We are a community for people with lived experience of mental health to campaign for change.
Click here to be taken to the webpage for the LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Fund
The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) is a membership-led organisation that represents a diverse community of past, current and future users of mental health services, as well as those with lived experience of mental health.
By working together, we believe that we can be a force for positive change in the way that mental health is treated, perceived, and recognised.
Our branches lead on work to improve local mental health services, campaign for reforms and changes to the negative ways that mental health problems can be viewed, and act as a local voice for those with a diverse range of lived experiences.
In partnership with Off the Record’s LGBTQ+ Voice and Influence project we are developing a dedicated LGBTQ+ Steering Group for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) areas to help create a safe and effective space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to come together. Members of the group will be able to voice their lived experience of trying to access mental health support and the quality of any support received.
This will be a working group in which members can discuss issues, challenges and opportunities particular to the mental wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people. But we don’t just want to talk about these things; we want to help change and develop them. As a team, we’ll be creating and working on projects with the aim to drive positive change for our community within the services.
Membership of the group is open to LGBTQ+ individuals across BNSSG and we are keen to ensure that membership grows to fully reflect the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community.
Members of the IMHN team will facilitate Zoom meetings. There will be space for open discussion and identification of key priorities in which the group would like to campaign for change or increased awareness of LGBTQ+ needs.
Group engagement, highlighted issues and resulting project work will be regularly fed back thematically and anonymously into the wider IMHN membership in order to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ needs and experiences. We believe that this will be particularly helpful for the awareness of organisational representatives that attend external meetings, and will ensure that voices of the LGBTQ+ community can be heard and responded to by commissioners and service providers in order to bring about meaningful change.
Please note that meetings will be taking place virtually for the time being. Should meetings be scheduled in-person, out-of-pocket travel expenses associated with attending will be reimbursed. This includes costs like bus tickets or car parking. Should your require taxi this will need to be agreed in advance.
If you’d like to get involved, click here to express your interest
Diversity Statement
This group welcomes all people. As an LGBTQ+ collective, we want to engage people across the spectrums of gender identity and sexuality, race and ethnicity. A person’s faith or beliefs, their relationship status, their employment and housing situations, and their mental and physical health needs are accepted without prejudice or judgement.
We exist to celebrate our rich diversity within our community and to work together. As people of diverse backgrounds, we can help create change that will bring a significant benefit to the community, and to the wider world.
The pandemic has uncovered the inequalities that have been beneath the surface of our society for decades. We believe that the best way forward is to join together and create a safe space for ourselves. We are not a minority and we do not have to be marginalised.
Our differences make us strong. They give us the chance to learn, explore and grow. It’s in our differences that we will find our commonalities and, through sharing our knowledge and experience freely and without fear, we can bring about real change. We can beat oppression and discrimination together.
August 25, 2020 at 10:38 am
A new immediate emotional and practical support helpline
An NHS, free, confidential 24/7 helpline has launched, provided by Vita Health Group, in partnership with Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
The service is called 24/7 Support & Connect. This line is staffed by experienced counsellors, who you can talk to and they will listen. They will offer emotional support and can connect you to organisations available in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
The helpline is for people aged 18 and over who are living within BNSSG or are registered with a GP within BNSSG.
For immediate emotional and practical support call 0800 012 6549.
(textphone users dial 18001 followed by 0800 0126549)
If English isn’t your first language we can arrange for a translator to support your call.
If you are 17 or under please call the Children and Young People’s helpline via AWP’s Single Point of Access phoneline on 0300 303 1320.
For more information, please click here to visit the Vita Health Group website.
August 12, 2020 at 9:56 am
The Thomas Pocklington Trust has been in touch to share news about the Bristol Sight Loss Council visual impairment (VI) forum, which next meets on Tuesday 21 July. The forum is a chance for visually impaired people to share experiences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
The Bristol Sight Loss Council is funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust. The organisation is led by blind and partially sighted volunteers; and advocates the needs, and campaigns on behalf of, blind and partially sighted people in the area.
Alun from the Thomas Pocklington Trust has been in touch to tell us about the forum. The Independent Mental Health Network has been working with Alun in recent months on the new charter for pledges to put the voice of people at the heart of new services.
