Other useful websites

• Advice, support and information about psychosis
• Advice, support and information for carers
• NHS sites
• Government organisations
• Legal advice
• Research organisations
• Campaigns fighting discrimination and stigma
• Personal websites

Advice, support and information about psychosis

Rethink
The national mental health charity runs a National Information and Advice Service and produces a lot of information about different aspects of psychosis. Visit the website, or call the Information and Advice Service on 0845 456 0455, Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm.
Rethink also runs carers’ groups and you can find where the nearest one to you is by visiting the website.

MIND
The charity’s website contains information and advice about mental health problems and support and care available.

SANE
Information about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health problems, as well as treatments and support for carers.
SANEline – 0845 767 8000 – is a national telephone helpline offering support and information for people affected by mental health problems, open 6pm to 11pm every day of the year, including all bank holidays.
SANEmail is an email support service, aimed particularly at young people or people who find using the telephone difficult. Visit the website to access SANEmail.

Young Minds
Information for children, young people and parents worried about their children. The YoungMinds Parents Helpline, 0808 802 5544 is open from 9.30am to 4pm on weekdays.

Mental Health Foundation
Information about mental health problems, treatment options and getting help. There is also a directory of organisations and websites that deliver mental health services or offer support and information.

SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)
Information about different mental health problems and services run by the charity.

Hafal
Hafal (meaning 'equal') is the principal organisation in Wales working with people recovering from severe mental illness and their families.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Information about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. 

Voice Collective
This website contains information about voices, visions, coping, recovery, getting help in a crisis and peer support groups for young people aged 12 to 18. Created by Mind in Camden, the site contains useful information for carers as well as young people who are having these experiences.

Back to top

Advice, support and information for carers

The following organisations’ websites have information and advice specifically for carers, including financial help, benefits, carers’ assessments and respite breaks, or information about the support they can offer.

Carers UK

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Crossroads Care

The National Young Carers Initiative
is part of The Children’s Society Include project
The website has information for young carers and a comprehensive listing of young carers’ groups and projects that offer support in your neighbourhood.

Young Carers.net
This is a site for young carers with information and online discussion groups, set up by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Carers Week
In 2010, Carers Week is 14-20 June. The theme is ‘A life of my own’ and the week will highlight why support for carers is crucial.

Directgov: Caring for Someone
Information about carers’ rights, support services, assessments, financial support and direct payments.

Back to top

NHS sites

NHS Carers Direct
Information, advice and support for carers, including information about benefits for carers and the people they look after, and carer’s assessments.
Carers Direct runs a free, confidential information and advice line on 0808 802 0202, open 8am to 9pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm at weekends.

Caring with Confidence
A free training programme for carers, set up by the government as part of its ‘New Deal for Carers’. It aims to give carers useful information, ideas and tips through the internet, work books at home, or through local group sessions.

NHS Choices
Information about psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental and physical health problems; treatments; and NHS services.
On this site you can get an Information Prescription about bipolar disorder and schizophrenia which includes treatment options, benefits you might be able to claim, housing support available, support groups and useful website addresses.

NHS Direct
Health advice and information. 24 hour phone number is 0845 4647.

The Meriden Family Work Programme
This is the website of an NHS programme which promotes the development of family-sensitive, evidence-based mental health services, with a particular emphasis on work with families. The website contains carers’ stories and information about research relating to family work and carers’ issues. The programme is based at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust but it operates on a national level.

Back to top

Government organisations

The National Director for Mental Health is Professor Louis Appleby.
You can contact him with views on mental health services and mental illness by post or email.
The postal address is:
Professor Louis Appleby
National Director for Mental Health
Room 157, Richmond House
79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS
The email address is:
mental-health-czar@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Standing Commission on Carers
This was set up in 2007 by the Department of Health to advise on the development of support for carers.

Department of Health
The government department responsible for health and social care policy in England and the NHS.

National Mental Health Development Unit
Launched in April 2009, the Unit offers advice on how to improve mental health and mental health services.

Care Quality Commission
This organisation regulates care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations – in hospitals, care homes and in the community. It also protects the interests of people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act.

Back to top

Legal advice

Citizens Advice Bureau
Online information and the facility to find your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau

Community Legal Advice
Free, confidential and independent legal advice for residents of England and Wales, including information about getting legal aid.

Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales.

Law Works
LawWorks is a charity that aims to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups who cannot afford to pay for it and who are unable to access legal aid.

Law Society
Find a solicitor through this website.

The Children’s Legal Centre
Free, independent legal advice for children, parents and carers.

Back to top

Research organisations

Mental Health Research Network
The National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Research Network runs FACTOR, a network of family members and friends interested in mental health research. Visit this website to find out more about FACTOR and the work of the Mental Health Research Network.

Research Mental Health
The Institute of Psychiatry is working with the Mental Health Foundation to promote the importance of mental health research in the UK. Visit this website to find out more about Research Mental Health and sign a declaration calling for more investment in studies that can lead to new treatments.

INVOLVE
This is the website of INVOLVE, a national group funded by the National Institute for Health Research that seeks to promote and support public involvement in research. ‘Public’ includes people who use health and social services and their families and friends.

Back to top

Campaigns fighting discrimination and stigma

Time to Change
England’s biggest ever anti-stigma campaign.

See me
Scotland’s national campaign to end stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems.

SHiFT
Shift aims to tackle stigma and discrimination and create a society where people who experience mental health problems enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other people.

Back to top

Personal websites

Schizophrenia – a carer’s journal
A journal by the father of a son diagnosed with schizophrenia, regularly updated.