A catch up over coffee is helping people who have been diagnosed with a personality disorder find friendly support and connection.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s (EPUT) Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service User Network (SUN) started holding Coffee and Connect meet-ups in Southend and Colchester last year.
Following their success, the group plans to hold regular catch ups and expand them to other locations across Essex. They are open to people receiving treatment and care from the Personality Disorder and Complex Needs service.
Mike Buss, a facilitator for the SUN, said: “For many of our service users, simply stepping outside the house can trigger overwhelming anxiety, making it incredibly difficult to engage with the world beyond their front door.
“When you add the pressure of socialising in an unfamiliar environment, it becomes clear why some may choose to stay home.
“Coffee and Connect is designed to offer a gentle, welcoming space where service users can connect over a cup of coffee, without pressure or expectation.”
Around five people attend each catch up.
One attendee at a recent Southend Coffee and Connect said: “It was my first coffee catch-up and I wasn’t sure I would feel comfortable chatting, so I was a bit apprehensive going in.
“The venue had a relaxed atmosphere and conversation just flowed with other SUN users. We shared many common experiences, alongside more general discussions about hobbies.
“I felt understood and heard, and I would definitely go again as I met some lovely people and felt more positive afterwards.”
A regular attendee said: “It was such a welcome chink of light in my day. It was evident from looking around the tables at everyone interacting and the quiet buzz in the room that each and every person, myself included, found it manageable – if not easy – to open up and let conversation flow.”
Another regular attendee said the catch ups “remind us that first and foremost we are human beings who need meaningful interaction” rather than people experiencing mental illness.
Some people who attend the Coffee and Connect events have been inspired to get involved in the SUN’s Service Development Collaborative, where service users contribute to shaping the Trust’s services for people with a personality disorder and/or complex emotional needs.
The SUN offers peer support, advice and space to share experiences and learning, for people with personality disorders and complex needs, and their families and carers.
Members can also shape and design services, work on projects, and support with training staff from EPUT and other organisations to increase understanding and awareness of service users’ needs.
More information can be found on the Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service User Network webpage.