Holly Jones

Digital & Communications Lead

Dear friend,

We were delighted to be in parliament this week launching our manifesto for the 2024 general election. It was amazing to have such as great turnout and see cross-party support for our vision of a mentally healthier nation. Please join us and over 60 organisations in calling for all political parties to put the policies that would make a real difference to mental health in their manifestoes.

February is LGBT+ History Month, which gives queer people an opportunity to reflect on the events and stories that inform our identities. It was a privilege to have our Associate Director of Research, David Woodhead, on the podcast to explore why ‘the personal is historical’, and how his experiences of coming out as gay in the late 80s and his journey to sobriety have impacted his mental health.

We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter. Happy LGBT+ History Month and thank you for continuing to support the fight for equality in mental health.

Manifesto for a mentally healthier nation

This document provides a blueprint for a ten-year, cross-government plan for mental health. It sets out key policies on prevention, equality and support that would enable us to build a mentally healthier nation.

Backed by over 60 organisations, we’re calling on all political parties to adopt these actions in their manifestoes and commit to implementing them in the next parliament.

Thea Joshi sits down with David Woodhead, our Associate Director of Research, to talk about what LGBT+ History Month means to him, how his experiences as a gay man have impacted his mental health, and his journey from addiction to recovery.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Soundcloud. A full transcript can be found on our website.

We’re undertaking research into the barriers that might prevent people with mental health problems from voting.

Have you registered to vote? Or is it too difficult to? If you have experience of a mental health problem, we want to hear from you.

Please share this research call with your networks to help us reach more people.

How to make timely, effective mental health support a reality

by Bethan Bottomley

Why reversing the rise in mental health inequalities should be in every party manifesto

by Bethan Bottomley

Putting prevention of mental ill health on the political agenda

by Bethan Bottomley

Waiting for too long: the urgent need for health and justice reform

by Andy Bell

“It’s proved to me that I’m worth something”: Individual Placement and Support in drug and alcohol services

by Jan Hutchinson