The 555 project

SO today I did something brave, for several reasons, but the first being that I had to drive to Kelvedon Hatch; I'm not good with driving on the dual carriage way, especially when it's busy, but I did it, and that was a huge achievement for me! The second being that I took part in a meeting at the decommissioned secret nuclear bunker. The bunker itself is very eery, and quite an claustrophobic and oppressive building. The meeting was ahead of world mental health day on Friday, when a report called the 555 project will be published. The ‘555’ project was a piece of work to make the voice of Essex mental health services users heard by the people who commission the service.It was run jointly by patient voice organisation Healthwatch Essex and disability organisation ecdp. I was one of the users mentioned in the report, following a meeting in the summer with some other mums who have struggled with postnatal depression too. The report gives a voice to users of the services to say what worked and didn't work for them during their mental health illness. I pleased I took part, even if it was scary, being "interviewed" in front of health commissioners and GPS who had to come out to find out more at nuclear bunker. It's a really important issue to me, and I'm feeling a little braver, and a little more empowered for having taken part. I really hope that those who listened to us, really listened and will take note and make changes.


the 555 report

Oh and the scarves pictured are mementoes of various scout and guide sleepovers in the bunker. We weren't supposed to take photos of the bunker itself, but I sneaked this one to show Master Pink.