Complementary therapies in mental health at Stafford University

12 Oct 09

A day for health professionals, service users and carers at Stafford university explored the use of complementary therapies in mental health care.
Brain

On  29 September, an audience of 120 people including complementary practitioners and medics came together in Stafford to hear about the valuable role that complementary therapies play in mental healthcare.  The day was supported by The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, Staffordshire University, South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare.

Professor George Tadros, Professor of Mental Health and Ageing at Staffordshire University spoke about the use of Tai Chi in dementia management to improve balance skills, thus reducing the falls which often lead to a rapid decline in wellbeing.
 
George Gray, Acting Chief Executive of FIH spoke about the forthcoming guidelines on complementary therapies in mental health.  Partnered with Mind, the Mental Health Foundation and the Royal College of Psychiatrists the project has also drawn on the experience of more than 300 people from doctors and psychiatrists to service users.
 
The approaches people regarded as the highest priority were diet and nutrition, followed by exercise and movement, then complementary therapies, particularly acupuncture.