know about your suggestions for future guest speakers, workshops or events or if you want to get involved in helping to run the group!

For further information on peer support or self-help, please contact: the Recovery In-Sight team

Important News – for all people using mental health services, their family member carers and people working in mental health recovery!

The Recovery In-Sight Training Manual is now sold directly from The Recovery In-Sight Centre and the price is now vastly reduced for everyone to own their own copy of this workbook.

As you know, the Recovery In-Sight training has been proven to be effective to aid recovery from mental health challenges both in the short and longer term (immediately after the course has finished and maintained several years later).

People cope better, have fewer crises and hospitalisations, gain confidence and increase their social support networks. They are more optimistic about the future and increase their interests, including a large number taking up voluntary work. In the longer-term, many return to higher education, or take up part or full-time paid employment and their health benefits are maintained.

Originally sold by the UK leader in mental health education and training, Pavilion Publishing from 2009 for £195.00 +p&p this has restricted the accessibility of the manual, which was not intended by the author Dr Straughan when this work was published.

The training manual is now sold directly from The Recovery In-Sight Centre and is only £89.00 per manual + p&p (£11 for a 4kg package)

If you buy 3 or more manuals, the price per manual reduces to only £79.00 each (+p&p).

If you buy 10 or more manuals, the price per manual reduces to only £69.00 each (+p&p).

To manage your own mental health better, to help your family member or to improve the quality of care that you provide your clients – buy a copy of Recovery In-Sight today and learn more about how you can improve and sustain recovery from mental health challenges.

Click on the link to view the flyer giving details of the topic areas that are covered. As a Modular training course, it is flexible and certain sections may be covered first according to your needs and personal development interests.

Recovery In-Sight Training Manual-Flyer

It is sold with trainers’ notes as well as handouts and OHPs. There is additional reading on recovery from leading UK organisations in the field and the foreword is written by Dr Glenn Roberts, Recovery Lead for the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Recovery In-Sight Training is accredited with Middlesex University Work-Based Learning Department and represents 20 credits at degree level.

Look up this link to find out more about the manual’s proven effectiveness in a 4-year research trial (2008-12) during which over 100 people completed the course.

http://www.recoveryin-sight.com/final-results-on-4-year-user-led-research-trial-on-the-recovery-in-sight-training/

Dr Straughan can also offer you advice and her extensive know-how on running your own course in your area as well as telephone or face-to-face coaching on working through the manual yourself.

Don’t delay your recovery any longer – make this investment in yourself or your family member. Phone Dr Straughan to order your copy – 01923-239489 or email her on h.straughan@btinternet.com

Stocks are limited. Payment is required before receiving materials.

Due to dwindlling numbers of attendees in Stevenage, many of whom have moved on, and despite changing the meeting day to a weekend to suit a majority of members especially carers, it was decided by The Recovery In-Sight Centre’s director and group facilitators that it makes better sense and offers greater value for money to discontinue the Stevenage group and to continue the Watford group in its place, to ensure that at least one Recovery In-Sight group continues in 2013 to support people affected by bipolar disorder.

In Watford, a substantial core group of members have met regularly since it was formed in January 2006, and with a growing number of attendees, with newcomers being welcomed each month, the Watford group has become a popular and thriving group, welcoming regular speakers such as consultant psychiatrist, Dr Stephanie Sadler and organising popular picnics, walks and Christmas lunches. However, with funding that has now ceased, Watford members were anxious about its continuation next year.

Stevenage members have always been welcome at the Watford meeting, and will continue to be welcomed: Kathie Yeowell, experienced group facilitator and In-Sight trainer who facilitated the Stevenage group, will continue during 2013 to facilitate the Watford group.

Kathie will be co-facilitating her first meeting in Watford in January next year with Heather. Remember: group facilitators are experienced Recovery In-Sight trainers and seasoned group facilitators, and therefore bring a high quality of expertise and support to members attending these meetings.

The funding for the Watford group will be sustained until March 2014, when The Recovery In-Sight Centre’s 3-year Innovation Fund contract finishes. It is hoped that this will allay the concerns of the core group of Watford members who have been anxious about the group continuing without sufficient funding to do so since the social enterprise, hit by its own funding crisis, can no longer sustain it.

So let’s make January 2013 a really special meeting, with as many members attending as possible, to celebrate what is the 7th birthday of the Watford Recovery In-Sight Bipolar Support Group!

10.30am on Saturday 12th January – all members – and new members affected by bipolar disorder – welcome!

The Friends Meeting House (Quakers), 150 Church Road, Watford, Herts, WD17 4QB.