Dear Colleagues and Supporters
I would like to thank you for your support in 2008 and to tell you about our plans for 2009 – our diamond jubilee year. Next year we will be celebrating 60 years of ground-breaking work in mental health and learning disabilities. Compared to 1949 our sector looks very different today – the UK is now mercifully free of long-stay Victorian institutions and many of the shocking treatments that were commonplace back then. However, the prevalence of mental health problems and the stigma surrounding them means that there is still a lot of work for us to do
Looking forward to 2009
Major initiatives planned for 2009 include:
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A new campaign about how fear can affect our mental health
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The launch of a new online product based on the principles of mental health first aid that will equip people with the knowledge and confidence to offer practical support to people in mental distress
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The final phase of our Up and Running research. Recent polling shows that the number of GP's prescribing exercise for mild and moderate depression has risen from 5% to 22% since the launch of our campaign in 2005
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The launch of our Ambassadors scheme through which we will recruit and train a network of people who will promote our work in their local communities
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A major new report in partnership with WHO Europe (World Health Organisation) about the huge impact that mental health has on the general wellbeing and physical health of communities
Looking back on 2008
There were many high points in 2008. These included:
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Our hugely successful Boiling Point campaign on anger and mental health which reached an estimated 21 million people in the UK
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The launch of Right Here – a 5 year joint project with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation that aims to revolutionise the provision of mental health service to young people
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Recovery in Action - a 2 year project which supported service users and staff to develop recovery-focused mental health services
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A new partnership with Girl Guiding UK which will enable us to reach young girls across the country with practical activities to promote the benefits of positive friendship
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Our leading role in the 2nd annual Mental Health Film Festival in Scotland which was attended by over 10,000 people
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New research and guidance about how the Mental Capacity Act affects people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
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The launch of a new project that will address the mental health needs of isolated older men
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The fantastic commitment of the thousands of people who support the Foundation in many different ways including volunteering, making a monthly gift or spending their evening and weekends raising funds by running, singing, trekking in aid of the Foundation!
We managed all of this (and more) in a very challenging economic climate. The impact of the global downturn is significant for us – we have already seen income fall and expect 2009 to be worse still. At a time when people are much more likely to experience mental distress, for example through concerns about debt or unemployment, we face the prospect of having to scale back some of our activity. Through sound financial management and careful planning we hope to avoid major cutbacks, but we are prepared for some difficult choices as the full impact of the crisis takes effect.
On behalf of the staff and trustees of the Foundation I would like to wish you well for the festive season and to make a special plea for extra support during the difficult times ahead. Please find out how to make a donation or about other ways you can support us.
Best wishes
Dr Andrew McCulloch
Chief Executive
Mental Health Foundation
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