Mind works with people experiencing serious mental health issues, their families and carers and stands beside them when they need it most. The staff at Mind provide practical and emotional support to people so they can take control of their lives, foster self-belief and develop the skills to face life’s challenges and opportunities. This may include learning to control symptoms, getting back to school or work, participating in social activities, developing trusting relationships and reconnecting with family and friends.
Your support through becoming a member of iMind helps to break the devastating cycle of mental illness. Mind is constantly developing innovative programs to meet the needs of its clients and the needs of the broader community, iMind members provide Mind with the financial support to achieve this.
In 2012 80% of all contributions raise by iMind members will go to nine different programs, which include the following:
Mind Scholarship programs Many of the individuals that access our services first experienced symptoms of mental illness between the age of 15-20, a crucial time in both education and employment. The purpose of this program is to support and encourage clients of Mind to take up or resume studies (that may have been deferred due to their illness).
Ollie received a Mind Scholarship in 2011, click below to find out more about his story:
Research Research is an important area within Mind, as we further develop our response to mental health both now and in the future.Research helps to answer important questions such as: What outcomes and benefits are being achieved by our services?Where can we improve? What innovations can help us in the future? What evidence can be utilised to develop or reform services or government policy?
Dr Lisa Brophy, Director of Research speaks about Mind's current research agenda below:
Building Family Skills Together (BFST) BFST Mind is a unique program that assists families affected by mental health challenges. BFST has been piloted over the past three years within the North-Western suburbs of Melbourne. Thanks to the support of iMind donors we are in the process of further extending this program through the development of a hub within Mind’s Western Area Team (Melbourne).
Anna has been a family worker at BFST for three years and talks more about this exciting program below:
Sprout Sprout is a community garden based in Thornbury and part of Mind’s North Area team (Melbourne). Through a range of horticulture and enterprise activities Sprout’s objectives are to provide pre-vocational skills training, personal development & recreational opportunities for people experiencing mental health challenges.
A recent external evaluation of Sprout found it to be a “unique and high impact program….Sprout helps people to build skills that are fundamental in coping with the difficulties of living with mental health challenges.”
We are very grateful to our iMind supporters and should you have any queries about feel free to call Chris or Catherine on 03 9455 7900.
• One in five Australians will experience some form of mental illness each year.
• Approximately 6 million full working days are lost each year due to depression.
• Up to 85% of homeless people are estimated to have a mental illness.
• Up to 90% of young people who suicide suffer from a mental illness such as depression or schizophrenia
