Sue Farrant talks to Rethink staff and service users
Dr Sue Farrant, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for West Dorset, visited Rethink’s mental health employment service, The Oasis, yesterday.
She spoke to staff and service users to find out more about mental health issues and signed Rethink’s manifesto pledge.
Sue Farrant said: “Visiting The Oasis and listening to what the people who work here have to say has been a real eye-opener. Mental health is too often seen as a taboo issue, so having something like this service so visible within the community really makes a difference. Should I be elected on May 6th I would certainly be a champion for mental health in Parliament.”
Pauline Sparks, Rethink services manager, said: “I’m delighted that Sue could come and see the work we are doing here at The Oasis. It is this kind of community venture, supporting people with experience of mental health problems with work experience and training, that can help people’s recovery. We invite candidates of all parties to visit and hear the first-hand experiences of the people who front the service.”
The Oasis is a popular refreshment kiosk in the heart of Dorchester’s award winning park, Borough Gardens. It provides people with mental health problems with the opportunity to gain a Level 2 award in Food Safety and Catering with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health while gaining real life work experience.
Rethink is gathering signatures to a petition urging the new government to take mental health seriously, to protect mental health services such as The Oasis. Almost 7,000 signatures have been collected so far and 400 prospective parliamentary candidates have signed Rethink’s pledge to support mental health.
To sign Rethink’s mental health petition go to: www.rethink.org/petition
