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As GPs leave mental health patients in the dark, Mind hits the road to champion local services
Posted Thursday 23 June 2011
Thirty per cent of patients report that their GP is unaware of services to support mental health recovery, according to new research from Mind.
In response, Mind is launching Love Your Mind, a campaign to champion local services and ensure communities are brought up to speed on the incredible support available on their doorsteps.
Mind will drive its Love Your Mind double decker bus, stocked with local information, to six cities in six days, from 4 July through to 9 July. View the locations and dates of our roadshow here.
As well as national and local Mind representatives, service users keen to share their experiences and local service groups hosting demonstrations, a string of celebrities and MPs will board the bus in support of the campaign as it arrives in their home cities.
For many, mental distress is an extremely lonely and isolating experience, with support networks a vital tool in countering this and helping people to manage and overcome problems. There are many services available in communities across the country from groups including almost 170 Local Mind Associations, offering advice, training, grants, information and services to help people take control of their mental health. However, as long as information about local services fails to filter through from the medical profession, those who need this support the most will remain in the dark, potentially hindering their recovery.
Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: It is important that people find out about the fantastic range of mental health services available in their local area. The Love Your Mind tour will spark conversations and raise awareness of the services offered by Local Mind Associations.
I hope it will also prove useful for GPs, so they can communicate the correct information to those coming through their doors, enabling people to receive the right services in a safe and supportive environment, to help them take control of their mental health.
Abby Crowe, service user from Southampton said: When you're ill it takes every ounce of energy just to get out of bed in the morning and going online to research local services is the last thing on your mind. I want to tell everyone about the incredible local mental health support that is available.
If I had known what I know now, whenwhat I know now, when I was diagnosed over a year ago, there is absolutely no doubt the start to my recovery would have been so much quicker — I just don't understand why nobody told me.
Jayne Middlemiss, celebrity supporter onboard in Newcastle said: I’ll be onboard the Love Your Mind bus for the Newcastle leg of the tour, going back to my roots to celebrate and raise awareness of the incredible services available to the Tyneside community.
Good mental health is vital for overall wellbeing, and I hope by raising awareness with local residents we can give everybody access to the support they need, helping them on the road to better mental health.
The Mind double decker bus will start in Newcastle on 4 July and drive on to Leeds, Blackpool, Oxford and Southampton, completing the tour in London’s Regents Park on Saturday 9 July. Local residents are urged to visit and pick up information, record their experiences in the interactive video booth, enjoy entertainment and demonstrations provided by local groups, but most importantly use the campaign as a springboard to initiate conversations about mental health within their communities.
Notes
- Case studies, Mind spokespeople and celebrity and MP supporters available for interview. Interviews on tour and photo opportunities will be available.
Please contact Camilla Swain in the Mind Media Office for details.
T: 020 8522 1743
M: 07850 788514
E: c.swain@mind.org.uk
ISDN line available: 020 8221 0817