Great mental health care isn’t just clinical, it’s human

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Local charity Richmond Borough Mind shares the valuable work they do to support the mental health of residents in Richmond upon Thames.

How we support people as individuals

We are continuing to celebrate our campaign theme of the year, that great mental health care isn't just clinical, it's human!

At the heart of care for mental health is understanding the simple fact that each person we support is a unique individual, not a statistic and seeing a person, not just a service user.

We do this by being:

Compassionate

Our staff team is expert at placing the individual at the heart of our care. Our Peer Volunteers and Peer Support Workers use their own experience of mental health problems and their unique understanding of mental health challenges to connect with our clients. Our new Sanctuary project is a 12-week trauma group providing a compassionate, safe space for women who have sought sanctuary in this country as asylum seekers.

Adaptable

The therapy styles in our counselling service are tailored to each unique client so that we can be flexible and adaptable in meeting your needs. Our new couples counselling service offers a fresh approach to self-exploration and connection.

Empowering

Our Carers team empowers those supporting people with their mental health to recognise that they are carers, and we give them the tools they need through workshops, one-to-one support and social activities where they meet fellow carers.

Are you supporting someone over 18 with their mental health? Join our free Salsa evening during Carers Week on Wednesday 10 June!

Creative

We have a range of therapeutic groups across our services which encourage people who use our services to explore their creativity as a way of healing. This includes:

• Art and music appreciation groups in our Wellbeing Centre which caters for those with enduring long-term mental health problems
• Therapeutic cooking in our Positive Living Group
• A reading group in our Peer Group Network

Innovative

We’ve been delivering innovative mental health training for local organisations for many years. Our courses can be taken in person or online as one-hour ‘lunch and learn’ workshops, half days or full days. We are creative in the use of online platforms and tools to deliver learning objectives and bring the same energy to remote workshops as we create in our face-to-face environment. You can book a course for your staff team.

Collaborative

By uniting with other voluntary organisations, the NHS, GPs and neighboring Minds, we weave a seamless safety net. This collaboration ensures local mental health care isn’t just accessible, it’s finely tuned to the unique needs of every person we meet across our borough.

Dedicated

A large, dedicated team of volunteers help our staff team run our offices and support our frontline services, keeping our charity’s heart beating. As Volunteers Week nears this June, we’re sending a massive "thank you" to all our fantastic volunteers without whom we could not do what we do. We’re always looking for fresh faces to join the team! We’re currently looking for a new Communications Volunteer if you would like to help us spread the word. Find out more about our volunteering roles.

Here for everyone, 365 days a year

People who use our services come from all backgrounds, and our staff reflect this diversity, creating a supportive, non-stigmatizing environment in all our services. Most of our services are free and our Crisis Cafes are open 365 days a year, offering a safe and welcoming out-of-hours space to reduce immediate crisis and to safety plan.

Support the 100 Miles in May challenge

This Mental Health Awareness Week please help us to continue to provide life-changing support by joining our new fundraiser, 100 Miles in May, featuring supporters walking or running 100 miles this month to fundraise for our work. You can sponsor our amazing 150 participants.

Get help or find out more

If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, our Journey Recovery Hub Crisis Cafe is open every day on 020 3137 9755, or email recoveryhub@rbmind.org.

Learn more about Richmond Borough Mind.

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