Monday 17 October 2011

Advice Newsletter July 2011: Health and Advice Links

Diabetes:

Diabetes is a long-term condition caused by too much glucose, a type of sugar, in the blood. It is also known as diabetes mellitus.
There are two main types of diabetes, which are explained below:
In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.8 million people. More than one million people are thought to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/pages/diabetes.aspx
The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis that is found only in men. About the size of a walnut, it is located between the penis and the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.
The main function of the prostate is to help in the production of semen. The prostate produces a thick white fluid that is then liquefied by a special protein known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The fluid is mixed with sperm, produced by the testicles, to create semen.
The prostate may get bigger as men get older. This causes no problems for two out of three men over 50. But if the prostate gets bigger it can press on the urethra and cause urinary symptoms. This is called benign prostate disease or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It usually affects men over 50 but is not cancer, and is treatable.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of-the-prostate/pages/introduction.aspx

Stroke:
A stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nutrients provided by blood to function properly. If the supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to brain damage and possibly death.
Strokes are a medical emergency and prompt treatment is essential because the sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stroke/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Benefits, care and debt advice links


ableize disability directory
Covers all aspects of disability from arts, education, sports and support and contains the largest UK disabled groups and clubs section on the Internet with listings for all UK counties.
action for blind people
Has fact sheets, briefings and other information on medical conditions, welfare benefits, housing and employment aimed at blind and partially sighted people.
advice northern ireland
(formerly association of independent advice centres) Northern Irish site with information regarding social welfare and legal matters.
adviceguide
Detailed advice database on a number of subjects including benefits. Also has information on how to contact a local Citizens Advice Bureau. 
advicenow
Information on the law and your rights from a wide range of advice and information services. A project of Advice Services Alliance.
adviceuk
Support network for free, independent advice centres. Formerly Federation of Independent Advice Centres (FIAC).
advice services alliance
Gives an overview of the whole range of alternative dispute resolution options. Aimed at legal advisers, advice agencies, solicitors, judges, and also to the general public.
benefitsandwork.co.uk
Has guides on benefits, law and work issues but you have to pay a subscription to get hold of most of them. Also offers training.
child poverty action group
Provides information on CPAG campaigns, publications and training. Has an ESA resource which includes the employment and support allowance (esa) operational guide for local authorities interim process (october2008).
citizens advice
Home site for National Association of Citizen's Advice Bureaux. You can access adviceguide from this site.
counsel + care
Offers information and support on community care issues for older people, their families and carers through an Advice Line, responses to emails and letters as well as factsheets and guides.
counselling directory
From this site you can find a counsellor or psychotherapist dealing with Debt Management.
debt advice foundation
Debt Advice Foundation is a registered national debt advice charity offering free, impartial support and advice to anyone worried about debt.
disabilities forum
Gives advice, assistance and representation  in matters concerning Housing, Benefits, Employment, Education, Training, Equipment Grants, Travel and Leisure.
directgov
Provides wide ranging information on benefits and services. Has sections on:
disability law service (dls)
DLS provides advice and information on these six areas of law - Disability Discrimination, Consumer, Community Care, Further and Higher Education, Employment and Welfare Benefits (Greater London Area only).
elderly accommodation counsel
A national charity that aims to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs.
ferret
Sells numerous computerised benefits advice systems. Also has an online benefits calculation service.
firststop
An independent, free service providing information and advice about care and housing for older people and their carers.
homeless uk  
Has an excellent "services" search facility which enables you to search, by area, for agencies providing benefits and debt advice (be sure and type benefits in the "text" box).
lasa
The home site of Lasa offering details of the services they provide across the UK.  These include welfare benefits resources, technology advice and training, and policy work.
lisson grove
Primarily sells benefits calculation programs but also has basic online information.
mobility advice line
Provides help to disabled people, their families, carers and friends. This can be advice,signposting or just simply someone to chat to. Whatever the question is, Mobility Advice Line will try and help you or find someone who can.
money advice health checker
Online financial health checker has been launched to help people make the most of their money. Offering straightforward money advice, it takes just five to ten minutes to complete, doesn’t involve any paperwork and your answers are confidential.
mulkulti
Provides translated information in the following areas of welfare law - debt, employment, health, housing, immigration and welfare benefits. Part of lasa.
the national careline
A not for profit company offering information about care and support for older people, their carers and their families.
national debtline
Helpline which provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.
newcastle welfare rights service
Has benefit and debt information and news. You can also sign up for a 'benefit bulletin' email on important benefit issues and news.
payplan
Provides free debt advice, debt management plans and Individual Voluntary Arrangements.
quickcalc
Online calculation tools for tax credits, income support, jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit, council tax benefit and tax. There is a subscription fee but you can use their 30 day trial for free.
rightsnet
Provides access to all for information, discussion forums, news and law updates in relation to all aspects of benefits. Part of lasa.
turn2us
Turn2us exists to help people access the funds they need that are available to them – through benefits, grants and other financial help
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Our Vision and Services

