Our vision

Vision

Our vision is for the lives of people who experience mental distress, discrimination and disadvantage to be better.

Mission

Our mission is to create a diverse, inclusive and influential user-led network with the strength to challenge inequality and improve lives.

Aims

To create and strengthen links between individuals and groups
To support and promote user-led groups and initiatives
To influence and inform policy and decision makers

NSUN Strategy 2016-2021

The latest strategy aims to consolidate our ambitions for the next five years and help to maintain the independent, collective and direct voice of experience.

NSUN Strategy 2016-2021

NSUN Strategy 2011-2016

This was NSUN's first five-year plan. Views from NSUN's annual members' survey contributed to this five-year plan and the subsequent annual reviews.

Complaints

If you're not happy with any aspect of the NSUN team's work or you feel our work is not inline with the mission and aims of the organisation, then you have the right to complain, have your complaint investigated, and be given a full and prompt reply.

You can download the NSUN Complaints Policy here.

Latest

Mental Health Act Recommendations Campaign

Update about the Mental Health Act Review and support urgently wanted. NSUN, together with a wide range of other user-led organisations, individuals with mental health diagnoses and allies, is campaigning for recommendations and legal change which fully comply with human rights set out under the UNCRPD.
Mental Health Act Campaign

Recommended changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 fall well short of full human rights. NSUN, together with a wide range of other user-led organisations, individuals with mental health diagnoses and allies, is campaigning for recommendations and legal change which fully comply with human rights set out under the UNCRPD.
NSUN's 2019 AGM & Members' event

Read our short report of the NSUN AGM & Members' event 2019. 'Justice, hope, togetherness, history, solidarity, love for each other and practical actions is where NSUN has its value. '
Increasing hierarchical power structures within peer support?

NSUN member Sandy Lancaster shares her concerns about the attrition of true peer support.

Mental Health Act Recommendations Campaign

Update about the Mental Health Act Review and support urgently wanted. NSUN, together with a wide range of other user-led organisations, individuals with mental health diagnoses and allies, is campaigning for recommendations and legal change which fully comply with human rights set out under the UNCRPD.
NSUN's 2019 AGM & Members' event

Read our short report of the NSUN AGM & Members' event 2019. 'Justice, hope, togetherness, history, solidarity, love for each other and practical actions is where NSUN has its value. '
NSUN announces new CEO

In January 2020, Akiko Hart will join NSUN as CEO. Sarah Yiannoullou will be leaving after an amazing 10 years of growing NSUN’s network and working to put our members manifesto into action. Akiko introduces herself and shares her hopes for the future of NSUN.
World Mental Health Day - the crisis of user-led organisations

User-led groups can make life worth living. Our 2019 campaign is to raise awareness of the loss of hundreds of user-led groups over the last few years and the crisis facing those that still exist. They have a significant role to play in supporting people going through the bleakest and most difficult moments of life.
User-led groups continue to close

User-led organisations across the country are continuing to close, with the sector even facing a “real threat of extinction”, leading networks have warned this week.
The Principles of Peer Support Charter

A collaboration between statutory and voluntary sector organisations has facilitated the production of a peer led and produced Principles of Peer Support Charter.
Reigniting the Space: for BME user/survivor voice

A national forum to facilitate networking, information sharing and collaboration between racialised groups, and to sustain a collective political voice.
Mental Health Act (MHA) review

The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act was really important to us and our members. As an independent, user led collective we lobbied to be a member of the Advisory Group and to make sure user led groups were recognised (as being distinct from other groups) and included in the consultation phases. We've provided a charted breakdown of the recommendations to help make sense of what the recommendations will mean for you and your peers/someone you care for.
4Pi national involvement standards

Developed by people with lived experience as part of the National Involvement Partnership (NIP) project, the 4Pi National Standards ensure effective co-production, thus really improving experiences of services and support.
Our manifesto

...Make the policy of ‘getting the right support, at the right time, in the right place, from the right person’ a reality... Download the 2017 Manifesto

Jobs and involvement opportunities

Jobs and other involvement opportunities that call upon your lived experience as a mental health survivor / service user / carer.
4Pi national involvement standards

Developed by people with lived experience as part of the National Involvement Partnership (NIP) project, the 4Pi National Standards ensure effective co-production, thus really improving experiences of services and support.
Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit - Open Letters

The UK government is hosting a Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London on the 9th and 10th of October, 2018. The Summit aims to “build momentum on global mental health issues such as early intervention, public health, research, tackling stigma, and promoting access to evidence-based services.”. Read the Open Letters to the Organisers, Partners and Delegates of the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, London
BME mental health service users launch manifesto

The Kindred Minds BME mental health service user led manifesto is a unique resource, has been written by BME mental health service users and has a comprehensive vision for the policy and practice changes needed to improve the mental well-being of BME mental health service users.
History

About the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) and the wider service user survivor movement. What we have achieved.
Join as a member

We are a ‘user led’ network of over 4500 individual and group members. Join us to find out what's happening across England to improve the experiences of people who need services and support when in distress. We aim to connect, inform and influence.
Survivor Researcher Network launch manifesto

Written by the Survivor Researcher Working Group, the SRN manifesto sets out the background and context to survivor and service user research and SRN's aims and values as a network
Alternatives to detention/sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983. Can you help with suggestions?

As part of her work for the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, Dorothy Gould is trying to collect as many examples as possible of alternatives to detention/sectioning.
Our vision

Our vision is for the lives of people who experience mental distress, discrimination and disadvantage to be better
The Principles of Peer Support Charter

A collaboration between statutory and voluntary sector organisations has facilitated the production of a peer led and produced Principles of Peer Support Charter.