Our winter appeal will bring vital mental health programmes to more families, providing the spaces of care and comfort that we need to protect our mental health.
Programme Manager Nadine Rose explains how we are protecting and strengthening communities through hard times like the cost-of-living-crisis, and why we need you to be part of our own community.
Someone I work with in our Parent Champion group said to me recently:
'Community is a keystone for survival. It goes back to the Stone Age when being part of a tribe was essential for survival. So, it runs deep that we need to be part of a community that cares.”
I love it, because it taps into something deep within; a longing for the kind connection we can all too easily take for granted until suddenly it isn’t there.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, people are increasingly feeling the need for support. In our most recent survey, almost one in three adults (31%) said they had felt anxious in the previous month due to their financial situation. And it’s when people feel alone and overwhelmed like this that the Mental Health Foundation’s programmes can make a world of difference.
A donation today will help us bring our programmes to more people in need of support.
Support us
Being a single parent and suffering with mental health makes you feel so isolated and invisible. The group is like a ray of light illuminating my world…it's really powerful having your feelings validated. Somebody to hear your voice and support your feelings, so you don't feel so alone in the world. It’s been like a lifeline and I’ve been able to make progress that’s permanent.
Our programmes run across the UK and are at the heart of our mission to achieve good mental health for all. Created for specific groups such as single parents and families, they bring people together to share their challenges and their knowledge, and to find the confidence and tools to transform their experiences and their communities.
I work closely with families, both through our Family Zone programme and as manager of our Parent Champion group. And I know that for many parents, even covering the very basics, such as heating and food, is a massive worry. They are stressed out and anxious, and there’s also an element of guilt because money is just for surviving, not living. There’s nothing left for ‘extras’ like socialising or treating the kids. Even at Christmas.
Yet, despite this being an all-too-common experience, we know that financial stress is often an unspoken worry, and that those who are struggling are often struggling alone.
What people need is a safe place to go, the chance to open up about how difficult they are finding things, and access to resources that protect their mental health. That’s why it’s so important to have these peer support programmes, so people can connect with one another and find new ways to cope.
While bringing people together may sound like a small thing, in reality, it’s massive.
People who’ve been in a very dark place tell us it’s like getting themselves back, And that’s really powerful.
With your support, we’ll make a difference in every community
Our programmes are only the start. We need more investment in communities and preventative mental health measures. We need more programmes like Family Zone, and the Parents Champion group. Every parent and child should have a place to go where they can find their community, and good mental health and well-being are prioritised. This is our aim, and we need your help to achieve it.
Please donate today to support more families this winter, and help them find their belonging in a community that cares.