You may know that Mind in West Essex offers mental health services and support in Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford. But did you know that we are separate from the national charity Mind?
That’s right: we’re an independent charity run by local people. We raise our own funds and make our own decisions about how we use them.
Every penny raised locally for Mind in West Essex is spent locally. So, when you support us, you’re helping your friends, family and neighbours right here.
Local Mind Week (August 4-8) aimed to help people better understand the network of independent local Minds that sit alongside the national charity and what we do as your local Mind.
To mark this year’s campaign, we thought we’d tell you a little more about us…
Mind in West Essex is part of a network of local Minds across England, Wales and the Channel Islands. We share ideas and learn from each other.
We understand our community and provide services that people here want and need. Everyone's mental health is different, so we shape our support around you.
As your local Mind, we’re here for you. We support thousands of people each year, with 5,668 new referrals across our services in 2024.
We run community activity groups, online support groups, befriending and peer to peer support, with many of these facilitated by people with their own experience of mental health challenges.
We also have mental health coaches and wellbeing assistants, who provide practical help.
Our children and young people's Mental Health Support Team do early intervention work in schools and colleges, such as providing guidance on things like anxiety, stress and low mood.
We’re there for people who need counselling or therapy, and provide crisis support for people who need urgent help but don’t need hospital treatment.
We also provide mental health training and resources through our online academy.
There are self-help and e-learning courses you can do in your own time (many are free!), plus in-person and online training workshops, including CPD-accredited courses.
Find out more about us and how to support us at: mindinwestessex.org.uk
Andrew Brookes is from Mind in West Essex.
