#SpeakUp: Challenge Sheffield and SODIT

Challenge Sheffield and SODIT, two user-led mental health organisations, used a Healthwatch Sheffield Speak Up grant to hold the Sheffield Mental Health Challenge Day for people with lived experience of mental health distress and carers. The event brought together 35 participants to discuss their experiences of services, involvement in decision-making and the importance of community. A central finding was that many people felt poorly informed about available mental health services and struggled to navigate systems, particularly crisis services. Participants described long waiting times, difficulties accessing specialist support and a lack of clear communication from services.

People emphasised the need for more personalised and holistic support rather than approaches focused mainly on medication. Many valued voluntary sector organisations, peer support, community activities and services that treated them as individuals. Participants also highlighted the links between mental health, physical health, housing and transport, and felt that these wider issues often had a significant impact on wellbeing. Concerns were raised about professionals making decisions without sufficient involvement from service users, inconsistent communication and a lack of specialist services for particular groups and conditions.

A major theme was the lack of meaningful involvement and co-production in Sheffield. Many participants were unfamiliar with the concept of co-production but felt that people with lived experience should have a stronger voice in service design and decision-making. Barriers included limited information about how to get involved, insufficient resources, lack of coordination and concerns that consultation was sometimes tokenistic. Participants wanted greater transparency, more support for involvement and stronger links between statutory services, voluntary organisations and people with lived experience. 

Community was viewed as a vital source of support and belonging, but participants felt many community networks and smaller organisations had been weakened by funding cuts and service changes. The report concluded that Sheffield should strengthen communication and information systems, improve access to services, increase support for co-production and involvement, develop stronger collaborative working and provide greater support for smaller, user-led organisations. Participants felt that connected communities and peer support were essential components of good mental health support.