Warning! We
cannot guarantee for the correctness of the addresses nor the
actual political or personal positions of the persons or groups
on the list. User/survivor of psychiatry groups have different
positions and perspectives. Trying out contact addresses is
always at your own risk. / ENUSP does not accept any money from
the drug industry. National, regional and local organisations,
however, take their own decisions. For reasons of transparency,
we refer to a (co-)financing by pharmaceutical companies as
far as we know about it by the addition "sponsored by pharmaceutical
companies."
Black
Women's Mental Health Project: is an organisation, which
is managed by Black Women Users and Survivors of the Mental
Health system in the UK · Publications: web site www.bwmhp.org.uk
· Contact: Black Women's Mental Health Project, Park
Royal Business Centre, Unit 27, 9-17 Park Royal Road, LONDON
NW10 7LQ. Contact member: Angela Linton-Abulu, Tel. +44
20 89616324, e-mail bwmhp[at]yahoo.com
**
BUDDIES – Black Mental Health Support Network and Befriending
Scheme, providing a forum within a hospital setting that
incorporates all cultures and their issues (multi-cultural
sessions and discussion groups); and campaigning for cultural
specific session to be held so people can understand their
mental health through others from their own cultural backgrounds
and gain multiple perspectives whilst attending these sessions
· Target group: Black and ethnic minority groups, sufferers
and survivors, carers and community members, students etc.
· Aims: providing advice, information and a support
network to Black people who have or are experiencing mental
health or have used a mental health service. The support
network also acts as an advice and information centre for
all, who are seeking information on issues surrounding mental
health · Organisation form: non-registered selfhelp-group
· Status of workers: no workers · Funding: no
funding · Publications: articles in Community Care,
UKAN's Advocate, others · Contact: BUDDIES,
c/o 45 Wood Lane, Swain House, BRADFORD BD2 1JU, West Yorkshire,
Tel. mobile +44 7774 659623, Contact member: Carol Jenkin,
e-mail Carol[at]buddies.go-legend.net,
carol.buddies[at]blueyonder.co.uk
* Hearing
Voices Network (HVN). Hearing Voices Network helps voice
hearers to find their own ways of coming to terms with their
experience · Target group: The national network is
open to voice hearers, (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry,
their friends, relatives, carers, other interested parties.
The self-help groups are only open to voice hearers ·
Aims: To create an acceptance that hearing voices is a valid
experience for which there are many explanations. To raise
awareness of voice hearing, seeing visions, tactile sensations
and other sensory experiences. To give men, women and children
who have these experiences the opportunity to talk freely
about them. To support anyone who has these experiences
that is seeking to understand and learn and grow from them
in their own way. Training and conferences. Dissemination
of information and holding self-help groups · Organisation
form: central organisation based in Manchester with local
self-help groups based across England and Wales. HVN networks
with many other groups and organisations across the country.
Individual and organisational membership base. Quarterly
magazine "Voices", sent to over 1,000 members (May 2002)
· Status of workers: In the national office there is
1 paid worker and 6 voluntary staff · Funding: They
have just (February 2003) received charitable status and
have been given a s64 grant from the Department of Health.
NOT the Pharmaceutical industry – as a principal ·
Publications: various information leaflets and other publications
about voice hearing. web site www.hearing-voices.org ·
Contact: Hearing Voices Network, 91 Oldham Street, MANCHESTER
M4 1LW, Tel. +44 161 8345768, e-mail hearingvoices[at]care4free.net
InterAction.
InterAction aims to assist in the growth of civil societies
in developing countries (and those in transition) by enabling
adults with mental distress to become involved in public
action and policies to improve mental health systems and
enable them to participate more fully in the societies in
which they live. InterAction is an international organisation,
based in the UK. It is a registered charity. Chair: Robert
Hayward (from April 1st, 2005). · Contact: InterAction,
1 Tankerton Road, WHISTABLE, Kent, CT5 2AB, Tel. +44 1227
272789, e-mail info[at]interaction.uk.net
National
Phobics Society – an anxiety disorders charity
· Target group: "anyone affected by Anxiety, Panic
Attacks/Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD), Social Phobia, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Trichotillomania,
Tranquilliser Problems, Agoraphobia, Other Phobias such
as fear of: blushing, heights, vomiting, spiders, HIV, cancer,
heart disease, being alone, public speaking, thunderstorms,
dentists, death, school, confined spaces etc." · Aims:
"Our primary aim is to promote the relief and rehabilitation
of persons suffering with anxiety disorders through information
and provision of self-help services. To advance awareness
of the general public in the causes and conditions of anxiety
disorders and associated phobias" · Organisation form:
user-led and have a membership of over 6000 to date (Febr.
