Introducing SANE The Mental Health Charity
Millions of people living in the United Kingdom suffer from mental health problems each year.
This includes conditions like general anxiety, depression, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dealing with these conditions can be very difficult, particularly if the right kinds of medical and emotional support are not easily obtainable.
Fortunately, charitable organisations like SANE are available to help.
They provide emotional support for anyone affected by a mental illness, including the friends, relatives, and carers of mentally ill people.
SANE also runs mental health awareness campaigns, funds mental health research, and offers a hotline for the anyone requiring immediate support.
This article will share some more information about this incredible organisation and the services they provide.
When was SANE established?
SANE is a not-for-profit organisation established in1986 with the simple goal of improving the quality of life for all people affected by mental illness.
The organisation was created with overwhelming public support after The Times published a series of articles about people suffering from schizophrenia, entitled The Forgotten Illness.
The articles, written by SANE founder Marjorie Wallace, made the general public appreciate how difficult life was for those affected by mental illness.
Marjorie formed SANE shortly after the articles were published and immediately received an incredible amount of support from the general public.
Sane’s three main objectives are:
- To raise awareness and combat stigma about mental illness, educating and campaigning to improve mental health services;
- To provide care and emotional support for people with mental health problems, their families and carers as well as information for other organisations and the public.
- To initiate research into the causes and treatments of serious mental illness such as schizophrenia and depression and the psychological and social impact of mental illness.
What services does SANE provide?
The services provided by SANE include:
SANEline (Helpline)
SANE offers free one-to-one support for anyone affected by a mental health problem.
This includes individuals who are worried about their own mental health or the friends and family of someone with a mental health problem.
SANEline provides free guidance, information, and emotional support.
The volunteers are highly trained and capable of handling any crisis, from family members seeking urgent assistance to a person who is having a mental breakdown.
SANEline is the nation’s only out-of-hours helpline, operating 4.30pm to 10.30pm every day of the week.
You can reach SANEline on 0300 304 7000.
All mental health support is provided free of charge, is non-judgemental, and provided by compassionate support staff.
Community support forums
SANE offers a helpful community forum for anyone affected by a mental illness.
There is a dedicated forum for friends, families and carers, as well as many different rooms that offer advice on combatting mental health problems and help people live happier lives.
Both the SANE helpline and community forums are managed by a team of volunteers who have undergone rigorous training.
Blog network and creative outlets
One of the best ways to deal with mental health issues is by expressing yourself through art.
SANE helps by giving users the ability to create their own blogs and make posts based on their own experiences.
Users can also upload images, videos, and audio.
Caller Care Service
SANE also has services which go beyond the traditional helpline format, including SMS texts, callbacks, and email responses.
These services help to ensure that callers continue to get the support and care they require.
Support for research
SANE directly supports fundamental neuroscience research and research into mental heal treatments.
They work in collaboration with the Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE Research with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (which provides Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy training and meditation techniques).
Mental health awareness campaigns
SANE runs many different mental health campaigns, including the highly successful Black Dog Campaign.
These campaigns are aimed at reducing the stigma of mental health issues, encouraging people to seek help, educating the public, changing perceptions of mental health, and demonstrating the important of mental health research.
If you are affected by a mental illness in any way, contact SANE today via telephone on 020 3805 1790 or via info@sane.org.uk.