Book your place
The VI forum is taking place on Zoom on Tuesday 21 July from 19:30 – 21:00. To book your place, click here (this weblink takes you a Zoom registration page, which will ask for some basic details). The deadline for bookings is this coming Friday 17 July.
Covid-19 survey
Alongside the forum, the team are also running a short survey to capture your experiences of the pandemic. The feedback shared will be vital in helping the forum campaign on issues relating to the coronavirus that matter to you in Bristol. The survey is open until 31 July. Click here to be taken to the survey.
Alternatively, if someone you know is not online but has something they wish to share, telephone 020 8996 1937 and someone will ring you back and help you complete the survey over the telephone.
July 13, 2020 at 11:56 am
Tom Renhard, IMHN’s CEO, has been supporting the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to co-produce the The Working with People and Communities Charter, which represents a new commitment to working with the community to plan future health services.
The Charter has been co-produced by the CCG and members of its Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPIF). This forum includes members of the public with first-hand experience of services, and patient groups from across the region who reflect the views of wider communities. The charter outlines the vision for the work that the CCG undertakes, and the principles they will seek to follow.
Tom is quoted in the CCG’s press release announcing the launch of the charter. Read what he has to say about the CCG’s new commitment by clicking here (this weblink takes you to the CCG’s news and updates pages).
July 10, 2020 at 11:38 am
We are working with people and communities in Greater Manchester (GM) to shape mental health support. To ensure people with lived experience play a key role in this, we are looking for representatives to participate in the following opportunities:
- Mental Health Lived Experience Leadership Forum
- GM Adult Mental Health Delivery Board (facilitated by GM Health and Social Care Partnership)
- GM Mental Health Programme Board (facilitated by GM Health and Social Care Partnership).
At the Independent Mental Health Network we value ourselves on being inclusive; brave; respectful; determined and innovative. If this sounds like you, read on and send in an application.
More information about each opportunity is below, applications are to be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 30th July. If you have any queries please get in touch with us at
Join our ‘Lived Experience Leadership Forum’
The group will help to shape the future of mental health services across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, representing its diverse communities in an inclusive network.
The forum will meet on a monthly basis, ensuring that the lived experience voice is represented from the grassroots community level through to a Greater Manchester level. This will be essential to influencing change across the GM mental health network and ensuring mental health support is person-centred.
As a representative on the forum, you will shape the work plan and priorities, bringing in a wider range of experiences for wider communities. There will be the opportunity to discuss how we improve mental health support, services and education throughout GM, whilst holding people to account in a constructive manner where required.
This is a paid role and support will be provided by IMHN to carry it out. Full information about the post and how to apply can be found here.
GM Adult Mental Health Delivery Board
We are looking for lived experience representatives to join the GM Adult Mental Health Delivery Board meetings.
The aim of the role is to ensure that the lived experience voice is represented at a senior level, providing leadership in improving people’s experiences of mental health services and wellbeing support.
These meetings will cover a range of services provided across GM, including:
- Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
- Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP)
- Liaison mental health – Core 24
- Out-of-Area Placements
- Physical Health of people with severe mental illness (SMI)
- Personality Disorders
- Suicide Prevention
- Individual Placement Support (IPS)
- Older Adults
The GM Adult Mental Health Delivery Board usually meets eight times a year.
This is a paid role and support will be provided by IMHN to carry it out. Full information about the post and how to apply can be found here.
GM Mental Health Programme Delivery Board
We are looking for lived experience representatives to join the Greater Manchester Mental Health Programme Delivery Board meetings.
The aim of the role is to ensure that the experiences of those accessing mental health support are represented at a senior level, providing leadership in improving the experience of mental health services and wellbeing support.
The key areas of work covered include:
- 24/7 community-based access and crisis care for children and young people (CYP)
- GM iTHRIVE network and CYP workforce development (NHS, Local Authority and
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector) - Mental and emotional wellbeing in education settings (schools)
- Improving mental wellbeing, building the capacity and resilience of communities and
suicide prevention - Perinatal and parent-infant mental health
- Liaison mental health – core 24 access across GM
- Enhanced adult crisis and urgent care options
- Integrated Improving Access to Psychological Therapies / Primary Care Rapid
Assessment Interface and Discharge
The GM Mental Health Programme Delivery Board usually meets 4 times a year.
