Mental health charities and organisations

I have browsed some websites for mental health charities and organisations to try and get some insight into how they work and how my illustration work could benefit them. There are various organisations and it is interesting to research the different approaches each organisation takes and the options that are out there.

The websites for some of the main ones I found are listed below:

www.mind.org.uk/

www.2gether.nhs.uk/

www.time-to-change.org.uk/

www.rethink.org/

 'Time to change' focus on campaigns and ways to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health and where to find help rather than offering help directly.  'Time to change' promote talking about mental health and even have 'cuppa and conversation tea bag' packs that you can order to help you arrange a conversation about mental health with people you know. This pack contains leaflets and badges with simple illustrations and these are the kinds of things I would like my work to be on.  Although I'd like my work to be used more generically for posters and badges, to capture the attention of young people who will then know where to find help or take part in events if they wish to.

I emailed all of the above charities and organisations explaining a bit about my work and asking for any advice and information regarding the work they do and how they go about promoting themselves. So far the communications manager from 2gether nhs has responded and seems interested in my project. She suggested me coming in for a meeting to discuss ideas so hopefully I will be able to do that soon. A copy of the email is below:

Hello,

I am an illustration student in my final year at university. I am starting up a project which aims to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health and am interested in getting involved with mental health charities, events and organisations.

The main aim of my project is to help young people who may be suffering with mental health issues to find help.

I aim to achieve this by creating fun, illustrated characters that each appropriately express different symptoms of different mental health issues in a way that is eye catching and effective. These characters are quirky, fun and colourful and will be made into posters, badges, stickers and printed onto t-shirts. I hope for this to be a way to ‘get the word out there’.

I’d like for my work to be linked to a mental health organisation, so that the people who see my work will know where they can go for information and help.

I’m aware that there are a lot of young people who might not know where to turn, feel alone and don’t know how to deal with their emotions. This is why I want to create characters that appeal to young people and reach out to them in order to point them in the right direction. At the very least, I'd like my illustrations to openly highlight the fact that no one experiencing issues with mental health is alone.

I'm hoping for any advice regarding how mental health organisations go about advertising and reaching out to those affected by mental health issues.

Any general advice about working for one of these organisations and what’s involved would also be greatly appreciated.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Sophie Bishop

 

From: Sophie Bishop [mailto:slbecreative@live.co.uk]

Sent: 12 January 2014 17:59

To: 2Gether Comms

Subject: Illustration work

 

 

 

Hi Sophie,

Thank you for your email. We would be interested in finding out a bit more about you and your work as we are always looking for ideas for reaching out to different groups, in a bid to explain more about mental illness and promote sources of advice and support.

We are currently particularly keen on mounting a campaign for young people, which would seem like a great use of your skills and would tie in with your suggested way of working.

Are you able to tell us which university you are studying at? If you are local to us, perhaps you would be able to come in and have a brief meeting to chat through ideas?

Kind regards

Kate

Kate Nelmes

Communications Manager

2gether NHS Foundation Trust