Visit to Kerala MHID director Ray Rowden recently visited Kerala in South India to discuss with Indian colleagues the preparation for the MHID Policy and Public Action Programme (PaPA).
March 2005 - MHID works directly in Romania to support the National Mental Health Policy Forum to develop the Iasi Declaration promoting user involvement and grassroots action in mental health Staff from MHID worked directly with the Romania National Policy Forum (NPF) in Iasi in March 2005 to build the capacity of the national forum and develop local public action.
March 2005 - MHID officially opens its Indian Office in Trivandrum (Thiruvanathapuram), Kerala MHID has established a regional office for its Indian activities in Trivandrum. The office will provide support, advice and an initial point of contact for all MHID's mental health initiatives on the sub-continent.
April 2005 - MHID delivers a mental health policy training package to support the development of grassroots mental health work in Kollam District, Kerala in India. Colleagues from MHID worked with MGM Charitable Trust and the Kollam District local policy forum in April 2005 to assist users and local stakeholders promote positive mental health awareness in the district.
April 2005 - MHID establishes a formal inter-organisational relationship with the Kerala Partnerships charity. As part of its continuing commitment to India, MHID has agreed a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kerala Partnerships (KP). KP has been active in Kerala for eight years, proving support and assistance to numerous community groups in the field
August 2005 - MHID second programme visit to Kerala MHID followed up its support visit to Kerala in April 2005 with a second visit to provide specialist input to enable local stakeholders to hold a series of community events.
October 2005 - MHID supports mental health rally and campaign in Trivandrum, Kerala Over 100 users and local stakeholders held a rally and march in the Keralan state capital of Trivandrum to highlight the importance of the user and grassroots perspective in mental health. The march was timed to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10
October 2005 - MHID launches major new mental health policy project MHID has begun a major new policy initiative called the Participation and Policy project. Work has commenced in the first pilot site in Tees and North East Yorkshire.
December 2005 - MHID launches Dance and Mental Health Project A new initiative is launched by MHID to raise mental health awareness through the arts and dance in the UK, Europe and Africa.
Middlesbrough Develops Plan for Community Involvement in Policy The MHID Participation and Mental Health Policy workshop brought over 20 local stakeholders together to share local networks and develop a model for a new Mental Health Policy Action Group.
Kerala Forum Establishes Candle Making Employment Project Thanks to a generous donation by UK charity Kerala Partnership the Kollam District Forum now has the equipment to run a candle-making project.
Mental Health Open Platform in Middlesbrough on 9th June 2006 A local coalition of service users, family members and local organisations, with the support of MHID, is running an Open Platform to discuss local mental health action in Middlesbrough. Every one is welcome to attend.
Five Key Local Mental Health Policy Issues Agreed by Middlesbrough Citizens A successful Open Forum on 9th June in Middlesbrough has created a list of the five key local policy priorities for service users and other stakeholders.
January 2006 - MHID and partners develop new programme to promote patient empowerment in European health systems The EMPowER project is a partnership between MHID, the European Society for Quality in Healthcare (ESQH) and the Research Unit at the Royal College of Psychiatry
MHID delivers grassroots mental health policy workshop in Middlesbrough Ray Rowden and Paul Cutler presented a workshop for over 30 local mental health stakeholders in Middlesbrough to look at developing a participatory mental health policy forum.
First Announcement - Mental Health and International Development: Innovations from the Community Conference, Kerala, November 2007 MHID and partners announce the grassroots led international mental health conference to be held in Kerala, India in 2007
MHID re-launches small grants programme for user led NGOs in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and India Following a comprehensive review and evaluation of MHID funding activities over the last 18 months, a new small grants programme has been launched to support innovative user led policy and self-help projects.
MHID extends the Reach 4 Dance Programme The innovative dance and movement prgramme for users of mental health services grows to cover the whole of the UK and internationally
MHID Grants Programme Funds Romanian Project MHID makes grant to Romanian service user led NGO Orizonturi for new advocacy and grassroots policy project