This is a paid role and support will be provided by IMHN to carry it out. Full information about the post and how to apply can be found here.
Additionally, the link to apply for these opportunities can also be found here.
July 9, 2020 at 1:23 am
Announcing IMHN as the Independent Facilitator of Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement across Greater Manchester
The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) has been announced as the new Independent Facilitator for the Greater Manchester Adult Mental Health Service User Network.
IMHN will be working closely with people with lived experience of mental health problems and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership to develop a strong network that will influence the design and shape of mental health support across the region.
IMHN CEO, Tom Renhard, said:
“We are delighted to be working with people and communities across Greater Manchester to support the development of a strong voice for those with lived experience of mental health problems, shaping future mental health support for years to come.
We are already working with members of the adult mental health service user network and the wider partnership to build strong relationships and explore the key priorities for the region. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever to bring people together ensure mental health support is the best it can be; with the voices of people with lived experience being instrumental in getting this right.”
The first steps are continuing to speak to people and communities across the region about experiences of existing mental health support, and how they would like to participate in shaping the network. We are keen to hear from the fantastic range of people, organisations and communities across Greater Manchester; so do get in touch.
Listed below are a number of ways to initially get involved. Additionally, members of the IMHN team are happy to join virtual meetings, taking place during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest.
Ways to get involved:
- Sign up to our and tell us about what matters to you
- Anyone that would like to work with IMHN can get in touch at any time by emailing greatermanchester[@]imhn.org
- we are holding regular ‘virtual’ engagement events – details of these can be found by clicking here
[ENDS]
Notes to editors:
What is the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN)?
IMHN is a member-led organisation that works both for, and in the interests of, people with lived experience of mental health. Via our branches, we support work improving local mental health services; contribute and campaign on mental health matters happening both locally and nationally; and actively challenge mental health stigma by working with partner organisations.
What has IMHN already achieved?
Via its branches in Bristol and North Somerset and with the support of our membership base, IMHN’s work has resulted in the organisation acquiring a reputation as a staunch advocate for effective and worthwhile change.
This is a result of work including but not limited to: co-designing the new IAPT service across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire; ensuring effective lived experience involvement in the introduction of brand new mental health crisis and recovery centres; and contributing to national campaigns, for example by leading the Bristol Time to Change Hub partnership, and delivering Peerfest 2017.
Where can I get more information?
IMHN’s website can provide more information about our ongoing projects, past achievements, and current operations.
Visit www.imhn.org for more information. The top menu can direct you to dedicated webpages covering latest news, our branches and membership, and the work we are doing dealing with the consequences of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
For specific questions, clarifications, and further information, please contact .
May 15, 2020 at 9:35 am
Are you someone with a passion for improving mental health services and empowering those with lived experience of mental health?
Do you support the principles of lived experience leadership and have a willingness to ensure this remains embedded in health and social care services?
If so – the Independent Mental Health Network wants to hear from you!
We are currently recruiting:
- Project Coordinator (Representation and Engagement) – fixed term, to 28 February 2021
- Project Coordinator (Communications and Engagement) – fixed term, to 28 February 2021
- Trustees – voluntary position for a three-year term
More information about each opportunity is below and if you have any queries please get in touch with us using the contact details provided.
Project Coordinator (Representation and Engagement)
Information about the post
Salary: £19,500 (pro-rata) – equivalent to £10 per hour.
Hours: Part-time – 30 hours per week (fixed term to 28 February 2021)
Location: Greater Manchester
The post-holder will be expected to provide all aspects of project coordination to the organisation’s representation and engagement functions in Greater Manchester. This will involve working closely with different stakeholders, including: IMHN Board of Trustees, IMHN members, funders, providers of mental health services, etc. This will also include providing support for representatives with lived experience of mental health problems attending meetings and engaging in shaping mental health support on behalf of the organisation.
