User empowerment 6

Mind Cymru

Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. It has a presence in Wales through the work of Mind Cymru and a network of over 20 affiliated local Mind associations based in Wales.

Mind Cymru campaigns for the right of people to be treated with respect, given equal access to services and opportunities in the community, and to have more control over the care and treatment they receive.

In all its activities Mind Cymru stresses the particular needs of users of psychiatric services, black and ethnic minority groups, women, older people, disabled people, lesbians, bisexuals and gay men. The rights and needs of carers and families are also acknowledged in the work of Mind in Wales.

Mind Cymru encourages and supports the active involvement of people who experience mental distress in all aspects of mental health services, within local communities and local Mind associations. Such a level of involvement is achieved through strong links with Mind Link - Mind's Network of service users/survivors. There are over 100 members of Mind Link in Wales, and an advisory panel has been established to ensure that Mind Link members have a direct influence on the work and activities of Mind Cymru. This means that Mind Cymru's policies and campaigning activities are developed in consultation with the Mind Link network and allied organisations led by service users/survivors.

Mind Cymru also responds to user/survivor views in other ways, for example through postal surveys. Feedback from one survey led to a successful bid for lottery funding for an information project for user/survivor groups. This project, User Group Information Project, was based in the Mind Cymru Mid Wales office and offered a newsletter, Y Cylch/ The Circle and mailings, as well as an information search on issues such as funding, alternative therapies, user/survivor campaigns and networks. After three years the User Group Information Project has now come to an end. There will be a bid for funding for a Phase 2 of the Project, but this will not be until later this year.

Mind Cymru continues to maintain good working links with US, the independent All Wales User/Survivor Network, which has representation on the Information Project Panel.

To contact the US Network please telephone: 01639 751022 or visit their website at www.usnetwork.co.uk

Mind Out Cymru is an all Wales support and information network for lesbian, gay and bisexual people who either have or have had contact with mental health services in Wales through being mental health service users or workers. Mind Out Cymru represents an ongoing commitment by Mind Cymru to a lesbian, gay and bisexual mental health rights programme and to raise awareness of relevant issues both within mental health services and the lesbian and gay community.

They can be contacted at;

Mind Out Cymru
c/o Mind Cymru
3rd Floor
Quebec House
Castlebridge
Cowbridge Road East
Cardiff CF1 9AB

Sahara is a network of mental health service users, carers, workers and people with an interest in Black and ethnic minority mental health. This Mind Cymru network has a coordinated approach to improving the response to and experiences of Black and ethnic minority people with mental health problems in Wales. It aims to break down isolation for BME workers and service-users, to promote culturally appropriate services, improve access to mental health services, encourage a BME service user voice and develop good practice in provision of services.

If you wish to contact Sahara please write to them at the address above or telephone: 029 2030 512

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