Blogs
Read contributions of experiences and perspectives on the VCSE mental health sector, service delivery, mental health policy and other pertinent topics.
Coping with Stress: Stigma and Solutions
Ella Dunthorne
Published: November 2, 2023
Stress can help alert us to danger or ensure we are kept safe. However, too much stress can harm our mental and physical health. It is Stress Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is “Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions”. In this blog post, we want to give you a clear overview of what…
Read moreGuest Blog: Youth Mental Health Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 19, 2023
Today is Youth Mental Health Day, an opportunity to recognise the unique challenges that young people face and the positive impact support can bring. We are pleased to have a guest blog post written by our members No5 Young People who help young people to be brave, manage anxiety, and improve their mental health through…
Read moreGuest Blog: Suicide Prevention Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 10, 2023
The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector is essential in delivering early intervention and preventative support services to prevent mental health crises and suicides. The Government has found that “the suicide prevention VCSE sector saw an increase in the number of individuals seeking support – with some services seeing up to 20% more contacts…
Read moreReaping rewards ... but patiently
Greg Woolley
Published: July 31, 2023
On the Enterprise Development Programme participating organisations received a grant to support the development of their trading activity over 12 – 18 months. But beyond that period, we’ve been keen to retain contact, continuing our offer of other wrap-around support such as learning workshops, peer learning and check-ins with their Enterprise Development Manager. This has…
Read moreNational Schizophrenia Awareness Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: July 25, 2023
National Schizophrenia Awareness Day takes place on 25 July and is an opportunity to highlight the difficulties millions of people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia face and how we can tackle the stigma and discrimination which surrounds it. What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that is related…
Read moreTrading and enterprise models ... cartoon style.
Greg Woolley
Published: July 21, 2023
In the final year of our sector partner role to the Enterprise Development Programme, one of the important priorities is to communicate the learning we’ve observed related to trading and enterprise within the mental health sector. Working with over 50 organisations through the Mental Health cohort has provided insight into the variety of trading activities…
Read moreInsight: trading and employment settings
Greg Woolley
Published: July 21, 2023
As detailed here, we’ve recently published research on businesses being carried out by not-for-profits where the workforce is made up in whole or in part of people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. This research involved an indepth look at six particular organisations. Our work on that research alongside the Centre for Charity…
Read moreNew training resource from Turning Point
Ella Dunthorne
Published: July 13, 2023
Leading social enterprise, and AMHP member, Turning Point, have launched a new training resource to increase the awareness and understanding of substance use and mental health. The initiative started with a donation from a mother whose daughter, an NHS nurse, lost her life after a long history of mental illness and alcohol addiction. Turning Point’s…
Read moreWhy Small Charities are Vital for the Mental Health Sector
Ella Dunthorne
Published: June 22, 2023
Around “97% of charities in the UK are small charities”, and this includes any “charitable organisation with an annual income of less than £1 million.” [1] Across the UK, charities are doing incredible work to support others. We have seen the fantastic work that all charities, including those in the mental health sector, do each…
Read moreThe Association Supports Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Ella Dunthorne
Published: May 22, 2023
May is Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month and we want to spread awareness, understanding and show our support, this month and beyond. Learn more about BPD below, access resources to generate further insights, and find places you can go for support. What is borderline personality disorder? Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is an illness that makes…
Read moreAnxiety, Psychosis and Me - Mental Health Awareness Week
Ella Dunthorne
Published: May 16, 2023
Anxiety is a mental health condition that can vary in severity with symptoms such as a racing heart, dizziness, and trembling to, in more severe cases, being house bound. There are many different sorts of anxiety, and the symptoms are different for everyone. Mine is social. The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year…
Read moreGuest Blog: My thoughts on this World Bipolar Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: March 30, 2023
– Steve Gilbert OBE, Independent Consultant and Trustee of The Association ‘How did I end up here?’ If you were with me on Tuesday 6th July 2010 you would have found me sitting in a cramped cell, inside Steelhouse Lane Police Station (first opened in 1891 and now a museum). The noise was terrific. The…
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