The post will be based in Greater Manchester, with the opportunity for flexible and occasional home working. This will include travel to meetings across Greater Manchester. The role may also include occasional evening and weekend working hours.
Note: if the government restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are in place at the time of employment, the role will initially be home based
Full information about the post can be found by clicking the job description and person specification link.
Job description and person specification
IMHN Application Form – Project Coordinator
IMHN_Equal_Opportunities_Monitoring_Form
How to apply
To apply for this post, please send in your completed application form, CV and monitoring form to recruitment[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure), by no later than 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2020.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 28 May or Friday 29 May 2020.
Project Coordinator (Communications and Engagement)
Information about the post
Salary: £19,500 (pro-rata) – equivalent to £10 per hour.
Hours: Part-time – 30 hours per week (fixed term to 28 February, 2021)
Location: Greater Manchester
The post-holder will be expected to provide all aspects of project coordination to the organisation’s communications and engagement functions in Greater Manchester. This will involve working closely with different stakeholders, including: IMHN Board of Trustees, IMHN members, funders, providers of mental health services, etc. This will also include providing communications support for the organisation.
The post will be based in Greater Manchester, with the opportunity for flexible and occasional home working. This will include travel to meetings across Greater Manchester. The role may also include occasional evening and weekend working hours.
Note: if the government restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are in place at the time of employment, the role will initially be home based
Full information about the post can be found by clicking the job description and person specification link.
Job description and person specification
IMHN Application Form – Project Coordinator
IMHN_Equal_Opportunities_Monitoring_Form
How to apply
To apply for this post, please send in your completed application form, CV and monitoring form to recruitment[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure), by no later than 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2020.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 28 May or Friday 29 May 2020.
Volunteer opportunity – Trustee
Trustee Opportunity Information
It is expected you will be able to commit about a day a month to assist in influencing the development of a young, dynamic and growing organisation.
We recommend you take a look at the documents linked below. They will help you write your application, and assist with understanding the way that the charity operates
IMHN Constitution (last amended January 2017)
IMHN Constitution – Bye Laws (last amended January 2017)
How to apply
To apply to be a Trustee, please send in your CV and covering letter to trustees[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure), by no later than 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2020.
Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 1st June 2020. Please ensure you tell us about any dates that you cannot attend during that week when submitting your application.
For an informal conversation about the role or organisation, please email Tom Renhard at trustees[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure).
We would especially welcome applications from those with qualifications or extensive experience in any of the following areas:
- Finance
- Fundraising and bid writing
- Law and advocacy
- Marketing / Public relations
We would especially welcome applications from individuals who identify as:
- LGBTQIA+
- BAME
Further information about our organisation
IMHN exists to represent those with lived experience of mental health, uniting voices for positive change in how mental health services are delivered.
We’re governed by a board of up to twelve Trustees, who work alongside our branches and volunteers to develop a thriving and active organisation improving mental health services and empowering those with lived experience to have their voice heard.
The charity is young and working to develop its first strategic plan that will embed our core objectives into everything that we do. The charity has also launched in Greater Manchester. We will be playing a leading role in developing a network for people with lived experience of mental health that will influence the development of mental health support across the area.
It’s an exciting time for us having undertaken many successful projects including:
- Hosting Peerfest 2017 in Bristol with local partners after competing in a national tendering exercise.
- Taking part in several ward visits and service redesign exercises including Bristol’s mental health crisis houses.
- Delivering a workshop focusing on a new ‘crisis café’ that will be coming to Weston-Super-Mare later in 2019.
- Leading on the local Time to Change Bristol Hub, working with local partners to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination.
- Shaping the specification of the new Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area.
- We are also currently supporting the development of Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG’s mental health strategy.
This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a key role in a developing and growing charity committed to changing lives and we look forward to receiving your application.
April 16, 2020 at 5:12 pm
The Independent Mental Health Network are building a guide to local mental health services and organisations in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
The guide brings together service updates about how these organisations have been affected by the measures being taken to tackle the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and whether they have changed how they are running at the moment.
The webpages also include signposting information about other related organisations and support, both locally and nationally.
To access the guide, click here.
