A self-enrolment facility which allows Surrey residents to undertake courses to manage their mental health needs is the “best kept secret” of the NHS, a former service user has said.
For over 10 years the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has run a Recovery College centred around supporting people experiencing mental health issues.
Kate Monfort, who first joined as a student in 2016 before becoming a volunteer and then staff, believes these colleges are an asset that “lots of people don’t know about”.
“I found it incredibly helpful for my own mental health and recovery journey, and it just works,” she said.
“Psychoeducation is a very powerful mechanism to support recovery, it gives a sense of control, builds up confidence and self-esteem, so I’m really passionate about it.”
This form of education involves teaching individuals about mental health conditions and emotional wellbeing.
“I found that doing these courses, doing this training, finding my tribe…it was just so helpful,” said Ms Monfort.
Alongside activities such as arts and crafts, the Recovery College courses focus on conditions such as OCD, anxiety and depression.
People can take part virtually or in “safe and supportive learning spaces”.
Linda Parfitt, another former service user who has since become a volunteer, said the first course she did centred around discovering self-compassion.
“It was a revelation,” she said.
“It’s helped me feel that I’m not alone in the world, I’ve always got myself to turn back to.”
Service manager Nina Clayton-Broom said the college initially started out as a pilot for people with a personality disorder, but it was so successful that it had been expanded.
She said that being able to self-enrol, coupled with not needing to have any form of diagnosis, made it a truly accessible service.
Ms Clayton-Broom added: “You don’t need to go via your GP, you don’t need to prove how difficult things are for you – and sometimes mental health services can feel a bit like that.”