Rethink Mental Illness

Who we are

Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for people affected by mental illness. Since 1972 we have brought people together to support each other. We run services and support groups that change people’s lives and challenge attitudes about mental illness. We support almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, live independently and realise they are not alone. We giveinformation and advice to 500,000 more and change policy for millions.

For 40 years we have challenged attitudes and changed lives for everyone affected by mental illness. Our mission is to lead the way to a better quality of life for everyone severely affected by mental illness. This includes people with lived experience, their carers, families and friends.

We have a dual role, first, as a campaigning organisation, bringing to bear our experience of working directly with carers and people severely affected by mental illness to shape the health system, public attitudes and the wider social and economic environment. Secondly, as a provider of services directly to people who are severely affected by mental illness, both those with lived experience and carers. People, for example, but not exclusively, living with diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Diversity and Inclusion at Rethink Mental Illness

We believe that in a world where discrimination and disadvantage exist treating people with equity is critical to ensure justice and fairness for all. Our values of hope, understanding, expertise, commitment, passion, and openness underpin everything we seek to achieve.

Diversity is also important at Rethink Mental Illness; we appreciate difference through inclusiveness. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world and the needs of the people we’re working with. By including everyone our organisation is a better place and we can provide better services.

We understand the importance of diversity and difference and we aim to be a fully inclusive organisation. We draw on the experiences and expertise of our staff to help shape and enrich our practices and services.

Equity and diversity are fundamental to our core beliefs and values. From delivering mental health services, to campaigning for fairer treatment and equal rights, we aim to include the voices of people from all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, religions, disabilities and ages in our work.

The charity has been made a commitment to ensure that we are as fair and equitable as we should be.

We have already:

• Added Equity to the core values that underpin our work so it becomes ingrained in everything we do.
• Committed to diversifying our staff at a senior management level.
• Created new roles with the specific aim of including the voices of marginalised communities in our workforce, in our campaigns and in our services.
• And, commissioned an extensive programme of work with an independent consultancy that works with organisations to assist them in becoming anti-racist.

​Becoming an anti-racist organisation

Our values of hope, understanding, expertise, commitment, passion, and openness underpin everything we seek to achieve. Two years ago, international protest at the murder of George Floyd was a catalyst for Rethink Mental Illness to confront its own shortcomings on race equality and being anti-racist.

What does this mean to us?

It means putting equity at the heart of everything we do. It means campaigning for better mental health support for people from ethnic minority communities, working with them to co-design the services they need, and challenging the inequalities that underpin poor mental health. It also means creating a truly inclusive and anti-racist workplace.

We will seek out and listen to the experiences of those affected by racism and ensure they have a platform. We will lend our support and our voice to the work of organisations tackling racial inequality, and we will continue with our efforts to ensure a truly anti-racist workplace.

How do we do this?

By challenging the stigma and discrimination that people living with mental illness face.
 

• By including the views of people living with mental illness and their carers in our campaigns, communications, and service provision.
• By attracting and supporting a diverse work force that represent the communities that we work with.
• By providing our staff with comprehensive training so that they can support a diverse range of people.
• By promoting activities that encourage diversity and allyship within the charity, for example celebrating pride month and International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia as well taking action to learn more during Black History Month.
• By regularly reviewing the knowledge and skills of our staff and updating our diversity policies and practises so they best match the diverse range of people who use our services and the wider community.
• By being open and thoughtful when we talk to others and encouraging everyone to deal with complex issues with courage, skill, and grace.
• By encouraging openness and allowing staff to bring their authentic self to the workplace and equip them with the skills and tools needed in their day-to-day roles.
• We support diversity amongst our membership, people who use our services, staff and carers. We have Investors in People, A Mindful Employer and Disability Confident Employer accreditations, which recognise our efforts to promote staff and service initiatives that meet the needs of all members of society.
  
  Learn more about our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation and our latest update here, including our Race Equality Action Plan.