Lilly Reintegration Awards

Mental Health Nursing,  Jan 2004  by Davies, Moira

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Claridges hotel in London set the scene this year for the 5th Lilly Reintegration Awards, writes Moira Davies

These prestigious awards recognise and reward outstanding achievement in helping patients with mental illness move forward in their lives, avoid social isolation by reintegrating with society and realise their potential.

Doctor Thomas Stuttaford former GP and now author and columnist introduced the three separate winners starting with the overall winners category which were the WELL team (Wellbeing, education, lifestyle and living) an organisation from Northern Ireland that aims to assist individuals with mental illness to access further education and take part in social and recreational activities.

Barriers to social exclusion that limit enhancement of employment prospects and quality of life are tackled as individuals gain qualifications in first aid, art and cookery as well as practical achievements like passing their driving test.

I spoke to Maria McManus of the WELL team and asked her what she believed made her team initiative so successful.

'Partnerships working across different disciplines, delivery, monitoring the project. Persistence.' was her quick reply.

The team was commended for 'Really seeing each person as an individual, which is absolutely essential in mental health'.

Maria backed this up when she said that service users kept coming back for more so delighted were they with the help they were given as well as of course the fact that 'Support and human contact are fundamental.... People have a right as citizens to take part in public services... confidence and belief becomes self perpetuating.'

Maria and her team were keen to further develop in rural areas and target more of those who need help.

Next up was the Wellbeing category who are Rethink New Directions from Devon and use mainstream facilities such as leisure centres and community centres to aid reintegration and help people access educational opportunities. Over 108 people have benefited from this initiative. Finally the sport Category Winner was awarded to The Oxford Coasters a network of over 200 service users, staff and volunteers who challenge mental illness through sport. They take part in regular activities such as football, rock climbing and mountain biking and in 2002 they moved into a new league by taking teams into Europe. Dr Stuttaford said of this initiative that it was 'Very enterprising, a big challenge that shouldn't be underestimated.'

A service user of The Oxford Coasters, Jamie Dickinson a sufferer of schizophrenia added that 'Since joining Coasters it has turned my life around, got me playing sport and I have also gone abroad. It keeps me stable.'

Dr Stuttaford spoke about the need to address schizophrenia as an illness like any other and remove the stigma and 'mysticism' surrounding it.

'Tens of thousands suffer from schizophrenic related illness and tens of thousands are ignored' he said.

Winners were presented with cheques of £3,000 to invest in their project with the overall winner also receiving a Certificate of Excellence.

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Jan 2004
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