The theme of Mind week 2008 will be poverty, debt and mental health. Research shows that debt can have a negative impact on a person’s mental health in terms of anxiety and stress, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

For people with mental health problems who are also experiencing problems with debt, the services and support they often receive from banks, local authority collection departments, financial services companies, and also health professionals, is at best lacking, often sub-standard, and sometimes discriminatory.

Mind will be launching a new campaign during Mind week, which will run until Autumn 2008, which will seek to raise awareness of these issues and the need for more effective support in relation to debt management for people with mental health problems.

Mind has produced a survey for people with direct experience of mental distress in order to determine what the issues are. It will be available from 5 December 2007 to 14 January 2008.

To request paper copies of the survey, or if you require assistance in completing the survey, please contact the Campaigns team via action@mind.org.uk or on 020 8215 2424.

The information you provide will be used in the Mind campaign in 2008, and will be treated in absolute confidence.

SOURCE: www.mind.org.uk

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Bob,
Viewpoint Webteam