Maria, a service user member, said: “I have accessed mental health services from RDaSH for a number of years, both as an inpatient and in the community. My journey has not always been smooth but I have lived to ‘tell the tale’ and with lots of support I am now in a better place than I have been for a long time.
“I wanted to give something back to RDaSH for all the help they had given me so when I was asked by my support worker if I wanted to be a member I immediately wanted to know more. Basically I receive a members’ newsletter three times a year telling me about all the services provided by RDaSH – I never realised there were so many!
“I am sometimes asked for my opinion through consultations and I am invited to attend meetings or events, for example the Council of Governors meetings or members’ events – these are always really good because I find out lots of information about the services that affect me personally. I am really keen to be more involved as a member and to share my experiences with other service users.”