Harrow Citizens engage with Harrow GPs Forum on mental health

Leaders from Harrow Citizens member organisations Kol Chai Reform Jewish Community (Hatch End) and Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) delivered a presentation at the Harrow GPs Forum coordinated by the Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to address some of the priority concerns of our membership in relation to mental health.

We are pleased to have built a closer relationship with local GPs and look forward to collaborating with them.

Vanessa Berle of Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, said:

"Having compiled two directories of mental health services available in Harrow - one for adults and the other relating to child and adolescent mental health service are keen to work with you to ensure that these Directories are promoted far and wide and are accessible to those who need them most. From having listened to our own communities we know that when people find themselves experiencing distress, what they look for is a hard copy to take home that provides a digestible overview of the support available"

Please find the Directory of Mental Health Services for Adults here and the Directory of Mental Health Services for Children and Under-25 year olds here .

Dr Isobel Rosenstein of Kol Chai Reform Jewish Community, said:

"When I worked as a volunteer for the FoodBank in Watford, I met clients referred to the FoodBank by the Meadowell clinic. I learnt that this GP practice gives support to the homeless and vulnerable in Watford, not just for their physical and mental health needs, but also provides a holistic range of services that the patient can access under one roof.

Many of our members across Harrow Citizens' communities already volunteer and support people facing homelessness. We are interested to explore with you what a similar "one stop shop" service could look like in Harrow, so that we can tackle some of the root causes that keep vulnerable people in our Borough stuck in a cycle of hardship".

We invite Harrow GPs to join our call on Tuesday 6th October with Dr Martha Ford, Service Lead of the Watford Meadowell Clinic, and to connect with us to explore the possibility of replicating this model in a way that works for Harrow. Please register in advance here .

Emeritus Rabbi Michael Hilton of Kol Chai Reform Jewitsh Community, said:

"After a listening exercise, we set up teams to campaign in four areas, including mental health. We are here to work with you. We want to find solutions through our own community efforts. If you wish to join our alliance, your health practice is more than welcome to be part of Harrow Citizens and help us act for the common good in our Borough.

This taster toolkit on Community Organising in the health sector provides an overview of how Community Organising can benefit and meet the interests of GP practices. We would be delighted to discuss this further with you."

Contact : Daphne Giachero, Associate Organiser, Harrow and Brent Citizens, daphne.giachero@citizensuk.org