NSUN not a service provider, and we cannot take on individual advocacy and casework. This page lists some forms of support and resources for specific situations relating to mental health such as welfare claims and human rights. We welcome your suggestions for resources to add: please email info@nsun.org.uk, quoting ‘services directory’ in the subject line. Please bear in mind that we aim to only add free resources to the below list.
If you would like to be signposted to any user-led groups in your area, get in touch with us. Mind also keep a directory of local peer support groups.
Please note that the listing of an organisation on this page is not an endorsement. All resources are external and NSUN is not responsible for the content.
Mental health services and crisis support
The NHS has a main webpage on mental health with information on urgent support and access to therapies, and organisations such as Hub of Hope, Mind, Diversity and Ability, and Helplines Partnership have mental health service signposting pages that you may wish to use. Rethink have a signposting page for local support groups, services, and telephone advisors.
There is a lot of information out there – do feel free to get in touch if you would like us to help signpost you to the right people.
Services
Examples of other community- or user-led mental health organisations
- Shaping Our Lives
- MadCovid
- Adira
- Recovery In The Bin
- Evolve Peer Support
- Hearing Voices Network
- Taraki
- Self-injury Support
- Wish
- Survivor Researcher Network
- LXP Revolution
- Expert by Experience
- Make Space
Shaping Our Lives also have a directory of user-led organisations and user groups.
You can also find a map directory of DPOs (Disabled Peoples’ Organisations) here.
Support for user-led groups
- Our “resources for groups” page
- Digital toolkit and funder database: the Charity Excellence Framework
- Knowledge-base for charities, social enterprises and community groups: knowhow from NCVO
- The Edge Fund – resources page (help with fundraising, help with campaigning and organising)
- Money management information: The Social Change Agency
- VCSE support organisations tend to exist regionally. An example is Manchester Community Central which provides resources, templates and toolkits on issues such as governance, finance, safeguarding and GDPR. Local CVS (Council for Voluntary Services) organisations may also be of use
- For small charities: Small Charities Coalition and Foundation for Social Improvement – the SCC has now closed but is being supported by NCVO and FSI to continue their Helpdesk service. The FSI supports the UK’s small charity sector through free advice and heavily subsidised training in strategy, governance, fundraising and impact.
- The Charity Commission provides templates on charitable constitutions
- Co-operatives UK provides model governing documents for co-ops
Information about human rights and mental health legislation
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- British Institute of Human Rights: guides collection, rights-based mental health resources, and mental health advocacy and human rights tool
- The Mental Health Act 1983
- Mind’s Legal Line for legal information and advice on mental health related law
- The Equality Advisory and Support Service
Help with finance, welfare claims/appeals, and benefits
- Citizens Advice
- Scope’s advice and support hub
- Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
- Mental Health and Money Advice website
- How to win a PIP appeal: this page shares advice which could prove useful
- WCA info: help for advisers assisting people to make a new claim for benefit on the basis of their incapacity for work, and in challenging decisions to refuse, or award a lower rate of, the benefit
- Diversity and Ability’s Access to Work guide (AtW is a grant that funds practical support to help people start work, stay in work, or move into self-employment)
- Diversity and Ability’s Disabled Student Allowance grant guide
- Turn2Us support including Benefits Calculator and financial support Grant Calculator – you can use the benefits calculator below
Advocacy and complaints about care/the NHS
- Concerns about NHS care
- The Patient Advice and Liaison Service can help to resolve issues with NHS care
- Complain about the use of the Mental Health Act (Care Quality Commission)
- Advocacy: VoiceAbility
- Advocacy: POhWER
Healthcare/mental healthcare discussion forums and groups, feedback sites and libraries
- Mental Health Forum (peer support forum)
- The Independent Mental Health Network and their local branches around Manchester and Bristol
- Care Opinion
- Health Talk Online
- Mind’s Side By Side Forum
- Health Boards
- Uncommon Forum
- Critical Mental Health
- Survivor History Group
- Yellow Card Scheme – Website for reporting adverse drug reactions, medical device adverse incidents, defective medicines, and counterfeit or fake medicines within the UK
- Independent April Blog about iatrogenic harm. Adverse side effects causing psychiatric changes from medical treatment including everyday medicines and anaesthetics
- The Patient Experience Library – project that brings together the whole of the UK’s qualitative literature on patient experience
Groups that do mental health ward inpatient visits (London)
We would really like to grow this list. Please contact us if you know of any other groups doing this type of work.