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Non-governmental organisations and the voluntary sector play a notable role in:
*Working to de-stigmatise social attitudes towards mental illness;
*Monitoring services and evaluating their effectiveness;
*Providing specialised advice to reduce and counter social stress;
*Directly providing a range of services, including support for access to mainstream employment.31 |
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"Looking after employees' mental health makes good business sense. The message to employers today is don't panic, you don't need to be an expert in mental health to make small but significant changes to working practice that could make all the difference to your organisation and your staff."32
Judi Clements, MIND Chief Executive
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MIND is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, working for the right of people with mental health problems to lead active and valued lives in the community. It is an influential voice on mental health issues. Since it was established in 1946, MIND, has grown into a major network, with headquarters in East London and offices across England and Wales and over 220 Local MIND Associations around the country. Drawing on the experience and skills of mental health service users and professionals, MIND has become the largest voluntary sector provider of quality community care.33
Local MIND Associations offer services such as supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, counselling, befriending, advocacy, and employment and training schemes. Every year, MindinfoLine offers thousands of callers confidential help on a range of mental health problems and their consequences. MIND also advises government, health and local authorities, and the public on good practices, services and developments in mental health and community care. MIND develops its policies in consultation with the user network and allied organisations.
MIND's nationwide Legal Advice Network serves the public, government, lawyers, and mental health workers. It comprises over 600 lawyers who work on cases relating to mental health issues. MIND has published a comprehensive list of booklets covering anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other problems. It publishes OpenMind, the national mental health magazine and organises conferences and seminars on mental health issues.
Recently, MIND published an Employers' Resource Pack, designed to help employers successfully manage mental health issues in the workplace, and the guide, "Surviving Working Life", for employees returning to work after time off because of a mental health problem, feeling under stress at work, or simply trying to maintain a healthy working life. The Employers' Resource Pack is a tool-kit that provides examples of good practice in areas such as workplace stress, employing people with mental health problems, and maintaining an effective and efficient business. It tackles a range of issues from fair recruitment and reasonable adjustments under the DDA, to what to do when an employee becomes distressed at work. It includes a guide that provides expert advice on recruitment and retention of people with mental health problems.34
MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Mental Health Foundation is a UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. It conducts research, promotes service development, and disseminates information to increase understanding of the needs of people with mental health
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