News Release, 2 May 2002
Ruth Lesirge, chief executive, Mental Health Foundation has announced that she is planning to leave the charity in September this year - at which point she will have headed up the charity for nearly three years.
Ruth Lesirge, 57, commented, "The Foundation has just had one of its most successful years in terms of fundraising; with a full programme in place it is a positive time to leave. Personally, this is makes it the stage at which to move; having headed up national organisations for 10 years, I want to substantially change my work-life balance.
"The Mental Health Foundation is working on a number of programmes which have major implications for the future of mental health services and support networks in the UK. Our report on community-based crisis services was warmly welcomed by the Health Minister in February. Our research and development on children's mental health is having a major influence on both schools and specialist mental health services, and projects exploring how best to provide early services to people with dementia are starting to produce results.
"In addition the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities' focus on older people with learning disabilities had a profound effect on the Government's recent learning disability strategy and we have now begun a major programme on learning disabilities and mental health. I remain passionately committed to the work that the Foundation does and am very proud of what the staff has achieved."
Christopher Martin, chair, Mental Health Foundation, said "Ruth has made an enormous contribution to the development of the Foundation and we will be very sorry to see her go."
Return to news releases 2002
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