The national living well programme was established over 10 years ago in Lambeth, London. 

To help us learn from what is working well, our leads visited colleagues in Lambeth. Read more about their visit.

To make sure the living well programme is right for people in our area, we've been working with people with lived exeprience of mental health issues and lots of partners. 

Living well services bring together lots of professionals who are working together to meet the needs of adults and older people with serious mental illness.

This includes mental health professionals, GPs, social workers, colleagues from voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, police colleagues, experts in homelessness, substance misuse, employment, and benefits and many others.

People can be referred to their local living well service by their GP, or another mental health professional. The team of professionals meet regularly to look at referrals and what support will best meet each person's needs.

People might receive support from one professional, or several at the same time. For example, they might receive cognitive behaviour therapy from an NHS mental health practitioner, peer support  from a VCSE colleague and support around managing their finances or getting into work or education. Or they may be supported by one of our new specialist services or treatments.

Our living well services aim to support adults and older people with serious mental illness by:

  • Ensuring quick and easy access to the right community-based support, tailored to their changing needs over time.
  • Focusing on personal strengths and building self-management skills, helping people feel more independent, confident, and in control of their lives.
  • Reducing the need to “repeat their story”, with better communication and co-ordination between services.
  • Enabling stronger support from family, carers, and social networks, and increasing opportunities to connect with their local community.
  • Providing access to peer support from people with lived experience, who can offer empathy, understanding, and practical advice.
  • Creating a more positive and personalised experience of care, shaped around what matters most to each individual.

Click on the link below for an update on progress in your borough. 

We'll also share key updates on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Follow us @PennineCareNHS.

If you live in one of the other five Greater Manchester boroughs, visit the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust website.