Useful Links

Please note that Mind cannot be held responsible for the content of external sites.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Foundation for Integrated Health
http://www.fih.org.uk
Aims to promote the development and integrated delivery of safe, effective and efficient forms of healthcare, including conventional and complementary medicine, to patients and their families.

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ANXIETY AND PHOBIAS

First Steps to Freedom
http://www.first-steps.org/
Voluntary organisation offering help, advice and support to people with experience of phobias, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder, together with help, advice and support for their families and carers.

National Phobics Society
http://www.phobics-society.org.uk
A user-led organisation, run by people with experience of anxiety disorders, offering support via a range of services including therapy.

No Panic
http://www.nopanic.org.uk/
A charity aiming to aid the relief and rehabilitation of people who experience panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders and other anxiety disorders, including tranquilliser withdrawal.

The London Upright MRI Centre
http://www.uprightmri.co.uk/
Centre providing an upright, open MRI machine suitable for patients with anxiety or claustrophobia who have found it difficult to use traditional MRI scanners.

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BEREAVEMENT

Compassionate Friends
http://www.tcf.org.uk/
An organisation of bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children.

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BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS

Commission for Racial Equality
http://www.cre.gov.uk/
Works in partnership with individuals and organisations for a fair and just society which values diversity and gives everyone an equal chance to work, learn and live free from discrimination, prejudice and racism.

The Afiya Trust
http://www.afiyatrust.org/
A London based, Black and Ethnic Minority led, second tier organisation with a nation-wide remit to reduce inequality in health and social care provision for racialised groups.

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CARERS

Carers UK
http://www.carersuk.org
Carers UK is a charity set up and run by carers, providing information and advice and campaigning for better lives for carers. Has a network of local branches.

Princess Royal Trust for Carers
http://www.afiyatrust.org/
Advice, support services and networks for carers in the UK. Incorporates a website for young carer, www.youngcarers.net

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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

ChildLine
http://www.childline.org.uk/
ChildLine is the UK 's free national helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger.

Lifebytes
http://www.lifebytes.gov.uk
For children aged 11 to 14. Overseen by the Health Development Agency (on behalf of the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment).

Mind, Body and Soul
http://www.mindbodysoul.gov.uk/emotional/emomenu.html
Aims to give young people aged 14 to 16 the lowdown on health in a fun and interesting way. Overseen by the Health Development Agency.

Young Minds
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Young Minds is the national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people.

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COMMUNITY CARE

Independent Living Alternatives
http://www.ilanet.co.uk/
Independent Living Alternatives (ILA) is a charity that promotes independence for people with disabilities. Support and information for people wishing to recruit and employ their own personal assistants.

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CRIME

NACRO
http://www.nacro.org.uk/
Crime reduction charity aiming to make society safer by finding practical solutions to reducing crime. Projects include resettling prisoners, working with young people, housing people, working with families and communities, getting people into work and finding better ways to reduce crime.

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DEPRESSION

Depression Alliance
http://www.depressionalliance.org/
Charity working to relieve and prevent depression by providing information and support services to those who are affected by it. Also campaigns to reduce stigma and raise awareness.

Defeat Depression (Sir Robert Mond Memorial Trust)
http://www.depression.org.uk/
Website contains information on stress, anxiety and depression.

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DIAGNOSIS ISSUES

Thyromind
http://www.thyromind.info/
Thyromind believes that people diagnosed with mental illness who have not had a thyroid test need testing to rule out the possibility that their symptoms may have been caused partly or wholly by thyroid disease.

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DIET

Food and Mood Project
http://www.foodandmood.org/
Its purpose is to empower individuals to explore the relationship between diet, nutrition and mental and emotional health.

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DISABILITY (GENERAL)

Directgov - information for disabled people
http://www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/fs/en
Directgov aims to provide a single point of online access to government disability services and information - including independent living, financial support, rights and much more.

Diss - Disability Information Services
http://www.diss.org.uk/
A web site designed to provide up-to-date details for key disability information and service providers.

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DUAL DIAGNOSIS

Turning Point
http://www.turning-point.co.uk/
Turning Point provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability.

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EATING DISTRESS

Eating Disorders Association
http://www.edauk.com/
National charity offering help, support and information to people whose lives are affected by eating disorders, in particular, anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

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EMPLOYMENT

Workable
http://www.carter-and-carter.com/
Charity which administers the Leach Bursary which is available to disabled people wishing to study a post-graduate qualification in broadcast/print journalism.

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HELPLINES

Telephone Helplines Association
http://www.helplines.org.uk/
See this site for important information about calling helplines or search their online database of over 1000 helplines.

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HOMELESSNESS

Homeless UK
http://homelessuk.org/details.asp?id=LP10
A website about services that help homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.

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HOUSING

SITRA
http://www.sitra.org.uk/
A charitable resource centre dedicated to raising standards in Supported Housing. Provide training, constancy, information sharing and advice services to the sector.

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INFORMATION ON RESOURCES

Resource Information Service
http://www.ris.org.uk/
Resource Information Service (RIS) specialises in collecting, analysing and publishing information that helps voluntary and statutory sector agencies deliver better services to people in need.

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LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

Mencap
http://www.mencap.org.uk/
Mencap works with people with learning disabilities to fight discrimination, campaigning to ensure that their rights are recognised and that they are respected as individuals.

Mental Health Foundation
http://www.mhf.org.uk/
Aims to improve the lives of everyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities using research, service development and information to increase understanding and meet people's needs.

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LEGAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE

Community Legal Service Direct
http://www.clsdirect.org.uk/index.jsp
The Community Legal Service has been set up to provide co-ordinated access to the legal advice and assistance people need most in order to develop an informed society that is aware of its rights and responsibilities.