March 23, 2020 at 9:19 am
Many people take medication; some people take medication for their mental health, some people for their physical health, and many people for both. The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) has been seeking guidance on behalf of people who take medication, particularly those that receive repeat prescriptions.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG has been in touch with us to confirm the current recommendations, which are listed below:
- the NHS recommends that members of the public can continue to access community pharmacies as normal unless they are displaying symptoms, such as a high temperature or new continuous cough.
- if you are self-isolating and cannot access the pharmacy for repeat prescriptions, please friends and/or family for support or use https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/ for advice
- the public area encouraged to order repeat prescriptions as usual, with 7-10 days of medicine remaining
The NHS is also asking the public not to stockpile medicines or ask for more medicines than they need.
“Stockpiling or purchasing medication that isn’t needed could disadvantage other patients who can’t get essential medication when they need it. There is also a bigger risk of shortages if stockpiling disrupts the normal supply chain. The NHS is ensuring pharmacists are being provided with a greater supply of paracetamol to support demand.”
IMHN will continue to share updates if the situation changes. We are now seeking guidance on behalf of those who receive short-term prescriptions (for example, people who have recently started courses of antidepressant medication).
March 20, 2020 at 12:12 pm
This post addresses the Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) pandemic and the arrangements we are putting in place at the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN).
We know that many of you will be experiencing the impact of Coronavirus and are worried about what it could mean over the coming weeks.
What We Are Doing
As a mental health community, it is vital that we support each other in the most appropriate way we can. Behind the scenes, we are working to contact every mental health service in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area to get updates on how their services are impacted. If you have specific queries you would like the network to raise on your behalf, please get in touch with us by emailing engagement[@]imhn.org (removing the square brackets from the email address).
We are also following the latest guidance from the NHS about Coronavirus. You can find more information about this by clicking here.
As the NHS is focusing its resources responding to the pandemic, this does mean many of the projects we are a part of are temporarily on hold. We will be in touch with those of you that this directly affects. However, if you are unsure about whether a meeting that you attend on behalf of the network is going ahead, please get in touch with the team by email.
We are committed to safeguarding and supporting the wellbeing of all. In line with this, all in person monthly member’s meetings across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are suspended until at least the end of April 2020, when the situation will be reviewed. Other in-person meetings organised by the network are also suspended until the end of April 2020.
We are currently exploring opportunities to move some key meetings online, and we will be in touch with our members, stakeholders, and contacts about this by next week with an update.
Our safety policy for staff, representatives and volunteers has also been agreed by the Board of Trustees. It has been included at the bottom of this post.
Hearing From You
We also want to hear from you about how the Coronavirus is impacting you and your ability to access mental health support, so we can raise the issues directly with commissioners and service providers. If you have anything you would like to share, please get in touch with the IMHN team by emailing engagement[@]imhn.org (removing the square brackets from the email address).
If you have any queries or concerns about this message, please do get in touch with us.
Finally, I would like to say I hope you are managing to stay safe and well during these unprecedented times.
On behalf of the organisation and Board of Trustees,
Tom Renhard
CEO, Independent Mental Health Network
Claire, Justine, Kata, Kaz, and Nick
Board of Trustee Members, Independent Mental Health Network
IMHN Coronavirus Safety Policy for Staff, Reps, and Volunteers
In the light of the current coronavirus pandemic IMHN will follow all relevant UK government guidelines and prioritise safety of staff, reps, and volunteers
- Staff, reps and volunteers should work from home and not attend the office
- All IMHN activities will be online only and there will be no face to face meetings – this applies to meetings of IMHN team members and meetings with others
- Board of Trustees meetings will be held online
- There will be no travel or attendance at events
- The new IMHN office will be shut until further notice
- Staff, reps and volunteers should review consequences of these restrictions on their work and discuss changes with their line manager
Any exceptions to the above must be agreed with line manager in advance and would only be granted in exceptional circumstances (for representatives – please liaise with your usual contact – this will be either Tom or Ali).
This policy will apply until further notice. The CEO and board of trustees will review government advice and will notify when these restrictions will be lifted.
March 19, 2020 at 7:02 pm