NSUN works to build a mental health justice movement, led by those with lived experience, to fight harmful systems and build better alternatives. 

Our policy and campaigning work is how we try to change the status quo around mental health. We work on improving “the system” by trying to change laws or influence the thinking of key decision makers within the Government or the NHS. We also focus on building alternative forms of mental health by supporting the work and campaigns of grassroots groups. 

We prioritise work which:

• is led by and for people with lived experience
• aligns with our current areas of focus (outlined below)
• is not being prioritised in the mainstream mental health sector 
• we feel NSUN has the skills and capacity to influence meaningful change 
• does not compromise our integrity or collude with harmful systems (learn more about our approach to influencing work)

What we do

We support our members to make change

We provide advice, small grants and political education to those with lived experience, supporting them to campaign on issues that matter to them. 

We work together to tackle injustice 

We build partnerships with organisations working on issues related to mental health, such as migrants’ rights, trans rights or economic injustice. We strengthen each other’s campaigning by working collaboratively.

We disrupt harmful systems

We strategically influence key decision makers within government, healthcare providers and large charities.  

What we are fighting for

Safe mental health care

We fight for a mental health system that is accessible, safe, and prioritises people’s dignity and choice. 

Recent work in this area

• Producing research that shows how minoritised people are disproportionately harmed by the mental health system; including work on trans people’s experiences of the mental health system, and menstrual health in psychiatric settings.
• Convening the Mental Health & Trans Solidarity Forum; a space for leaders in the mental health and trans rights sectors to collaborate and strategise on trans+ health justice. 
• Influencing decision makers to make mental healthcare safe, including lobbying MPs, contributing to calls for evidence, and pushing NHS England to protect its patients.

Liveable lives

We fight for a world where everyone can live a fulfilling life; regardless of who they are, what they look like, or where they are from.

Recent work in this area

• Educating people on the links between mental health and other social/economic issues, for example through our Mad Campaigns Lab programme (including sessions on: Palestine solidarity, Climate Justice, and Big Tech). 
• Building coalitionary work across movements as a member of the Disability and Migration Network, the DPO Forum, the Disability Benefits Consortium, and the Funding Justice Collective.

People over profit

We fight for a world that prioritises people’s rights and wellbeing over making or saving money.

Recent work in this area

• Supporting user-led campaigns such as Stop Oxevision to get for-profit companies out of our mental health system. 
• Working collaboratively with other organisations focussing on these issues, such as Mad Youth Organise and Big Brother Watch.
• Contributing to debates on social media and online harms. 

What we can help with

NSUN offers a range of support to user-led mental health work.

We offer support to any user-led campaign that aligns with our priorities, regardless of whether they focus explicitly on mental health, or on the social, political or economic issues affecting people’s mental health The support we offer is determined on a case-by-case basis. Ways we could help include: 

• Offering small amounts of money to cover campaigning costs such as printing, travel, or access requirements (usually up to £500). 
• Providing spaces to learn about building a better mental health system; either through one-off training sessions or our Mad Campaigns Lab programme.
• Supporting people to contribute to governmental or parliamentary inquiries/calls for evidence.
• Offering 1:1 strategic advice and mentorship to user-led campaigns/campaigners.
• Educating people on key policy developments through our policy explainers and analyses.

If you would like our support or to otherwise work with us, then we would love to hear from you. Please do so by emailing our Head of Policy & Campaigns, Courtney, at courtney.buckler@nsun.org.uk. 

Please note that we are a small team with limited capacity. It may take us a little while to respond. We do not do individual casework and cannot offer therapeutic support: if you need either of these we recommend you check out our services directory. 

Join the movement

NSUN membership is free and open to individuals with lived experience of mental ill-health, distress, or trauma, as well as user-led groups.

You’ll get our weekly bulletin with updates on our work, plus news, events, and opportunities from across the lived experience landscape. You can also take part in our projects and events.