Tutor testimonial: Grainne Butler, Community Mental Health Nurse

"The aim of the Self-management Programme (SMP) is to support participants to build the skills, knowledge and confidence to effectively manage their depression and increase their sense of control over their lives. The tutor’s role is to empower participants by helping them develop effective self-management strategies and for them to feel more confident when working collaboratively with their health care professionals to achieve their goals.

"Co-delivering the SMP with a lay tutor who has personal experience of depression demonstrates a powerful partnership and collaboration for participants in the group. Their personal experience of depression appears to bring a deeper level of empathy and hope to the participants. This collaborative partnership also sends a strong message that we are trying to break down barriers between health professionals and users of mental health services.

"The SMP course content is evidence based and predominately uses material that is relevant to all long term health conditions. This is invaluable as the generic self management skills such as problem solving and action planning is applicable for every day use and also beneficial to clients with multiple long term conditions.

"Clients who completed the course reported the invaluable contribution and appreciation of peer support in the group, realising “I’m not alone”. We also encourage informal peer support outside of the group.

"The Co-creating Health team are wonderfully supportive and dedicated to the ‘cause’. There is regular supervision provided and training updates as necessary.

"If you decide to become a tutor, your involvement with the CCHi would be ‘time protected’ and reflected in your workload as it is strongly endorsed and supported by senior management in the trust.

"From the perspective of a health professional, I feel energised by my involvement in the initiative, which is a leading-edge practice. The SMP is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. I look forward to it growing in the future."