History
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:
- the Central Association for Mental Welfare (CAMW)
- the National Council for Mental Hygiene (NCMH) and
- the Child Guidance Council (CGC)
The NCMH had been an organisation of psychiatrists and psychologists, while the CAMH comprised representatives of various voluntary bodies. Among other things, they helped run and monitor institutions for the mentally handicapped, and developing training for mental health professionals. They were both part of the social hygiene movement, and had advocated eugenics and sterilisation as a means of dealing with those considered too mentally deficient to be assisted into healthy productive work and contented family life.
The beginnings of the National Association for Mental Health also coincided with the development of the National Health Service and the welfare state.
In 1969, numerous Scientologists joined the NAMH and attempted to ratify as official policy a number of points concerning the treatment of psychiatric patients. When their identity was realised they were expelled from the organisation en masse. The Church of Scientology in 1971 unsuccessfully sued the NAMH over the matter in the High Court, and the case became notable in British charity law.
Mind has celebrated World Mental Health Day annually since it was first observed in 1992. This occurs on the 10th October.
Paul Farmer became chief executive of Mind in 2006, moving from his position as director of public affairs at the charity Rethink.
In 2008 the charity Mental Health Media (formerly the Mental Health Film Council founded in 1963 following a Mind initiative) was merged into Mind, shutting down its Open Up service which had sought to empower mental health service users to speak up in their communities, and bringing with it control over its Mental Health Media Awards.
Stephen Fry succeeded Melvyn Bragg in 2011 as President of Mind.
Read more about this topic: Mind (charity)
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