Generic Mental Health Advocacy: an advocacy service for people of working age experiencing mental distress.  

LAMP Advocates will:

• provide a person-centred and responsive service driven by the needs of the client group
• listen to you and ask you what you need.
• identify and reflect on all your options and ask you how you wish to proceed.
• support you to speak up for yourself

Is this service for me?

The service is available to you if:

• You are a resident of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland or registered with a GP in those areas.
• You are of working age
• You are experiencing a functional mental health problem eg depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder
• You are using or seeking to use mental health services

What we can do to help you

• Accompany you to any relevant meetings with professionals from health or social services eg GP or Psychiatrist appointment, Social Services assessments
• Make contact with any involved organisations/services on your behalf either by phone or by letter
• Assist you in accessing appropriate Health and Social Care services and direct payments
• Make complaints on your behalf to Health and Social Care Services, the Police or voluntary organisations
• Advocate for you in areas of mental health discrimination, including: employment, education, access to services and housing
• Advocate for you with regard to specialist mental health housing
• Advocate for you in safeguarding children issues
• Signpost or refer you to other agencies where needed

What we cannot do

• Give advice or advocacy on benefits
• Provide befriending
• Act as a support worker
• Provide transport
• Undertake general form filling
• Provide ‘physical care’ relating to physical health needs
• Provide counselling
• Provide social activities
• Provide a will writing service

The service we will provide for you will be person centred and confidential. We will respect your wishes at all times and only act as directed by you. Whilst not making decisions for you we will help you to identify all your options and seek a satisfactory outcome to your problem.

How you can contact us

You can phone us between 9:30am and 4:00pm on 0116 255 6286

You can also contact us by email on advocacy@lampdirect.org.uk or by letter at:

The Advocacy Coordinator
LAMP
65 Regent Road
Leicester LE1 6YF

You may also be able to see a Mental Health Advocate at one of our regular outreaches.