Service users get involved for many reasons: -

• Some want to give something back, having benefited from mental health services
  
• Some feel they have been badly treated by services and want to change the system for the good of others in the future
  
• Some feel they have past or present work experience which may be helpful in running such a project
• For many it helps gain confidence, get used to social contact and feel part of the local community
• Some find it a stepping stone back to employment

How to become involved: -

Step 1: Register on ISU’s Database

When you first contact ISU, we will request your contact details so as to send you the ISU Welcome Pack. The Welcome Pack gives basic information about ISU, the work it does and how it is run. 

You will be invited to fill in  a registration form and these details are added to the ISU database.

By registering with our mailing database you will receive details of surveys we have done and you can contribute your views. You can receive our monthly Opportunities List which gives information about:

• ISU vacancies
• Training events
• Conferences
• Workshops
• Job opportunities
• Social events
• Useful web sites and a great deal more

By registering with ISU you will be kept up-to-date on ISU’s work and mental health issues generally; registration also enables ISU to monitor its profile and progress in making contact with more people countywide.

Step 2: Meet with a Member of ISU

If you decide you would like to become actively involved with ISU, we can arrange an opportunity for you to visit the ISU office and meet with either a member of the ISU staff or a member of the ISU Team. This is an informal meeting to discuss your interests and also gives you the chance to find out more about us.

Involvement with ISU can take many forms. Detailed below are some of the ways in which you can get involved: -

• Become a representative and attend meetings
• Become a consultant and interview other service users
• Work on special time-limited projects
• Help with office administration
• Sit on an interview panel
• Take part in training mental health professionals
• Attend local mental health promotional events

If you wish to receive more information about becoming involved with ISU click here to email us or click on the ‘contact us’ page to find other ways of getting in touch.