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MEET YOUR GOVERNOR
KARI KVAMME Service user governor
I can’t believe how far we’ve come in talking about our mental health. Three decades ago, when I was 18 and struggling with depression, there was no information or support. I felt ashamed and where possible kept it secret.
I’ve been married for 20 years with two very active boys. Depression remains part of my daily life, but I feel stronger and braver. It’s been lonely and frightening at times – I’ve experienced stigma mainly at work and I know how stereotyping can affect someone’s confidence. But I’ve had such fantastic care and my husband is enormously supportive.
My vision is for people to talk as freely about mental health as they do about their physical wellbeing. I’ve just started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and I think nothing of talking about it. I look forward to the day when it’s OK to talk about psychiatric medications in the same way.
I’m a volunteer with the spiritual and pastoral care team at Mersey Care. I think participation and sense of belonging aids recovery and helps maintain wellbeing. It does for me. I feel now is the right time to be a governor. Depression has given me so much grief –I thought ‘let’s turn the tables on it and put it to good use!’ I always say to my kids, ‘you can’t change the world on your own, but you can do something that means you’ve done your little bit’. Being a governor is my little bit.
To learn more about our Council of Governors, go to merseycare.nhs.uk
COME AND JOIN US ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
The Annual General Meeting is a great opportunity for you to find out more about our Trust, including our achievements and challenges from our Annual Report and Accounts from last year. All our members will shortly receive details of the event, how to register to attend and how questions can be submitted. This year the meeting will be held virtually.
Find out more about our membership and governors at: merseycare.nhs.uk.
Tel: 0151 471 2303 or 0151 473 2778
Email: membership@merseycare.nhs.uk
Write to: Alison Bacon, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, V7 Building, Kings Business Park, Prescot, Liverpool L34 1PJ
