What is Community? Mental Health Awareness Week

A community can take many forms. It may involve:

• people who live in the same location as you
• a network of supportive people
• groups formed around shared interests, values, beliefs or cultural identities.
  

At The Recovery College we hope you feel part of a community during your time with us. We aim to equip you with the skills to live a full and satisfying life, by inspiring hope, optimism and choice. We use the acronym CHIME. CHIME helps us to explore our values, strengths and skills and aspirations. 

Connectedness

Hope & Optimism

Identity

Meaning & Purpose

Empowerment

On our wellbeing pathway we offer a course called CHIME where we look at these values in detail. Here's a snippet from this course where we discuss the link between Connection and our Mental Health. 

Harriet Lerner said: "Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others."

There is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close and valued by other people, for most, is a basic human need and one that contributes to wellbeing. Take some time to think about your connections. 

Who listens to you when you need someone to talk to? Who do you share good/bad news with? Those people that come to mind are part of your community. Connectedness can refer to our connections with other people, animals, beliefs, support networks, places or groups.  

Another session that we offer at the RC is Recover Together this is a friendly, supportive group to meet others, find encouragement and strength on your recovery journey. These sessions take place across Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Online. Lots of our students make friends and connections through these sessions and make plans to connect outside of the recovery college. Alongside Recover Together we also have Recover Together LGBTQ+ which provides a space for anyone who identifies with LGBTQ+ or is an ally. 

You can find out more information about our Recover Together here:

If you are interested in our CHIME or Recover Together courses, please get in touch via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0121 543 4061 and we will be able to support you through the enrolment process.

The RC Team

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The Recovery College is an educational learning environment for people who have an interest in, or personal difficulties with, mental health.

All of our sessions are created with people who have lived experience of challenges with their own mental health along with carers and healthcare professionals.

You do not need any formal qualifications or experience to attend the college. All of our courses are free of charge and open to anyone, aged 18 and over.

If you would like to enrol with us here at The Recovery College, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0121 543 4061.