2003) · Status of workers : 2 paid workers both are
service users, and over 500 volunteers. The services include
1:1 therapies such as CBT, counselling, complementary therapies,
helplines, self-help groups" · Funding: "The organisation
is 80% funded through service user subscriptions, and 20%
via national gov funding. We also receive in kind support
from GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals" · Publications:
web site www.phobics-society.org.uk, "Don't Panic" newsletter
– distributed quarterly; fact-sheets, tapes ·
Contact: National Phobics Society, Zion Community Resource
Centre, 339 Stretford Road, Hulme, MANCHESTER, M15 4ZY,
Tel. +44 870 7700456, Fax +44 161 2279862, e-mail nationalphobic[at]btconnect.com
National
Self Harm Network (NSHN). Survivor-led organisation,
founded in 1994 · Target group: people who self-harm
and associates/allies · Organisation form: centrally
based in Nottingham · Aims: To support and empower
people who self harm and to challenge assumptions and demystify
common misconceptions, representing (ex-)users and survivors
of psychiatry in politics, lobbying, advocacy, training
and education, raising awareness among general public, health
services and health staff, dissemination of information
· Status of workers: unknown · Funding: unknown
· Publications: The NSHN produces and disseminates
publications around self-harm. web site www.nshn.co.uk/
· Contact: NSHN, PO Box 7264, Nottingham, NG1 6WJ,
e-mail info[at]nshn.co.uk
National
Voices Forum. UK user-led organisation run by
mad people for mad people · Target group: People
with experience of severe mental illness. Also enquiries
taken from all other groups · Organisation form: central
organisation with about 12 local groups · Aims: Seeks
to develop mutual support on the one hand and express the
user viewpoint on the other. To participate in raising awareness
of the user viewpoint and experience. Representing (ex-)users
and survivors in politics, lobbying, advocacy – to
a limited extent – a referral point, training and education,
annual poetry competition, participate in research, raising
awareness of the user viewpoint and experience · Status
of workers: 1 part-time paid worker (25 hours per week),
4 volunteers who have specific roles (1 website manager,
2 liaison officers and 1 project worker) · Funding:
Funded by Department of Health grant and a Trust. "Pharmaceutical
industry – no and would hope never to have to do."
· Publications: Voices Forum magazine is an
outlet to disseminate information, production of leaflets
e.g. one on new medications, another on "an inside view
of schizophrenia" and a general leaflet about Voices Forum
including an application form. web site www.voicesforum.org.uk/
· Contact: Voices Forum, 28 Castle Street, Kingston-upon-Thames,
Surrey, KT6 4NS, Tel. +44 208 5479226, e-mail graham[at]voicesforum.org.uk
No
Panic · Target group: anxiety disorder sufferers
and their carers; open to anyone with an interest in anxiety
disorders · Aims: to aid the relief and rehabilitation
of those people suffering from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive
Compulsive Disorders, other related Anxiety Disorder, including
tranquilliser withdrawal · Organisation form: international
· Status of workers: one and half paid workers and
85 volunteers · Funding: membership fees and voluntary
donations · Publications: web site www.no-panic.co.uk
and a variety of booklets, audio cassettes, CD's & video
cassettes (see "No Panic" web site) · Contact: No Panic,
93, Brands Farm Way, TELFORD, Shropshire, TF3 2JQ, Tel.
+44 1952 590005, Fax +44 1952 270962, e-mail ceo[at]no-panic.co.uk
Survivors
Poetry · Target group: survivors of psychiatry
and empathetic supporters interested in poetry · Aims:
to support survivors in the development of their creativity
through poetry. Training and education, recreation, some
research, raising awareness, dissemination of information,
quarterly magazine, various publications of poetry ·
Organisation form: Central organisation with local groups.
Survivors Poetry exists to give a voice to survivors of
psychiatry through workshops and performances of poetry.
