Mental Health Foundation
The logo of the Mental Health Foundation
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| Formation | 1949 |
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| Headquarters | Colechurch House 1 London Bridge Walk London SE1 2SX United Kingdom. |
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Region served
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UK |
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Chief Executive
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Jenny Edwards CBE |
| Website | www.mentalhealth.org.uk |
The Mental Health Foundation was founded in 1949. It is a British charitable organisation that provides information, carries out research, and campaigns to improve services for people affected by mental health problems. It now incorporates the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.
In 1949 Derek Richter, a neurochemist with an interest in mental health, and Ian Henderson, a stockbroker, formed the Mental Health Research Fund (MHRF), with the aim of raising funds to award grants for research in mental health. In 1972 the Fund merged with another fundraising body, The Mental Health Trust, and in 1973 was renamed the Mental Health Foundation.
The strategic objectives of the Mental Health Foundation are to help people understand, protect and maintain their mental health. The Foundation takes a public health approach, focusing on the prevention of mental health problems in the first instance. The Foundation runs programmes with a variety of groups who are most at risk of mental ill health, including single mothers, older people, children in care and single mothers. It also aims to sustain its development through excellent management and high quality fundraising and support services. In 2007 the then Chief Executive described the main purpose of the Foundation as "to try to mainstream mental health as an issue so it is a core part of everything else".
The president of the Foundation is Dinesh Bhugra, and the patron is Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy. Keith Leslie, the Chairman of the board of trustees was appointed in 2014. The Chief Executive, Jenny Edwards, was appointed in 2013.
The Mental Health Foundation campaigns to raise awareness of mental health issues in the media and raise the profile of mental health in political and social agendas. Recent campaigns have included:
The Foundation's income for 2011-12 was £4.9m, with sources including donations (individual and corporate), legacies and grants.
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