Mental Health Together

22/12/2025

Thank you to our 35 Experts by Experience and their work during 2025. 💚 Please take a moment to read it and let it inspire you.

Could our Experts be working with you and your service in 2026?

We encourage professionals to connect with Mental Health Together voices of lived experience, who can help design new services and improve existing ones.

Thank you to our 35 Experts by Experience and their work during 2025. Please take a moment to read it and let it inspire you. Could our Experts be working with you and your service in 2026?

22/12/2025

Christmas is often portrayed as a season filled with joyful family gatherings, hearty warm meals, and lovely gifts. However, the holidays can be challenging for many individuals – just last Christmas Day, the Samaritans helpline received around 800 calls for help.
There are lots of ways to reach out in Derby and Derbyshire if you need someone to talk to, even at Christmas, including drop-in centres, safe havens open every night of the week, and a 24/7 local helpline.
Find the right support for you here - https://bit.ly/gethelpinderbyshire

Christmas is often portrayed as a season filled with joyful family gatherings, hearty warm meals, and lovely gifts. However, the holidays can be challenging for many individuals – just last Christmas Day, the Samaritans helpline received around 800 calls for help.

There are lots of ways to reach out in Derby and Derbyshire if you need someone to talk to, even at Christmas, including drop-in centres, safe havens open every night of the week, and a 24/7 local helpline.

Find the right support for you here - https://bit.ly/gethelpinderbyshire

22/12/2025

Support is available at the Derbyshire Mind crisis support drop-ins. Please see here for open days and times at each site this weekend:⁠ https://www.derbyshiremind.org.uk/.../crisis-support.../ 💚

We are working hard to deliver Crisis Support Drop-In Services across all three of our sites – Buxton, Swadlincote and Ripley and so shall be open over this Christmas period as much as we can across all three sites. ⁠
⁠
Please see here for open days and times at each site this weekend.⁠ https://www.derbyshiremind.org.uk/services/crisis-support-drop-in-services/

22/12/2025

Christmas can be tough. There’s always someone there to listen, any day, any time. Call the Derbyshire Mental Health Support Service and Helpline for free, 24/7 on 0800 028 0077. Or call NHS 111 and select option 2. https://bit.ly/mhsupportservices 💚

Christmas can be tough. There’s always someone there to listen, any day, any time. Call the Derbyshire Mental Health Support Service and Helpline for free, 24/7 on 0800 028 0077. Or call NHS 111 and select option 2. https://bit.ly/mhsupportservices

22/12/2025

Mindscapes offer excellent peer support sessions in the Chesterfield/ Clay Cross area.
The group are very friendly and are open every Tuesday 10am to 1pm. Everyone is welcome to join this safe space 😊
Get some support, make friends, feel part of the community and learn some new skills if you want to 😊

22/12/2025

Find joy in simple pleasures, stay mindful, and make this Christmas what you want it to be - not what someone else wants it to be 💙
There are many ways you can be more mindful, such as going for a walk. Take a look at Derbyshire Mind's tips for more info: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/christmas-and-mental-health/christmas-coping-tips/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO2P9dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesnCH5Bx8VqC16VsI6y7FoSh-B_1B1CkZUxLUmoBqaf2Yt2x-dwGBeUJ4Zgg_aem_55dkoYawO1s9Gzo8P6S0MA

Find tips for coping at Christmas and supporting your mental wellbeing, if you find the festive period a difficult time.

20/11/2025

🌟 Today is Carers Rights Day - “Know your rights, use your rights.”

Jean and Rose, Experts with Mental Health Together, share:
“Between us we have 40 years’ experience caring for family members with long-term mental health conditions. It’s been hard to have a voice, and we want to help change that – which is why we joined Mental Health Together.”

In the UK, 5.8 million unpaid carers support loved ones every day. They are the backbone of health and social care, yet often unseen, unheard, and unpaid.

You can get more support from Derbyshire Carers Association and Universal Services for Carers in Derby https://www.facebook.com/Carersinderby

Recently, the ICB hosted a session on building a carer-friendly Derby & Derbyshire. Watch the recording on our YouTube channel. For unanswered questions, email: ddicb.engagement@nhs.net

Let’s make sure carers know their rights and feel supported.

Carers Rights Day is about raising awareness of the rights the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers are entitled to, and to help them get the support they need and the recognition they deserve.

18/11/2025

Later this week it's Carers Rights Day (20th November).
It's important to recognise what life is like for carers, promote where they can go for help and support, and make them aware of their rights and how to access them.
For more info and support visit:

The Care Act 2014 gives the same rights to carers as those they care for. There's a legal duty to assess a carer's needs and make sure support is available.

17/11/2025

Men don’t always say when they’re struggling, but the signs are often there.

Here is some of the support across Derbyshire for men, including peer support and free activity groups. Find out by visiting dccmhsp.com/Support
Mentell, Mentell Buxton, Mentell Glossop – Men’s peer support
Andys Man Club Chesterfield, Andys Man Club – Men’s peer support
LET’S exercise, talk & support – Peer support, exercise and much more for men in Glossop
Derby County Community Trust – Team Talk, men’s peer support in Derbyshire Dales CVS

You are not alone, if you, or someone you care about, are struggling 🩵 Derbyshire Mental Health & Su***de Prevention

17/11/2025

Tim, Expert with Mental Health Together is the founder of Mindscapes
A new group is starting on Wednesday the 26th of November 11am to 2pm reconnecting with nature for mental health and wellbeing!

We have a new group starting on Wednesday the 26th of November 11am to 2pm reconnecting with nature for mental health and wellbeing 😊

Delivered through peer support, creative photography and mindfulness support walk 🙂

We utilise lived-experience, training, creativity and mindfulness approach to photography to support individuals to begin to thrive 🙂

We will be running from the Holmehall Community Hub Mercaston Close, arriving from 11am and go out on the creative photography support walk 12pm to 1pmish in local area to reconnect with nature 😊

Its a place to gain support, make friends, feel part of the community and learn some new skills (no pressure to take pics or to talk but if you want to we are here to support) 😊

To find out more or to get intouch you can through our website www.mindscapes.org.uk 😊

Email us on mindscapes.photography@hotmail.com

Through our phone 07923 929734 its not manned 24hrs a Day but you can leave a message or txt and we will get back to you ASAP 😊

Via our social media
Facebook Mindscapes
Instagram

Or come down on the day we look forward to welcoming you 😊

Derbyshire Voluntary Action - DVA
FeelingConnected
Derbyshire Mental Health & Su***de Prevention

10/10/2025

This World Mental Health Day, professionals across Derby and Derbyshire are encouraged to recognise the value of lived experience in shaping mental health services.

The resource showcases the work of some of our 32 'Experts by Experience', individuals who bring unique insights from their personal journeys through health and care services.

https://mentalhealthtogether.co.uk/reports-and-publications/world-mental-health-day-listening-to-lived-experience/

09/10/2025

Friday 10th October is World Mental Health Day.
Our latest e-bulletin includes:
• Experts by Experience involvement in the Baton of Hope UK Tour
• The importance of lived experience partners in services
• Local support resources

https://mentalhealthtogether.co.uk/?na=view&id=12

We hope you find it useful 😀

We always enjoy the process of pulling together this bulletin because it's a chance to celebrate the good stuff that's happening.