Alcoholics
Anonymous UK
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
Alcoholics Anonymous is a
self-help network that offers support to men and women who want to stop drinking
alcohol. The site includes details of different ways Alcoholics Anonymous can
help people with a drink problem.
Ask
About Medicines
www.askaboutmedicines.org/
The site gives
information on “Ask About Medicines Week”. This is an independent campaign
that encourages people to access reliable and accurate information on medicines,
so they can get the best out of the medicines they take. A booklet
(which can be downloaded from the site)
contains web addresses for a number of mental health groups and women’s
organizations.
Asylum
www.asylumonline.net/
Asylum is a quarterly
magazine that grew out of the radical democratic movement within and against
psychiatry. The magazine’s articles are written by people with experience of
mental distress and allied health professionals. Asylum includes the newsletter
of “Psychology, Politics, Resistance.”
The
Beaumont Society
www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/
The organization provides
information and support to the transgender, transvestite , transsexual and cross
dressing community. Another aim is to improve the public’s understanding,
tolerance and acceptance of the conditions of transgender, transvestism and
gender dysphoria. The site includes information for family members; details of
membership; and a list of planned events.
Black
Women’s Health
www.blackwomenshealth.com/
This is an
American site that aims to address the physical, mental and spiritual health of African
American women. The site includes a section on spiritual and mental health.
Bristol
Crisis Service for Women (BCSW)
www.users.zetnet.co.uk/bcsw/
BCSW supports
women in emotional distress, particularly those who harm themselves.
The
Department of Health (DoH)
www.dh.gov.uk/
The DoH website includes draft health documents for consultation;
responses to past consultations; the government’s latest health reports,
policies and strategies (which can be downloaded); and guidance on how patients
and the public can become more involved in health services.
Depression
Alliance
www.depressionalliance.org/
The
organization provides information, support and understanding to people affected
by depression. The site includes details of publications; the Alliance’s pen
friend scheme; available training; self-helps groups linked to the Alliance and
research the organization has been involved in.
Eating
Disorders Association
www.edauk.com/
This organisation offers
information and support to people experiencing problems with food such as
anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
The
Expert Patients Programme
www.expertpatients.nhs.uk/
The Expert Patients Programme
offers six-week self-management courses to people with long-term health
conditions. The courses (which are run by the NHS) are free and aim to give
people the confidence, skills and knowledge to manage their health better. The
course leaders themselves live with long-term health conditions. This website
gives details of courses across England.
The
Fawcett Society
www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/
This organization has a vision
of a society in which women and men are equal partners. With this in mind the
Fawcett Society campaigns for changes in policies, structures, cultures and
processes that will lead to real improvements in women's lives.
The Fellowship
of Depressives Anonymous (FDA) www.depressionanon.co.uk/
The FDA is
national, self-help charity run by volunteers. It is made up of a network of
individuals who have experienced depression. Members meet on a regular basis for
mutual support. The site includes information about depression, details of
support schemes members have established and useful links.
The
Gender Trust
www.gendertrust.org.uk/
This UK charity supports
adults who are transsexual, gender dysphoric or transgender. The Trust also
offers information and support to families, partners and friends whose lives are
affected. Another role of the Trust is to advise professional people who deal
with issues of gender identity in the course of their work. The site includes
information on “The Gender Recognition Act”; details of future events; and
membership pages.
Greater
London Action on Disability (GLAD)
www.GLAD.org.uk
GLAD campaigns for the rights and needs of disabled people to be acknowledged. The organization recognizes the power of groups with a shared interest working together, this led to “Common Agenda” a project that saw GLAD campaigning on a number of mental health issues. GLAD produces a bi-monthly newsletter for disabled women “Boadicea Boadicea”.
The
Healthcare Commission (CHAI)
www.chai.org.uk
This
organization is an independent body that aims to improve the quality of health
services. The Commission inspects the NHS and other health organisations and
assesses the quality of their work. The site offers information about the role
of the Commission; reports that can be downloaded; and details of how people can
get involved in the Commission’s consultations.
Hearing
Voices Network
www.hearing-voices.org/
This organization offers
support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.
The
Home Office
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
This website includes a page
on the Home Office’s Mental Health Unit. (The Mental Health Unit advises
Government Ministers on the development of polices for treating people who are
labelled as “mentally disordered offenders”). Information about mental
health law and proposed changes can be found here. The site also includes
publications that can be downloaded and details of how people can get involved
in consultations the Home Office is running.
International
Women’s Day
www.internationalwomensday.com
International Women's Day (8
March) is a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political
achievements of women. This site gives information about the origins of the
Day and lists events taking place across the word in recognition of women’s
achievements.