All activities are run by, and for, survivors · Status
of workers: paid and voluntary staff: 3 part-time paid workers
and 4 regular volunteers. Endless other volunteers on an
irregular (as-needs) basis · Funding: subsidised by
the Arts Council of Great Britain, small amount of own funding,
NOT the Pharmaceutical industry – by choice, various
grant giving foundations · Publications: Various publications,
between others: "We Have Come Through" and "Ten Russian
Poets" – both are anthologies of poetry. web site http://groups.msn.com/survivorspoetry
· Contact: Survivors Poetry, Diorama Arts Centre, 34
Osnaburgh Street, LONDON, NW1 3ND, Tel. +44 20 79165317,
e-mail survivor[at]survivorspoetry.org.uk
*
Survivors Speak Out · Target group: (ex-)users
and survivors of psychiatry. Also open to their friends,
relatives and other allies · Aims: National network
of survivors of psychiatry for change of the psychiatric
system. Individuals should have a greater say in the way
they are treated. Promoting more positive images of "mental
illness." Committed to: challenging the worst excesses of
the statutory mental health services in an open and intelligent
way; promoting self and peer advocacy and supporting and
encouraging survivors · Organisation form: Centrally
based in London · Status of workers: Voluntary staff.
Funding: unknown · Publications: unknown · Contact:
Survivors Speak Out, 44 Seldon House, Stewarts Road, LONDON,
SW8 4DP
* United
Kingdom Advocacy Network (UKAN): a national federation
of independent mental health user-run patients councils,
support groups, advocacy projects and user forums, open
for all interested people · Target group: mental health
service users, professionals and carers · Aims: To
provide information and training in mental health advocacy,
representing users, ex-users and survivors in politics,
lobbying, advocacy, training and education, research, raising
awareness, collection and dissemination of information about
patients’ councils, advocacy, projects and user forums and
provides this information in order to facilitate wider development
of user involvement and user led mental health services
through the quarterly magazine, "The Advocate," and other
publications · Organisation form: Centrally located
in Sheffield with – in February 2003 – about 300
affiliated user groups (about 200 of which are user-only
groups) in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
· Status of workers: 5 part-time paid workers and 1
regular volunteer plus about 25 people on their management
committee · Funding: Subsidised partly by the government
through the Department of Health, a small amount of own
funding (about 4%), nothing from the pharmaceutical industry
– a deliberate policy, about 70% of funding comes from
grant giving trusts · Publications: Publications apart
from "The Advocate" magazine there are two publications:
The "UKAN Advocacy Training Pack" and "A Clear Voice, A
Clear Vision: the Advocacy Reader"; web site www.thepatientsforum.org.uk/ukadvocacynetwork.asp
· Contact: UKAN, 14 – 18 West Bar Green, SHEFFIELD,
S1 2DA, Tel. +44 114 2728171, Fax +44 114 2727786, e-mail
office[at]u-kan.co.uk,
contact person: Liz Skelton liz[at]u-kan.co.uk
Benzodiazepine.org:
Prescription Drug Addiction – Information Site And
Forum Color Benzodiazapine Addiction, Withdrawal And Recovery
Information
MadPride:
web site about Mental Health System Survivors overcoming
discrimination in the UK and all over the world, started
up by Peter Shaunessy
Service User Research Enterprise (SURE). SURE involves
service users in mental health research through training,
capacity building, opportunities for participation in collaborative
research projects and by conducting user led research. The
Commision for Health Improvement (CHI) has stated the SURE
project is "notable practice," i.e. no one does
it better · Aims: to promote user involvement in research
both in the local area where we work (South London), nationally
in the UK and internationally · Organisation form:
SURE is the service user research unit at the Institute
of Psychiatry, London. This is a research and teaching institution
and part of the statutory education system in the UK. It
focuses on research and post-graduate teaching · Status
of workers: There are four paid employees in SURE and others
are involved who are paid a small fee under what is known
in the UK as "permitted work" for people who are on sickness
welfare benefits · Funding: Our funding comes from
the local Trust (hospital and community care) research budget
and from research grants for which we have successfully
bid · Publications: web site (in preparation) ·
Contact: SURE, Diana Rose, Co-ordinator, PO34, Institute
of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5
8AF, Tel. +44 207 8485066
Survivors'
United Network: "Developing, Sharing And Promoting Creative
& Innovative Good Practice In Mental Health Recovery, Locally,
Nationally and Internationally." This website contains over
70 pages of information on recovery, mental health issues,
health & well being, educational articles, self management
techniques, research, volunteering and networking opportunities,
all of which can be used to facilitate and support an individuals
recovery from mental distress and our site is a valuable
information resource for mental health professionals, academics,
supporters and allies. All contributions are welcomed ·
Publications: web site www.healthy-life-styles.com/index.htm
· Contact: Ms Julia Bromley, "Survivors Network Co-ordinator,"
Survivors Network, c/o Voluntary Action Manchester, North
Square, 11-13 Spear Street, MANCHESTER, M1 1JU, e-mail survivors.network[at]ukgateway.net
The
uksurvivors list was set up for all UK mental health
survivors, disabled people and allies who are interested
in networking together and discussing proposed new laws.