Department of Health information on consent to treatment http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance
/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/Consent/fs/en
Information for various groups regarding consent to treatment and research. There are also guides for clinicians. This is official Government guidance for which Mind cannot take responsibility. Readers are advised to take their own individual legal advice as necessary.

Disability Rights Commission
http://www.drc-gb.org/
The Disability Rights Commission is an independent body set up by the Government to help secure civil rights for disabled people.

Adviceguide
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/
The Adviceguide website is the main public information service of Citizens Advice, providing people with round-the-clock access to CAB information on their rights - including benefits, housing and employment, and on debt, consumer and legal issues.

Information about the Mental Health Act 1983
http://www.markwalton.net/
A comprehensive guide to the Mental Health Act (1983) and related matters.

Information about the Human Rights Act
http://www.dca.gov.uk/peoples-rights/
human-rights/index.htm
Department for Constitutional Affairs website about the Act.

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LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust
http://www.elcmht.nhs.uk
Cvers The City of London and the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and, for forensic services only - Barking and Havering.

City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust http://www.chpct.nhs.uk/trust_services/index.asp
Committed to continually improving people's working lives.

Homerton Hospital
http://www.homerton.nhs.uk
Provides mental health services through a registered mental health nurse to all inpatient wards in the hospital. Its A&E department offers a 24-hour psychiatric service on an outpatient basis, in association with East London and the City Mental Health Trust.

National Mind
http://www.mind.org.uk

MANIC DEPRESSION

MDF The BiPolar Organisation
http://www.mdf.org.uk/
A user led charity working to enable people affected by bipolar disorder/manic depression to take control of their lives.

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MEDICATION

British National Formulary
http://www.bnf.org.uk/bnf/
Electronic version of the British National Formulary. Up-to-date guidance on prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines.

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MENTAL HEALTH (GENERAL INFORMATION)

BBC mental health section
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/
mental_health/index.shtml
BBC Online have mental health pages within their health section with information covering a wide range of topics.

Mental Health Foundation
http://www.mhf.org.uk/
Aims to improve the lives of everyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities, using research, service development and information to increase understanding and meet people's needs.

SANE
http://www.sane.org.uk/
Charity concerned with improving the lives of everyone affected by mental illness.

Wired for Health
http://www.sane.org.uk/
A series of websites developed by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills, providing health information for a range of audiences, relating to the National Curriculum and the National Healthy Schools Programme.

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MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION

Mind out for mental health
http://mindout.clarity.uk.net/
Campaign to stop the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health. Run on behalf of the government by a company called Forsters communications.

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NHS

NHS Direct
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
NHS Direct is a 24 hour nurse led telephone advice and information service and is part of the National Health Service.

The Patients Association
http://www.patients-association.org.uk/
Services include a helpline offering advice on problems relating to health and healthcare, or the chance to talk to someone about your experiences.

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POSTNATAL DEPRESSION

The Association for Post-Natal Illness
http://www.apni.org/
Charity providing support to mothers suffering from postnatal illness.

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POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Combat Stress
http://www.combatstress.org.uk/
The ex-services mental welfare society. Offers assistance to veterans experiencing combat related mental distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

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PRISONS

Support, Help and Advice for Relatives and friends of Prisoners (SHARP)
http://www.s-h-a-r-p.org.uk/
Free and confidential help, advice, support and friendship to the relatives and friends of those serving sentences, awaiting trial or facing the prospect of legal action.

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PSYCHIATRY

Royal College of Psychiatrists
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

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RESEARCH AND POLICY MAKING

Sainsbury Centre
http://www.scmh.org.uk
An independent charity that seeks to influence mental health policy and practice and enable the development of excellent mental health services through a co-ordinated programme of research, training and development.

King's Fund
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/
Independent health care charity working for better health in London. Gives grants to individuals and organisations. Carries out research and development work to bring about better health policies and services.

Mental Health Foundation
http://www.mhf.org.uk/
Aims to improve the lives of everyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities using research, service development and information to increase understanding and meet people's needs.

Oxford Student Mental Health Network
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/osmhn/
Links to mental health resources and a comprehensive bibliography of British research articles relating to student mental health issues.

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SCHIZOPHRENIA

Rethink (formerly National Schizophrenia Fellowship) http://www.rethink.org/
Dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by severe mental illness, whether they have a condition themselves, care for others who do, or are professionals or volunteers working in the mental health field.

NHS information on schizophrenia http://www.nelmh.org/home_schizophrenic.asp?c=10
Tthis website aims to provide patients and carers with the best available evidence to answer their questions about schizophrenia.

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TALKING TREATMENTS

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
http://www.bacp.co.uk/
Publishes directories and other information to enable those seeking counselling and training to make an informed choice.

British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
http://www.babcp.org.uk/
A multi-disciplinary interest group for people involved in the practice and theory of behavioural and cognitive psychotherapies.

Relate
http://www.relate.org.uk/
Charity providing counselling, sex therapy, relationship education and training to support couple and family relationships throughout life.

Samaritans
http://www.samaritans.org.uk/
Samaritans is a registered charity based in the UK and Republic of Ireland that provides confidential emotional support to any person who is suicidal or despairing. Aims to increase public awareness of issues around suicide and depression.

Westminster Pastoral Foundation
http://www.wpf.org.uk/
Charity aiming to provide counselling and psychotherapy on an affordable basis to people with emotional, psychological and relationship problems.

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THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES

The Association of Therapeutic Communities http://www.therapeuticcommunities.org
Supportive organisation for professionals working in therapeutic communities, offering information, debate, training and support. Includes a database of therapeutic communities.

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