The Kissit Campaign www.kissit.org/
This campaign encourages
survivors to voice their outrage at the way they have been treated by
psychiatric services. The aim is to generate media coverage, highlight the
issues, raise awareness, and provoke the debate. This is achieved through
peaceful and humorous public demonstrations. The site provides information about
the campaign, details of planned demonstrations, personal testimonies and images
of a past rally.
Liberty
www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/
Liberty is a UK based organization that campaigns to protect and promote civil liberties and human rights. The
organization lobbies
Parliament; challenges unjust laws; takes up
test cases; conducts research; publishes reports; and provides
advice and guidance. The site includes details of events; a guide to human
rights and civil liberties; information on how people can get involved; and past
press releases.
London
Friend Helpline
www.londonfriend.org.uk
London Friend is a voluntary organisation that has been serving the lesbian, gay and bisexual community for over 30 years. It exists to promote, support and campaign for the social and emotional well-being, physical and sexual health of lesbian, gay and bisexual people and those who are unsure of their sexuality. London Friend offers counselling and support services which set out to explore issues of same sex- relationships, sexual identity and promote personal growth and self confidence. The organisation also provides a safe space as an alternative place to meet and socialise.
London
Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
www.llgs.org.uk/
The switchboard
provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and
bisexual people.
Mad Chicks www.geocities.com/mad_chicks_uk/
This group (which is the
female branch of Mad Pride) uses creativity to challenge discrimination and
misinformation in relation to women’s mental health.
Mad Pride
www.madpride.org.uk/
Mad
Pride is committed
to ending discrimination against psychiatric patients, promoting survivor
equality and celebrating Mad culture. The group sees itself as part of the civil rights
movement.
Make Time For
Health
www.cppih.org/ppi_new.html
Every Mental
Health Trust and Primary Care Trust (PCT) in England has a Patient and Public
Involvement (PPI) Forum. Members of the Forums are ordinary local people who
volunteer their time. PPI Forums play a key role in raising awareness of the
needs and views of patients and the public. This site explains more about the
role of PPI Forums and how people can become members.
The Manic Depression
Fellowship (MDF)
www.mdf.org.uk/
The MDF’s aim is to help
people affected by manic depression (sometimes know as “bi-polar affective
disorder”) to take control of their lives. The site offers information about
the condition and different ways of managing it. Other areas of the charity’s
work are covered including self-help groups and self-management training.
The
Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) www.mhac.org.uk/
The MHAC
safeguards the interests of people detained under the Mental Health Act and
ensures that detained people are treated appropriately and according to legal
requirements. The site includes details of the MHAC’s work and leaflets for
detained patients on such subjects as consent to treatment; consent for
electro-convulsive therapy (ECT); and how to make a complaint.
Mental
Health Alliance
www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk/
The Mental Health Alliance
is a coalition of user groups; voluntary sector organizations; health and social
care professionals; lawyers; research bodies and carers’ associations. The
Alliance wants to see reduction in the use of compulsory powers and is
campaigning for mental health law that provides a legal right to assessment and
treatment. This website explains the reasons behind the campaign, and what
people can do to help. It also includes information about the Draft Mental
Health Bill.
The Mental
Health Foundation
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
This organization aims to
help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems.
Information on the site includes how to get help for mental health problems; how
to complain about NHS treatment; recent news articles about mental health; and
fact sheets on issues that can affect mental health.
Mental Health
Media
www.mhmedia.com/
This organization uses the
media to challenge the negative stereotypes that surround mental distress. To
achieve its aims the Mental Health Media produces videos and other media
training resources and works closely with journalists and broadcasters. It also
offers mental health service users advice on media campaigns and courses in media skills training.
Mental
Health Primary Care in Prison
www.prisonmentalhealth.org/
This site aims
to help doctors and nurses who work in prisons to provide better mental health
care for their patients. It covers a range of issues relating to the mental
health of prisoners, including sections on mothers; women who have experienced
domestic violence; self harm; responding to people abused as children; Black and
minority ethnic prisoners; and ethical issues. The site also lists resources for
both patients and health professionals.
Mind
www.mind.org.uk/
Mind is a national charity
that challenges discrimination against people with experience of mental
distress. Mind’s work includes influencing policy, promoting inclusion,
campaigning and education. Mindlink (Mind’s network of mental health service
survivors) has a page on the site.
The
National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) www.nimhe.org.uk
This
organization is sponsored by the Department of Health and aims to promote
positive change in mental health services. The site includes an online
”Knowledge Community”. This is for people with an interest in mental health
(including service users, family, friends and service providers) to share, information and
experiences relating to mental health. The aim of the “Knowledge Community”
is to improve services and to improve the way that people with mental health
problems are treated in everyday situations. The site also covers the range of
work NIMHE is involved in. This includes gender and women’s mental health;
prison mental health; and service user and carer involvement.
