Building Better Pathways: The Synergy Discharge Menu Project
When someone leaves mental health inpatient care, the journey doesn’t end when someone is discharged. That’s where the Synergy Discharge Menu Project comes in. We partnered with Synergy recently to work on a project that helps build better pathways for people who have just been discharged from inpatient care.
Synergy is a partnership of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations working together to strengthen mental health support across Sheffield. Through this project, people leaving mental health wards or the Decisions Unit are being connected with community-based support that can make a real difference to their recovery and wellbeing.
The project brings together organisations with experience of supporting people living with mental health issues, offering practical help, social connection, wellbeing activities, and specialist support tailored to individual needs. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, people are offered a menu of services and are supported in choosing the options that feel right for them.
Within Maple and Michael Carlisle Ward, and the Decisions Unit, Lisa Thompson-Cox (Sheffield Flourish), Ed Muhangi and Gambinga Gambinga (SACMHA) have been meeting people face-to-face and linking people to different VCSE and community organisations.
A key strength of the project is its focus on building resilience through relationships, community connections, and ongoing support networks. By helping people access meaningful support at a critical point in their recovery journey (with friendly faces such as Lisa, Ed and Gambinga!), the project aims to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and help people feel more confident as they move forward.
This shared commitment is helping to ensure that people are not only discharged safely but are connected to opportunities that can support their long-term recovery and prevent readmittance to wards less likely. The Synergy Discharge Menu Project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations come together around a common goal.
Take a look below at the flyer and the different organisations involved:
