The PsA HQ Story
Hosted by Mel Brooke, PsA HQ is a legacy virtual version of *PsAZZ Support Group. Mel, who has lived with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis for many years, was a founding member of PsAZZ and took on much of the day to day organising for the group. She is also an experienced expert patient who has worked across numerous research projects and a professional patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) specialist having spent much of the last decade setting up a large PPE programme for a Bath based charity. Alongside all that, Mel has re-framed the essence of PsAZZ into PsA HQ so she could go on advocating for people by sharing useful information, her lived experience of PsA and help people to connect through social media, research engagement and her podcast channel. ​​
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*PsAZZ was set up originally as a means for peer support for people with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). From its first small meeting in 2011 that grew from 6 founder members, it grew to hundreds of people who have connected over the years!​ It has offered mutual support through a range of activities such as getting together for coffee & chat, a newsletter, community awareness projects and campaigns on social media via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Pinterest & more. It had a real heyday for a while but hit a standstill in 2014 when main facilitator/organiser (Mel) had to take a step back due to personal reasons and a replacement person couldn't be found. For a few years things went a little low key... then... as Mel felt able to reinvest some time to the group she loved and valued, there was a gradual rising from the ashes and along came PsA HQ.​
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