Our vision is of a society where no one should experience discrimination on the grounds of their mental health.

Mental health problems are extremely common across society, with one in four of us experiencing them in any year. Despite being so common, people from all communities will still experience discriminatory attitudes and behaviours that can prevent people from speaking out, seeking support and playing full and active roles in our communities. The impact of mental health stigma and discrimination will vary between communities as mental health has a cultural context that affects the way communities talk about the subject and engage with people who have mental health problems. In some cultures depression, for example, doesn't exist and in others an experience of a mental health problem can be attached to a sense of shame.

For the African and Caribbean communities a key issue is the overrepresentation of young African and Caribbean men in mental health services. Misconceptions and stereotypes have led to a perception that this group is more likely to pose a risk of violent behaviour and, as a result, they are more likely to be treated as inpatients and sectioned when compared to other groups. It is well documented that this has led to a fear of talking about mental health issues more openly and a fear of using mental health services. Research by the Race Equality Foundation (2011) also highlighted fears that discrimination against Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and migrant service users will increase in the austerity climate and whilst commissioning arrangements change.

Our Services

· Provide information, advice, advocacy

· Represent diversity communities in Health Care services, policies and strategies

· Organise training in health and social care in collaboration with local colleges

· Provide human resources ( including interpreters) who are suitable to the diversity communities especially to break language and cultural barriers

· Provides domiciliary care and support

· Provide services such specialised support for people with mental health needs, including people who suffer from short-term memory problems, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

· Provide visits to elderly people and help them with outings and home services

· Participate in local authority and NHS consultations , research events and programmes to voice the needs of diversity communities.

· Increase access to services and rights for disadvantaged people and the most vulnerable of our society

· Help and support unemployed people to look for work, including training and job preparation

· Provide legal advice in a range of issues from on Immigration and Asylum , welfare benefits, housing, health, education, community care, and training, employment, etc.

· Provide advice and guidance, information and practical help so that our service users can access opportunities they are entitled to

· Organise training and other community learning opportunities that provide new skills, increase confidence and motivation

· Support our service users to overcome barriers to learning, employment and training

· Provide support for young people with their education, training, confidence building, employment and social needs.

Objectives of our Diversity Living Programme:

· To promote the inclusion and participation of diversity communities* in integrated care.

· To inform policy, locally and nationally, and assisting in the formulation of effective policies, strategies and good practices in integrated care in order to contribute to improved health outcomes for the people from the diversity communities (e.g. Black and minority ethnic communities) and to ensure health services are able to meet their specific needs.

· To improve the quality of life for diversity people with disability, mental health problems and their families and carers through integrated care by providing inclusive advocacy and information.

· To provide service that enable diversity groups and individuals with disability /elderly and their carers to make the right choice for themselves and have an influence on decisions made about their future.

· To promote the rights of diversity people with disability, their families and carers and make sure their rights are safe and protected.

· To promoting access to information regarding healthcare issues and to raise awareness of the needs of diversity disabled children, young people, older people and their families.

· To promote the rights of older and disabled diversity people, helping them overcome and enable them to participate in decisions about their future

· To provide support and information to those suffering the isolation and loneliness that can be associated with disability and old age

· To fight against mental health stigma in refugee, black and minority ethnic communities and ensure no one should experience discrimination on the grounds of their mental health or disability.

*Diversity communities are older people, disabled people, Black, Asian, refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and other ethnic minorities.