Author Archives: mmckenz11

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About mmckenz11

IT Officer for London School of Osteopathy and a Carer representative for Maudsley. As you can see, I have many interests shown off my blog. I hope to keep it updated with posts and more things to come soon.

Connecting with Other Carers: Benefits and Strategies

Why Unpaid Carers Should Connect with Other Carers

Unpaid carers play an essential role in society, often providing support to loved ones with long-term illnesses, both physical and mental. However, the journey of caregiving can be challenging and isolating, making it crucial for carers to connect with others in similar roles. Establishing these connections can provide numerous benefits, including emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community. In this blog by Matthew McKenzie, we will explore the reasons why unpaid carers should connect with other carers, structured around several key areas: emotional support, reducing isolation, accessing resources, practical advice, and mutual support for self-care.

If you want to watch the 20 minute in depth lecture, the click the video below.

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Join the “Trusted Leaders Project” by Oxleas NHS Trust – Strengthening Community Connections

📅 Date: 22nd January 2025
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 Location: 4 Emerton Close, Bexleyheath

Are you passionate about building stronger, healthier communities? Oxleas NHS Trust is hosting an incredible event, the “Trusted Leaders Project,” designed to bring people together, enhance communication pathways, and foster meaningful information exchange across diverse communities.

This event is an excellent opportunity for individuals, community leaders, and organizations to:

  • Learn about Oxleas NHS Trust’s ongoing efforts to engage and support local communities.
  • Share valuable insights and experiences to help shape future initiatives.
  • Network with like-minded individuals who are committed to creating positive change.

By attending, you’ll not only strengthen your connection to local services but also contribute to building a more informed and empowered community.

Whether you’re a carer looking after someone using Oxleas services, community leader, healthcare advocate, or simply someone who cares about making a difference, this event is not to be missed!

👉 Mark your calendars and join us on 22nd January 2025! Together, let’s build stronger connections and a brighter future.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Oxleas NHS trust – Reshma Jerin at reshma.jerin@nhs.net or click on the poster for details.

Let’s make a difference – one conversation at a time. See you there!

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025

Welcome to another blog post from Matthew McKenzie (who runs the London Cancer carer group) advocating for cervical cancer awareness, prevention, and support in 2025. In this blog you can learn about screenings, HPV vaccinations, and the crucial role of caregivers in the fight against cervical cancer.

To watch the 3 minute Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025 video, please click below.

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Understanding Health Inequity: Unveiling Discrimination in Mental Health Care

Hello everyone, I’m Matthew McKenzie, and in this blog I want to raise awareness about the various forms of discrimination and bias that unpaid carers, especially those looking after individuals suffering from mental illness or cancer, might encounter. Moreover, I am deeply involved in addressing racism and discrimination, sharing my firsthand knowledge of these issues, particularly in the mental health system.

In this article, we’ll dive into some of the crucial terminology that are essential for anyone working within healthcare settings, caring for people from minority groups, or even interacting as patients themselves.

In this blog, I’ll focus primarily on the acute settings within general hospitals. Most of these terms and definitions, however, are broadly applicable across the entire mental health system. We will go over around 12 to 13 key terms, highlighting their relevance and providing examples to illustrate how they manifest in healthcare contexts.

You can also watch the video lecture off my YouTube Channel.

Discrimination

Discrimination in healthcare involves treating individuals unfairly based on their race, ethnicity, or other characteristics. This unfair treatment leads to poor health outcomes for those affected.

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Setting Up a Carer Peer Support Group: A Comprehensive Guide

In this blog by Carer activist Matthew McKenzie, you can learn how to establish and manage a carer peer support group effectively, from defining its purpose to recruiting members and creating a supportive environment. Gain insights on structuring meetings, engaging members, and overcoming challenges for long-term success.

The blog is fairly brief and short, but you can watch the video lecture below for a more detailed explanation. (32 mins organised as an index). Sorry for the picture in section 4 overlapping the example

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Surviving the Holiday Season as an Unpaid Carer: Tips for Self-Care and Support

Welcome to another blog post by Carer Activist Matthew McKenzie. This blog and video is from my lived experience caring for a close relative and also supporting my brothers.

To watch the video lecture, please click below.

The holiday season is a time filled with joy, celebration, and connection. However, for unpaid carers, it can also be a period laden with stress, isolation, and heightened responsibilities.

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London Anti-Racism Collaboration for Health:

Race Equity Maturity Index (REMI)

Welcome to another blog by Matthew McKenzie Carer activist. As a lived experienced member of the Race Equality Foundation. I am proud to present an exciting project that seeks to address the inequalities in health.

The London Anti-Racism Collaboration for Health (LARCH) have launched a new tool to help health and care organisations tackle systemic racial health inequalities.

The Race Equity Maturity Index (REMI) is the first framework of its kind, allowing organisations to track, measure and enhance their anti-racist activities using an evidence-based approach.

The REMI was designed with people and communities from across London, reflecting the diversity of both London’s population and its health and care workforce.

The REMI is intended to help all the parts of the health and care ecosystem meaningfully address the inequalities faced by Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic Londoners, which include:

Using the REMI, organisations can self-assess their progress in tackling these inequalities. The tool uses measurable indicators to categorise organisations into one of six stages of racial maturity, with clear pathways for progression between each stage.

The REMI can be downloaded on the LARCH website: https://anti-racism.london/index.php/race-equity-maturity-index/

SIPS for Carers – Peer group engagement event in Lewisham

On December 14th, a carer engagement peer event took place at Sydenham’s Ignition Brewery, creating a vibrant and inclusive space for unpaid carers in Lewisham to connect and share experiences. The event, which was carer-led, was hosted by Wendy, who is passionate about strengthening the network of support for carers in the borough. Wendy was joined by her son Jamie who as a young carer was awarded “Young Resident of the Year” in 2022 by Lewisham Homes.

The gathering named Sydenham’s Ignition Peer Support “SIPS FOR CARERS” provided an opportunity for carers to engage in meaningful conversations.

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The Reason to Include Carer Only Groups To Develop Mental Health Services

Welcome to another blog post by carer activist and ambassador Matthew McKenzie. I raise awareness of unpaid carers who support those with long term ill health. This time my blog focus is on the inclusion of carer only groups at mental health service development.

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Maintaining Family Bonds in Caregiving: Communication and Support

Here is another blog by Matthew McKenzie author of “Experiences of Mental Health unpaid caring”. This time I am covering a difficult and compex topic. Caring for someone and trying to maintain the family connection.

If you want to watch the detailed version of this blog, you can watch the video below.

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