Mind (charity)

Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales. Founded in 1946 as the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), it celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016. Mind offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf. It also works to raise public awareness and understanding of issues relating to mental health. Since 1982, it has awarded an annual prize for "Book of the Year" having to do with mental health, in addition to three other prizes. Since 2008 Mind has hosted the annual Mind Media Awards, celebrating the best portrayals and reporting of mental health across the media. Around 125 local Mind associations (independent, affiliated charities) provide services such as supported housing, floating support schemes, care homes, drop-in centres and self-help support groups. They are each governed by their own board of trustees and raise their own funds to deliver services, including commonly through providing services on behalf of local authorities. Mind was originally known as the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), founded in 1946 from three voluntary organisations that provided services for the "maladjusted, emotionally disturbed or mentally handicapped to any degree." The name MIND was introduced in 1972, and the lowercase version "Mind" was introduced in the 1990s. The National Association for Mental Health was formed (initially as national Council) by the merging of the following three organisations toward the end of the second world war: Central Association for Mental Welfare (CAMW) National Council for Mental Hygiene (NCMH) Child Guidance Council (CGC) The first director was Ms M. C. Owen and from 1947 the medical director was Dr Alfred Torrie. These roles were combined for Mary Appleby who took over in 1951. The NCMH had been an organisation of psychiatrists and psychologists, while the CAMW comprised representatives of various voluntary bodies.