Mental Health ( OCD/Hoarding) Loneliness Stigma [Living Library]

Croydon Health Services (CHS) Living Library is an initiative where staff put themselves forward to be “books” (or “e-books” or “transcripts”) on specific topics that can be “borrowed” by colleagues in order to learn more about that topic via the lived experience of the “book”.
The CHS Living Library will enable staff lived experiences to be shared via:
· face-to-face chats
· online chats
· by accessing a pre-recorded video
· or by reading an anonymised transcript
The person borrowing a book will arrange a time to meet the “book” and can send questions in advance so the book can be prepared.
This Living Library collection will form the basis of a CHS knowledge network and a repository of shared experience and connection.
What we hope to achieve:
Reduce stigma and increase understanding of disability, mental health and other events or experiences that may cause staff to feel marginalised e.g. race, sexual orientation, religion, general life events or past experiences.

During my 24 years working in the Social Housing sector with many people suffering from OCD and other mental health conditions, I became aware of the impact loneliness and isolation had on the health and wellbeing of individuals.