Two years’ hard work has come to fruition with the launch of a new directory aimed at explaining all the different mental health services in Coventry.

It is the first time that a comprehensive book detailing all the different facilities has been put together in the city.

The 125-page handbook provides information on medication and its side effects, and describes symptoms of common complaints such as schizophrenia and depression.

It was put together in consultation with people who use mental health services in the city, as well as professionals and carers.

Mary Parkes, Head of Strategy – Mental Health and Learning Difficulties at Coventry Health Authority said:

”This directory has been produced as a result of partnership working in mental health with a host of statutory and voluntary organisations.

“Users, carers and service providers expressed the need for a directory of this kind over a number of years.

“The creation of the directory was user-led throughout, and as a result, the finished product is able to offer high-quality information in a user-friendly format.”

The booklet has been put together in a hard-backed ring-binder, designed so individual pages can be easily replaced.

Senior Health Promotion Specialist Shelley Little said there were details of almost 200 different support organisations in the book.

She said:

“It’s a handbook of where local services are in Coventry and what times they are open.

“The main way the general public will be able to look at this is in public libraries. GP surgeries will be getting them and we hope to get them to pharmacies across the city.”

She added that funding was being sought to allow a reprint of the handbook in about a year's time.