Crewkerne Specialist Day Care Centre, a mental health initiative

Crewkerne Specialist Day Care Centre, a mental health initiative

This essay focuses on the Crewkerne Specialist Day Care Centre, a mental health initiative. It assesses the initiative’s aims, its benefit to well-being and its contribution to public health. It also discusses why the initiative was required, the service users’ needs and what contributed to them.

The essay looks at a government policy which may have influenced the centre’s development, who is involved, and the extent to which it makes use of multi-agency and partnership working.

The centre welcomes older clients suffering mostly from forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s. It aims to allow clients a better quality of life and make them feel like part of the community for longer (Project manager, 2008). This is achieved by providing a safe, comfortable and happy atmosphere as well as helping and listening to clients and their relatives.

 Physical, mental and practical activities stimulate clients and encourage interaction with others and self-worth. The centre is an extension of a day hospital situated in a separate location, and is governed by the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (2008).

This initiative has been chosen because it is close to home and having met some clients the centre cares for, it is clear to see how beneficial it is to the community and its service users.

‘Public Health’ refers to preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through society, communities and individuals (Wanless, 2004). Mental illnesses are a public health issue as they affect many people and their families, and those who suffer from them are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and increased mortality (World Health Organisation (WHO) 2008).

 This is prevented by the provision of care and support, benefitting health and well-being in a community setting. The centre forges more links within the community, increasing peoples’ awareness of mental health and the support available, contributing to public health.

The centre, located in a remote area, provides clients with easy access to the support and care they need. Population estimates of men aged 65 or over, and women aged 60 or over, are 21.8% in the South West compared to 18.7% in the United Kingdom (National Statistics, 2008). Evans’ (2003) survey of the mental health in the elderly shows that 13% of men and 13% of women aged 60-64 years in Great Britain have a mental disorder. However, statistics fall with age from this point, suggesting that interventions by mental health initiatives are often successful in treating mental illn…………………

---