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Mind (charity)

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Mind
Formation1946
HeadquartersStratford, London
Region served
England and Wales
Websitewww.mind.org.uk

Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales. Founded in 1946 as the National Association for Mental Health, 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[1].

Over 180 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[2]. 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, although they do all sign up to certain shared aims and ethical guidelines.

History

Mind was originally known as the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), 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

Starting in 1969, large numbers of Scientologists joined the NAMH and attempted to ratify as official policy a number of points concerning the treatment of psychiatric patients. When their identity was realised they were expelled from the organisation en masse. The Church of Scientology later unsuccessfully sued the NAMH over the matter in the High Court in 1971, and the case became notable in UK charity law.[3]

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

Paul Farmer became chief executive of Mind in 2006, moving from his position as director of public affairs at the charity Rethink.[4]

In 2008 Mind announced it would be merging with the charity Mental Health Media.[5]

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:[6]

  • Taking care of business - tackling workplace stress, this campaign, launched May 2010, aims to make workplaces more mentally healthy.[7]
  • 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.Time to Change is an England-wide campaign to end mental health discrimination.

Mind campaigns for the inclusion and involvement of (ex)users of mental health services. In its own organisation, at least two service users must be on the executive committee of each local Mind group. The charity operates Mind Link, a national network of service users, which is represented on Mind's Council of Management, its ultimate decision making body.[8]

Funding

National Mind takes donations, sponsorship, grants and operates charity shops across England and Wales.[9] Each local Mind association is an independent charity responsible for its own funding, although they are provided some project funds from national Mind.[10] The total gross income of the local associations in 2009 was £87 million which, combined with the national Mind income of £25 million, gave a total of £112 million.[11] At least some local associations report that the majority of their income is from the UK government through local governmental and NHS grants (e.g. 74%[12]).

Mind states that, while it accepts corporate support in general, it does not accept any money from pharmaceutical companies, and this policy is binding on all local Minds who are also not permitted to accept sponsorship or donations from pharmaceutical companies for their own events, or for fees or expenses for attending conferences.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/about
  2. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/about/the_network
  3. ^ Believe What You Like: What happened between the Scientologists and the National Association for Mental Health (1973) by C. H. Rolph
  4. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/news/1869_mind_announces_new_chief_executive
  5. ^ 'Mental Health Media joining forces with Mind' http://www.open-up.org.uk/node/58
  6. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues/current_campaigns
  7. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/employment
  8. ^ Mind website - Policy on User Involvement
  9. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/donate
  10. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/about/the_network
  11. ^ http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ShowCharity/RegisterOfCharities/DocumentList.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=219830&SubsidiaryNumber=0&DocType=AccountList
  12. ^ http://www.mindincroydon.org.uk/DocumentStore/AnnualReport0809.pdf
  13. ^ http://www.mind.org.uk/get_involved/donate/your_company/guidelines_for_corporate_partners
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