Information for Mental Health: Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Information for Mental Health?
• What is our approach to mental health?
• What does Information for Mental Health do?
• What is in the library?
• Can I borrow resources?
• When can I visit Information for Mental Health?
• Where is Information for Mental Health?
• What does Information for Mental Health not do?
• When is the next Directory coming out?
• What is the history of Information for Mental Health?
• How is Information for Mental Health funded?
• Who works for Information for Mental Health?

Information for Mental Health (IMH) is a partnership between Leeds Mind and Leeds Social Services.� We provide resources and information that aim to help people make informed choices about their lives and mental health, and to help professionals and carers supporting them to do so more imaginatively and effectively. We also carry out a range of mental health promotion work.

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We believe there are many approaches to understanding mental health, distress and healing, including social, psychological and medical models.� We recognise that social factors such as poverty, employment, and housing, as well as racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, can all affect an individual’s mental health.�Information plays a central role in people’s recovery.� We aim to ensure that accurate information, in a variety of formats, is freely available to all who can benefit from it. We attach great importance to advocacy and survivor-led initiatives.�

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We do many different things in relation to information, and mental health promotion. Here are some of them:

• We have a library (see below for details)
• We maintain a database of organisations working in and around Leeds
• We produce the Leeds Mental Health Directory, including www.mentalhealthleeds.info
• We support a number of other relevant groups around information
• We produce (in partnership with Mental Health Promotion) the twice-yearly magazine Including Us.
• We help to organise and contribute to events in Leeds surrounding World Mental Health Day (October 10th every year)
• We organise (in partnership with Leeds Social Services) the monthly Lunchtime Mental Health Forum, an informal information and training event for anybody involved in mental health in Leeds.
• We take part in various committees and groups to ensure that information remains central to the planning and development of mental health services in Leeds

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We aim to reflect our approach to mental health in the books and other materials that make up the library.� The subjects covered include examples of good practice (nationally and internationally), theory, and policy. We have a wide range of resources focusing on social and psychological factors affecting people’s mental health.� As well as books we have journals, leaflets, reports, videos, training materials and access to the internet.

Ring our admin number (0113 275 2417) to arrange a visit to see for yourself.

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Yes. The vast majority of our resources are now available on loan to anyone who joins our library. You can join our library by showing us proof of identity and address (eg a gas or electricity bill). You can then borrow up to three resources at any one time, for up to two weeks per item. (They can then be borrowed for longer if nobody else has asked to use them.)

Some resources in the library are for reference only - either because they are very expensive, or would be impossible to replace.

All of our resources can be studied at IMH, and a photocopier is available.

Please contact us on our admin number (0113 275 2417) if you would like to come and borrow or study resources.

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We are usually open during normal office hours, Monday-Friday, for people to come and use our library. Please phone on our admin number (0113 275 2417) to arrange a time to visit.

We also run occasional information sessions for people to find out more about us in general, and how we might be able to help them. Each session lasts about one and a half hours. Please phone on our admin number (0113 275 2417) to book a place on one of the sessions.

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We are at 26 St. Michael's Road, Headingley, Leeds.�(St. Michael's Road is off the A660 Otley Road between St. Michael's church and the Skyrack pub).� There is one step to get into the back door of IMH, but we regret that there is no toilet on that floor, and no lift.

For full directions, and full access details please see below.

• IMH Access Details (PDF) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)�
• IMH Access Details (Microsoft Word)
• IMH Access Details (Plain text format)

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IMH is not a public enquiry service, and we do not provide medical advice. The following numbers and websites may be useful:

• Connect - helpline and listening line with local Leeds information, run by the Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service- 0808 800 1212� (7 days a week, 6pm - 10.30pm)
• Mind Info line -� 08457 660163 (Monday-Friday, 9.15 am - 5.15 pm)
• UK Psychiatric Medication Helpline - for information on psychiatric drugs - 020 7919 2999 (weekdays, 11am - 5pm)
• Mind - www.mind.org.uk
• Mental Health Foundation - www.mentalhealth.org.uk
• NHS Direct - for advice on medical problems, and local information - 0845 4647 (24 hour service)

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www.mentalhealthleeds.info is the first stage of the new Leeds Mental Health Directory. New paper versions of the Directory - one shorter, easy to carry version, specifically for users of mental health services, and one larger, more comprehensive version for people active in mental health, will both be published during 2004.

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Information for Mental Health started in 1991 as a service that would answer questions about mental health from users’, carers’, professionals’ (and anyone interested).� It aimed to broaden understanding about mental health and related issues.� The enquiry service closed in 1997 when IMH was seconded by Leeds Social Services into Leeds MIND.� We now focus on mental health promotion, providing an information resources library, creating information resources such as the Directory and this website, and promoting the importance of information in all areas of mental health.

• 1991 - the first Leeds Mental Health Directory was published
• 1994 - 2^nd edition of Leeds Mental Health Directory
• 1995 - takes on work on World Mental Health Day for the first time
• 1998 - organises Respect Conference, on exclusion and mental health
• 1998 - 3^rd edition of Leeds Mental Health Directory
• 1999 - first edition of Including Us magazine
• 2002 - www.mentalhealthleeds.info launched

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When IMH was seconded into the Voluntary sector both Social Services and the then Leeds Health Authority gave funding to support its work, including the development of the resources library.� Extra funding was found in 2001 to take on two new members of staff to develop the database and directory side of the work. Our current funders are Leeds Social Services and the five Leeds Primary Care Trusts.

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• Manager - Ruth Steinberg
• Information Worker and Administrator - Chris Lusardi
• Information Champion - Rob Cook
• Information Volunteers - David Maccoby and Sue Margaret

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(Amended February 2004)