GMMH RECOVERY ACADEMY CELEBRATES WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2023 WITH THE LAUNCH OF THEIR BRAND-NEW AUTUMN/WINTER TERM

The Recovery Academy, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) is celebrating World Mental Health Day 2023 with the launch of their brand-new prospectus for the Autumn/Winter term.

The new term will run from World Mental Health Day (10 October 2023) until March 2024, with over 65 face to face courses on offer at various locations across Manchester, Bolton, Salford, Trafford and Wigan. This includes new subjects such as Neurodiversity, Building Confidence, and The Link Between Gut Health and Mental Health.

Tried and tested favourites will also be back including Understanding and Managing Social Anxiety, An Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy, and Using Creativity to Improve Mental Wellbeing.

The Recovery Academy has also continued to grow their wide range of digital resources, including self-help information, e-learning packages, and e-magazines. New areas added this term include helpful tips to spot false health information, an introduction to Ikigai: finding your motivation and a spotlight on creative work from our student community and supporters. 

The Recovery Academy first launched in 2013 with the key aim of providing learning opportunities that empower individuals to manage and support health, wellbeing, and recovery.

At the heart of the Recovery Academy lies core values of inclusivity, empowerment, and hope. These values are embedded within the Academy via a co-production approach, meaning that resources are co-developed and co-delivered with people with lived experience.

The Recovery Academy is free to join and available to:

·       Anyone who is experiencing mental health and/or addiction problems (you do not have to be under the care of NHS mental health services).

·       Their supporters (family, friends and loved ones).

·       GMMH staff members, volunteers, and students on placement.

·       Any healthcare professionals.

A student who recently attended the Understanding Depression and Recovery course said:

"I felt by the end of the day I had learnt a lot and gained a lot of knowledge about depression and recovery.  The lived experience facilitators sharing their story definitely made the course for me. Thank you!"

Claire Watson, Head of Service User and Carer Experience & Improvement, with responsibility for the Recovery Academy, said:

"Over the past 10 years the Academy has continued to grow, and we are proud to be celebrating World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2023, by launching our biggest offer yet. This year the theme behind World Mental Health Day is 'Mental Health is a universal human right', meaning everybody, no matter who you are, deserves good mental health. This is a message the Academy strives to promote and is why our resources are open to everybody and value all perspectives."

If you would like to see what the Recovery Academy can offer you, visit their website at:  https://recoveryacademy.gmmh.nhs.uk/.

You can also contact the Recovery Academy team directly with any questions at: recoveryacademy@gmmh.nhs.uk or telephone: 0161 358 1771.