National
Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)
www.npsa.nhs.uk
The NPSA is a
Special Health Authority that was set up so lessons could be learnt from
incidents affecting the safety of patients in the NHS. The Patient and Public Reporting site gives
people the opportunity to tell the NPSA their personal experiences of using the
NHS. The information that is received from patients is used to make health
services safer.
National Self Harm Network
www.nshn.co.uk
The National Self-Harm Network
is UK based survivor-led organization. The Network campaigns for the rights and
understanding of people who self-harm.
Newham
Asian Women's Project (NAWP)
www.nawp.org/
NAWP provides advice and
support for Asian women and children experiencing domestic violence. Services
offered include emergency accommodation, a refuge, a second stage hostel, a
resource centre, legal advice, training, mental health support, counseling,
support groups and a self-harm project.
Patient
Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)
Each Primary Care Trust and
Mental Health Trust in England has a PALS service. The role of PALS is to
provide patients with information about NHS services. PALS can help people to
resolve problems or difficulties they might be experiencing in relation to NHS
services. PALS officers can also advise patients about how to lodge complaints
and can support them through the process. PALS provide a free and confidential
service.
To
contact your local PALS
• Phone your local clinic, GP surgery, health centre or hospital and ask for details of the PALS
•
Phone
NHS Direct on 0845 46 47
People
First
www.peoplefirstltd.com/
The organization is run by
people with learning difficulties for people with learning difficulties. The
site includes information about the work and philosophy of the organization;
details on membership; and publications.
POPAN
www.popan.org.uk/
The Prevention of Professional
Abuse Network (POPAN) offers support and advocacy to people who have been abused
by health or social care workers.
Positively
Women
www.positivelywomen.org.uk
Positively Women is a national
charity that provides a range of practical and emotional support services for
women who are living with HIV. The charity is committed to the ethos of peer
support and empowerment and produces a newsletter written by HIV positive women.
The
Prison Reform Trust
www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/
This organization wants to
see a just, humane and effective prison system. The Trust’s work includes
inquiring into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff, and the
public; and lobbying the government for reforms. The site includes information
about prisons and imprisonment; current projects; and a list of publications.
Mental health and prisoner involvement in decision-making are also covered. The
Trust has recently published a report about the mental health needs of women
prisoners.
Rape
Crisis
www.rapecrisis.org.uk/
This site provides basic
information to help survivors of rape and sexual assault (and their friends and
family) to access the services they need.
Rethink
www.rethink.org/
This website includes
information and advice on a wide range of subjects relating to mental health and
recovery. There are pages on campaigns, events and the different services
Rethink offers.
Rights
of Women
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/
Rights of Women
is a voluntary organisation committed to informing, educating and empowering
women concerning their legal rights. The organisation runs an advice line
through which it offers free confidential legal advice to women. The site
includes details of other services offered such as training on issues concerning
women’s rights; guidance for policy makers; publications; and research.
The
Samaritans
www.samaritans.org.uk/
The Samaritans provides
confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, for people who are experiencing
feelings of distress or despair. Support is available by email, phone, letter or
face-to-face.
Southall
Black Sisters (SBS)
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk
This organization was set
up to meet the needs of Black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women. SBS
challenges violence against women and campaigns for support services to enable
women and children to escape violent relationships. The organization also runs
its own resource centre for women experiencing violence and abuse. The site
includes details of what to do in an emergency; details of the type of support
the Centre can offer; and information about research, events and publications.
UKAN
www.u-kan.co.uk/
The United Kingdom Advocacy
Network (UKAN) links mental health
user groups with each other. The common aim of the groups is the promotion of
advocacy to empower people who use mental health services.
Women’s
Aid
www.womensaid.org.uk
Women’s Aid provides
practical and emotional support to women and children experiencing domestic
violence. The website includes what to do if you or a friend need help;
information about policy research and campaigns relating to domestic violence;
details of the services Women’s Aid offers; and background information about
the prevalence and impact of domestic violence.
Women
in Prison
www.womeninprison.org.uk
Women in Prison is a UK
organization set up by an ex-prisoner, to provide welfare and education to women
in prison. The organization campaigns to raise awareness of issues affecting
women in prison and to reduce the number of women being sent to prison.
The
Women's National Commission (WNC)
www.thewnc.org.uk/
This
organisation is an independent advisory body that represents women and women's organizations in Britain.
The WNC is funded by the government, but is able to comment freely on government
policy. By advising the government about women’s
views the WNC makes sure that women's interests and concerns are taken into
account and are heard in public debate.
The Yellow Card Scheme www.yellowcard.gov.uk/
The Scheme’s website enables
people to report the side effects of medication they are taking. Information is
also available about adverse drug reactions that other people have reported. The
site is run by the Medicines and Health Care products Regulatory Agency (MHCRA)
which assesses the safety of medicines.