Latest Campaigns from Solent Mind

A BIG THANK YOU
A big thank you to Itchen College, Grayling PR and the team in Psychological Medicine based at The Princes Ann Hospital, for raising money for us recently. Mental Health has historically not been a popular choice for donations, and this is why we appreciate your support even more. Read on to find out how they raised money and why they chose to support Solent Mind

Mayfield Nurseries launches Gardening on Prescription
Mayfield Nurseries new GP horticulture referral scheme starts 9th May,find out more about it....

Minds Living Library Tackles Mental Health Stigma
Solent Mind joined up with Andover Mind's Service User Involvement project on March 10th, to help create a Living Library as part of Hampshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's anti stigma conference 'Don't put me out with the rubbish', which linked with the National Time to Change Campaign. The conference was aimed at raising the issue of mental health stigma with employers from across the region, to find ways of working together to address mental health discrimination and improve the wellbeing of our local work force. The Living Library enabled employers to get an insight into what it is like living with a mental illness by talking to one of the living books. A living book is someone with personal experience of mental illness, who shares their experience by chatting with a reader for an allotted time. At this event it was local Employers who became the readers and were able to borrow living books on Depression, Anxiety, Bi Polar, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychosis. After chatting with her book one HR Manager said “my living book had a brave and inspirational story, it demonstrated clearly that one can live and manage with a mental illness and yet lead a fulfilling life and work”. The fact that so many employers wanted to know more about mental illness, highlighted the current lack of knowledge and experience employers have in supporting employees and colleagues who may be experiencing mental health problems. More engagement with employers over the coming months will help increase awareness, and listening and learning from people’s real life experiences will help employers put mental wellbeing on their list of priorities. Another employer who attended the Living Library and borrowed a living book said afterwards, “this gave me a great insight into how I can support my team managers and employees directly in coping and developing in the workplace”. ‘Taking Care of Business’ is the theme for this year’s National Mind Week 14th – 21st May, which aims to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental health in the work place and promote positive steps for employers to take.

Campaigns
The experience of having used mental health services is valued throughout the organisation, and this shows in the make up of the trustees, staff and volunteers. Click here to see the campaigns we are actively involved with or endorse on behalf of others.