AAWAZ’s work around health and wellbeing led to the setting up of AAWAZ Mental Health Support Service (AMHS). We have trained female Volunteers who offer support and befriending to many local women and families. The support can be offered through home visits, group sessions as well as one to one sessions.
AAWAZ often receive enquiries from women and families who wish to talk to us about issues that concern them, we provide the time to listen and facilitate the process of accessing the correct and the most appropriate information that the individual or the family need, as well as advocating on their behalf.
AAWAZ offer a range of Awareness and information sessions to help the women and families understand about the causes of mental ill health and what support may be available to them.
The AMHS service can offer specific support packages on a one to one basis covering a number of key areas including confidence building, assistance with shopping, cleaning, cooking and personal care. However we have no formal funding and the cost / expenses are covered through fund raising and donations.
In June 2007- January 2008 AAWAZ carried out a community profiling exercise involving 60 Asian heritage women who were caring for someone experiencing mental ill health. The aims of the research was to:
- To identify the specific support needs of Asian heritage female carers caring for family members experiencing mental ill health.
- To identify what barriers they may face in accessing support.
- To seek their views on what needs to be in place to assist them.
The findings from this research were presented at a Conference in June 2008 AAWAZ very appropriately titled “Humari Kahani” meaning “Our Stories”. The Humari Kahani report is accompanied by a DVD outlining the life stories of three such carers.
For more information please contact us at AAWAZ Access Point.