Category: The West Midlands

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Anxiety UK – Official website.  They were formed in 1970, by Katharine and Harold Fisher as a result of Katharine’s experience of agoraphobia and her desire to develop support for others similarly affected.  Since those early beginnings, they have grown to become a national organisation with an international reach, whilst retaining a user-led ethos – being run by and for those with anxiety.  Many of their small seven-strong staff team have their own lived experience and understand the distress, isolation and misery that anxiety can cause.  We’re here to help and can support you to find ways to control anxiety instead of it controlling you.

Bipolar UK – Official website.  Their mission is to empower everyone affected by bipolar to live well and fulfil their potential.

Birmingham Mind – Official website.  Birmingham Mind is the largest independent mental health charity providing services in and beyond the City of Birmingham’s boundaries.  Their website shows how they are promoting wellbeing and recovery, providing high-quality support and challenging the stigma of mental distress.

Campain Against Living Miserably – Official website.  C.A.L.M. are taking a stand against suicide.  That means standing against feeling shit, standing up to stereotypes, and standing together to show life is always worth living.  125 lives are lost every week to suicide.  And 75% of all U.K. suicides are male.  They exist to change this.  They do it by provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together so they reject living miserably, get help when they need it and don’t die by suicide.  But they can’t do it alone. Stand with them.

Mental Health Foundation – Official website.  Their vision is for a world with good mental health for all.   They work to prevent mental health problems.  Helping people understand, protect and sustain their mental health.  They will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

Mind – Official website.  Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.  They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.  They won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

Rethink Mental Illness – Official website.  Their vision is for equality, rights, fair treatment and maximum quality of life for all those affected by mental illness, their carers, family and friends.  As one of the largest charitable providers of services for people living with mental illness, they are well placed to make a direct impact on the care people receive.  But they have a much larger vision too – to transform at every level the way our nation approaches mental illness.  Every year, our diverse range of information and support helps tens of thousands of people get through crises, live independently and feel that they do not have to face mental illness alone.

Samaritans – Official website.  Whatever you’re facing, a Samaritan will face it with you.  Every day, Samaritans volunteers respond to around 10,000 calls for help.  They are here, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.  Samaritans are not only for the moment of crisis, they are taking action to prevent the crisis.  They give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others.  And they encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives.  They offer to listen and support people and communities in times of need.  In prisons, schools, hospitals and on the rail network, Samaritans are working with people who are going through a difficult time and training others to do the same.  Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy, and Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide.  That’s why they work tirelessly to reach more people and make suicide prevention a priority.

The Blurt Foundation – Official website.  Think of them as the knowing nod.  You’ve seen it – a slight bob of the head, often accompanied by a smile.  A little movement that says, “I understand”, “I’m listening” and “I’m here for you”. That’s Blurt.  They really understand how devastating depression can be.  Jobs come to an end, relationships break down and lives can be lost, all through the effect of depression.  That’s why the work they do is so important – it not only changes lives but saves them.

YoungMinds – Official website.  The sheer scale of the problem we’re faced with can feel overwhelming.  More young people than ever before need support for their mental health and accessing that support quickly can make a critical difference to those young people.  Yet, most of the time those young people need to wait. And wait. And wait.  When it feels like nothing is there for you when you need it most, you feel alone.  For far too many young people, this is their reality.  When they need help and can’t get it, it feels like they’re being told they don’t matter.  YoungMinds have called their strategy ‘You Matter’ because, ultimately, that is what this is all about.