Mind (charity)

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Mind

Mind logo
Formation 1946
Region served England and Wales
Website www.mind.org.uk

Mind (formerly, the National Association for Mental Health) is a mental health charity in England and Wales. Founded in 1946, it celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2006.

Mind offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf. It also works to raise public awareness and understanding of issues relating to mental health.

Over 200 local Mind associations (independent, affiliated charities) provide services such as supported housing, floating support schemes, care homes, drop in centres and self help support groups. Local Mind associations are often very different in size, make up and character - it is a common misconception that they all work to the same policy and procedural framework. Mind is a national brand but all local associations are unique.

Contents

[edit] History

The National Association for Mental Health (NAMH) was founded in 1946, the name MIND was introduced in 1972 and the lowercase version "Mind" was introduced in the nineties.

The National Association for Mental Health was formed by the merging of three major mental health organisations.

  • the Central Association for Mental Welfare
  • the National Council for Mental Hygiene, and
  • the Child Guidance Council

The 1973 book Believe What You Like: What happened between the Scientologists and the National Association for Mental Health by C. H. Rolph details the controversy of how, starting in 1969, large numbers of Scientologists joined the NAMH, attempted to ratify as official policy a number of points concerning the treatment of psychiatric patients and, when their identity was realised, were expelled from the organisation en masse, the Church of Scientology later suing the NAMH over the matter in the High Court in 1971. The case was notable in UK charity law.

Mind has celebrated World Mental Health Day annually since it was first observed in 1992. This occurs on 10 October.

In 2008 Mind announced it would be merging with the charity Mental Health Media.[1]

[edit] Campaigns

In addition to its other activities, Mind campaigns for the rights of people who have experience of mental distress. Mind's current campaigns include:[2]

  • Another assault - exposing the high levels of victimisation and harassment experienced by people with mental health problems, and their reluctance to report abuse to the police.
  • In the red: debt, poverty and mental health - exploring the impact debt has on mental health.
  • Our lives, our choices - Mind is part of the national campaign for independent living. The campaign calls for an overhaul of the health and social care system.

In addition, Mind is part of the Time to Change coalition, along with Rethink and Mental Health Media. Time to Change is an England-wide campaign to end mental health discrimination.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ 'Mental Health Media joining forces with Mind' http://www.open-up.org.uk/node/58
  2. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaigns/Campaigns/


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