MhIST (Mental Health Independent Support Team)

MhIST, the Mental Health Independent Support Team, provides a friendly, safe and confidential services to support and voice the interests of mental health service users and their carers.  We aim to support people in a safe, friendly, and positive environment where YOU can achieve what you need to do.  When you come to MhIST our friendly and knowledgeable volunteer staff will make you feel comfortable and welcome, treat you with respect, listen to you without judging you and give you the opportunity to speak your mind. You won’t be judged or told what to do!  The kettle is always on.

MhIST can help in several ways

Talking Therapy

To access MhIST talk therapy services you MUST contact 1point on 01204 867000, who will arrange an assessment for you.  MhIST provides counselling, CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) and transactional analysis.  We work with people who are experiencing mental health problems from the mildest to the most severe.  These therapies can help people to put strategies and plans in place so that they are able to deal with problems more effectively in future perhaps by learning relaxation or by having a practiced way of dealing with upset.

Advocacy

The MhIST advocacy team are here to help you with problems which you need sorting out but you need a hand with.

• Independent Mental Health Advocacy
• Independent Care Act Advocacy
• Independent Generic Advocacy

Self-Help groups

Our self-help groups are very active and they provide for the needs of different groups of people such as:

• Depression
• Self-Esteem skills
• Craft and Social
• WRAP (wellness recovery action planning)
• Recreation and Activities
• Hearing Voices
• Mindfulness
• Autism
• Anxiety

By joining one or even several of our self-help groups you can gain; support from people who have similar experiences; the reassurance that you are not alone; Information; self-esteem; a different perspective; a chance to meet new people.

Dramatherapy

These sessions run throughout the year at different times please contact the office for details of the next session.

Dramatherapy has as its main focus the intentional use of healing aspects of drama and theatre as the therapeutic process. It is a method of working and playing that uses action methods to facilitate creativity, imagination, learning, insight and growth.

Dramatherapy is a diverse profession and it is important to ensure that those who practice it are maintaining the standards that we as a professional body uphold. Drama therapists, along with Art and Music Therapists, need to register with the Health Professions Council.