It is a public list and anyone can join. To post a message,
send it to uksurvivors[at]eGroups.com
England
National Groups
ACUSF – African Caribbean Users/Survivors Forum
· Target group: National network of African and
Caribbean (ex-)users and survivors of the mental health
system · Aims: To provide advice and support for
users, survivors and families · Organisation form:
unknown · Status of workers: unknown · Funding:
unknown · Publications: unknown · Contact:
ACUSF, 332 Brixton Road, LONDON, SW9
*
MindLink
– a network of mental health service survivors
· Target group: (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry
only · Aims: The primary purpose of MindLink is
to ensure (ex-)users/survivors of mental health services
have a direct say in shaping Mind, its policies and
its campaigns. Although MindLink operates within Mind,
it is also part of the broader survivor movement. Further
aims: Representing users, ex-users and survivors of
psychiatry in politics, lobbying of parliament and MPs
(members of the parliament), training and education,
research, raising awareness, dissemination of information
· Organisation form: MindLink is part of Mind which
is British largest Mental Health Charity covering both
England and Wales.
MindLink has a structure of operation within Mind and
there are terms of reference to enable MindLink to deliver
its work. MindLink is centrally based in London but
have an Advisory Panel with 26 elected members spread
across England and Wales who meets quarterly and works
with the whole membership as well as directly with Mind,
Mind Local Associations and external mental health organisations
including in Europe. Membership is for users/survivors
of psychiatry in England and Wales but we do not turn
away any (ex-)users/survivors of psychiatry – so
in February 2003 we have 1,030 members in England and
Wales and 34 members who live outside England and Wales
· Status of workers: 2 full-time workers, 2 regular
volunteers providing 2 days a week voluntary work, 26
elected members undertaking regular voluntary work and
1,300 members who make regular but informal input to
Mind and its work · Funding: MindLink is wholly
funded by Mind although we have had external funding
on occasion. We will not seek or accept any funding
from the pharmaceutical industry · Publications:
web site www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/Networks/mindLink
, quarterly information packs; users poetry and prose
is published in the newsletter · Contact: MindLink,
c/o Mind, 15 – 19 Broadway, LONDON, E15 4BQ, Tel.
