Posted: Thursday 9 June 2005
73 per cent of Mind Trustees bring direct experience to lead mental health charity
Mind today reveals the high level of direct mental health experience held by its 24 trustees, in the first audit of its Council of Management (*1).
73 per cent have directly experienced mental distress, and can draw on recent experience - 62 per cent have had mental health problems in the last year.
The trustees have undertaken a wide range of both paid and unpaid work in the mental health field - 91 per cent have worked in local mental health or related services, 52 per cent have taken on national policy work, and 52 per cent have worked as a mental health advocate, while 66 per cent have acted as unpaid carers.
The audit will be conducted annually to ensure that service user involvement on the Council is no less than 50 per cent and for awareness of any other representation gaps.
Richard Brook, Chief Executive of Mind said:
"It is important that Mind takes the lead from those with direct experience of mental health problems at every level, and I am delighted that we can draw on such a spectrum of informed opinion in our Council of Management. At a pivotal time for mental health, with the recent House of Commons report upholding the outcry made by mental health stakeholders across the board at the last draft Mental Health Bill, we value highly the wide experience of our trustees, 20 per cent of whom have experience of being detained compulsorily under existing mental health legislation."
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