Mental Health Third Sector Alliance continues to make an exceptional impact across BSW
A Third Sector Alliance (3SA) of local organisations focused on mental health made up of Bath Mind, Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind, Rethink and Alabaré continues to have a profound impact in BSW, enhancing the accessibility and quality of mental health services.
Through innovative collaboration with the Bath and North east Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, primary and secondary services, the 3SA ensures prompt access to services, appropriate interventions, and crisis support.
Over the past two years, the 3SA has facilitated over 26,000 contacts, on the phone and in person, providing a brand new option of mental health support to the population of BSW. The 3SA is fully embedded in system discussions around mental health strategy development and transformation plans in BSW and poised for closer integration with partner providers such as Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership.
The 3SA mission spans from de-escalating crises to fostering self-care, bolstering confidence, and building supportive networks.
At the forefront of the model is a daytime phone support service aligned with out-of-hours crisis lines, serving as a comprehensive “front door” accessible from 9 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. This includes personalised walk-along services and an online community platform, Clic, supporting diverse mental health needs and access to local information and forums.
Work has also begun on supporting community development opportunities with local groups and organisations, ensuring pathways are connected for people and that communities are empowered and supported to grow a thriving offer to those who live there.
Their workforce includes individuals with lived experience, trained according to Health Education England’s Peer Support Worker Competency Framework, ensuring tailored and high-quality service delivery. With backgrounds in social work, nursing, and occupational therapy, they bring a wealth of expertise to mental health care.
Feedback from users for 3SA’s services includes comments that the teams are extremely supportive, helpful and encouraging with one user saying “With their support I am able to stand up for myself and do things that help me and my wellbeing. I have been able to do things that I have been putting off.”
Clic – find out more:
Clic is for everyone over the age of 18 who needs it. It is open 24/7 and has already helped thousands of people feel less isolated, whilst signposting them to mental health information and local support. Clic provides a platform for mutual support so that everyone can chat and connect peer-to-peer online and thrive.
Swindon Clic: https://swindon.clic-uk.org/category/clic
Swindon contact number: 01793547150
Wiltshire Clic: https://wiltshire.clic-uk.org/category/clic
Wiltshire contact number: 0808 280 3528:
BaNES Clic: https://bathandnortheastsomerset.clic-uk.org/
BaNES Contact number: 0808 175 1369
More details can be found at: Access Community Mental Health (Wiltshire), Bath Mind and Swindon and Gloucester Mind