+44 20 82152210, Fax +44 181 5221725. Mind Link Development
Manager: Shannon O'Neill, e-mail s.oneill[at]mind.org.uk
Local Groups
* Brent Black African
and Caribbean Mental Health Consortium, 3 Chesham Street,
Neasden, London NW10 OBH
* Loud & Clear, 22
– 24 High Road, Willeshen, LONDON, NW LO
OBSESSIVE ACTION, Aberdeen Centre, 22-24 Highbury Grove,
LONDON N5 2EA, Tel. +44 171 2072264000 (Information
and Membership), Fax +44 171 2072880828, e-mail admin[at]obsessive-action.demon.co.uk
DISTRESS
AWARENESS TRAINING AGENCY (DATA), U.K.'s longest established
survivor training group · Organisation form: regional
organisation · Involvement of users/survivors: all
members are survivors · Target group: survivors of
psychiatry · Aims: provide training, research and
consultancy services · Status of workers: paid ·
Funding: commissioned to carry out particular pieces of
work · Decision to accept moey from the pharmaceutical
industry: not considered · Publications: web site
www.distress.org.uk · Contact: DATA, 60 Curlew Road,
OLDHAM, Lancashire, OL4 5NS, England, Tel. +44 161 408122,
e-mail andrew[at]survivorservices.com
PAPYRUS
– Working together for the prevention of Young
Suicide · Target group: anyone concerned about
suicide prevention especially in young people ·
Aims: promote an understanding of the unique contribution
that families/carers can make to suicide prevention;
promote public awareness of the importance of emotional
well-being and good mental health; promote awareness
of the risk of mental or emotional distress during adolescence
and throughout life, and to help to remove the stigma
of such occurrences; provide assistance to parents and
others, in a caring or professional role, in supporting
vulnerable young people; to be represented in policy
making decisions at all levels and to monitor their
implementation; encourage the promotion of emotional
well-being and good mental health at all levels of education;
encourage, initiate and take part in the development
of learning opportunities for all those involved; encourage,
take part and/or initiate research into suicide prevention;
co-operate with professional and voluntary bodies working
in the suicide prevention field; ensure that adequate
mental health services are available for young people,
and that there should be an easily accessible route
to such help on an informal basis; encourage examples
of good practice in suicide prevention; where a suicide
has already occurred, to encourage the provision of
appropriate support, either voluntary or professional,
for those closely and traumatically affected ·
Organisation form: national · Status of workers:
2 part-time paid, several ad hoc volunteers (Febr. 2003)
· Funding: No regular funding other than membership
fees, applications are made for funds for specific projects,
small income from the sale of publications etc. ·
Publications: web site www.papyrus-uk.org, booklets:
"Thinking Of Ending It All?," "Not Just A Cry For Help,"
video resource: "Don't Die Of Embarrassment," research
report: "With The Benefit Of Hindsight," others planned
or in process (Febr. 2003) · Contact: PAPYRUS (Prevention
of Suicides), Rossendale GH, Union Road, Rawtenstall
BB4 6NE, Tel. / Fax +44 1706 214449, Contact: Tony Cox
(Administrator), e-mail admin[at]papyrus-uk.org
MANIC DEPRESSION FELLOWSHIP-Scotland · Contact:
Mile End Mill, Studio 1019, Abbey Mill Business Centre,
Seed Hill Road, PAISLEY, PA1 1TJ
Scottish Users Network: defunct. There are discussions
around creating a new structure, but there is unlikely
to be a new organisation for a while (February 2003)
Others
* New
Horizons Border: New Horizons Borders operates a
member-led self-help and support network for people
who have experienced mental health problems. It is regional
organisation that serves the population of the Scottish
Borders. The organisation operates Drop-in sessions
throughout this rural region and runs a garden and a
Gallery to exhibit Artwork produced by members. The
organisation is managed by a committee selected from
the membership at the annual AGM. They are responsible
for the employment of staff and overall running of the
Charity" · Publications: web site www.newhorizonsborders.freeserve.co.uk
· Address: New Horizons Borders, 3, Market Street,
GALASHIELS, TD1 3AD, Tel. +44 1896 755510, e-mail new-horizons2[at]btconnect.com
Wales
Nation-Wide Organisations
* US
Network · Target group: US Network is the All
Wales User and Survivor Network for people who use or
have used mental health services and their allies ·
Aims: The Network aims to provide an effective voice
for survivors/users and to increase awareness of mental
health issues and works for better mental health services
in Wales. The user voice in the network is carried forward
to the Welsh Assembly where policy for mental health
is formed. Further aims: lobbying, promote advocacy,
recreation – work with Theatre Forum – drama
group, research raising awareness, dissemination of
information through a quarterly newsletter · Organisation
form: Central Welsh organisation with 600 members (Febr.
2003) · Status of workers: 1 full-time paid worker,
there are 12 trustees who provide regular voluntary
support plus any of the 600 members can be called upon
to help if/when needed · Funding: Funding through
by the Welsh Assembly. Pharmaceutical industry –
not yet, but would accept (but not if funding was conditional)
· Publications: Series of working papers, web site
www.usnetwork.co.uk · Contact: Network, Offices
2 & 4, Crynant Business Centre, Crynant Business Park,
Crynant Neath, SA10 8PA, Tel. +44 1639 751022, Fax +44
1639 750602, e-mail jeff[at]walesnetwork.freeserve.co.uk
