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Understanding Mental health

The state of the mind has become a major issue in the U.K. over the last few decades and it's thanks to such charities as the Mental Health Foundation that we are learning more about the condition that now affects many people.

The Mental Health Foundation was founded in 1949 and is a leading U.K. charity. It deals with all types of mental health problems and anyone affected by them. It sets out to provide information, carry out research, instigate campaigns and work to improve services for those affected.

The charity has a simple vision: to make people more aware of the problems caused by mental illness. And by doing so, create a mentally healthy world in which people can not feel so afraid of the condition.

The Mental Health Foundation's mission is to help people survive and properly recover from mental health problems, and prevent them from occurring in the first place. And they do this by what makes people mentally well; communicate that and their other findings to a wide range of people (those suffering from the condition, policy makers and the media); and take their research findings and use them to come up with practical solutions for helping people cope with their mental health problems.

In 2009 The Mental Health Foundation is celebrating its diamond jubilee year. It relies on a staff of 60, its patron and trustees, and volunteer helpers, to deliver a comprehensive and informative service.

The charity's patron is HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy KG GCVO; the President is Sir William Utting CBE; and, the Chief Executive is Dr Andrew McCulloch.

The Mental Health Foundation see the need for an integrated approach to the relevant issues and have worked on a number of diverse topics, including: nutrition; exercise; alcohol; family situations; parenting; schools; acute services; early intervention; and, cultural diversity.

Proud of its independence, the charity is deliberately set up to be free of any one backer, or stakeholder, who might have external interests and agendas, with 80% of its funding coming from private donations. Covering England, Scotland and Wales, it does not provide direct services, nor does it have members. And their work covers all peoples and all ages.

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