As a charity we are reliant on funding from external organisations and the generosity of the public.
If you wish to donate an amount, for example £10, you would text DMHF19 £10 to the number 70070.
So text the code DMHF19, followed by the amount - to 70070.
We thank you for your kindness.
Welcome to the Dorset Mental Health Forum
The Dorset Mental Health Forum is a local peer led charity. We exist to improve the lives of everyone affected by mental illness by promoting wellbeing and recovery. We were established in 1992 and employ people with lived experience of mental health problems whenever possible. Our main office premises are situated in Durngate Street in the market town of Dorchester.
We believe that people with lived experience of mental health problems have a wealth of specialist knowledge and valuable expertise. We believe in the effectiveness of partnership working in the design and provision of mental health services. Everyone has an equal right to enjoy all of the opportunities that life can provide and that is why we promote the principle that hope, mental health and wellbeing are essential to all.
Mental Health Urgent Care Services - Final Proposal
The NHS in Dorset has been working since 2010 to draw up a future plan for the care of residents in the Bridport, Dorchester, Sherborne and Weymouth and Portland areas who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Please click here for more details.
Writing for Recovery Project
The Forum has launched the Writing for Recovery Project, which will help service users develop their creative writing skills. Further details about the project can be found in this Dorset Echo article.
The project was launched by Dr Francis C. Biley, an associate professor at Bournemouth University and Dorset County Hospital Governor and Hannah Walker, chair of the Dorset Mental Health Forum - last year they collaborated with Dr Alec Grant from Brighton University to produce the book Our Encounters with Madness.
The Writing for Recovery project starts on 16th May 2012 from 6pm - 8pm and will be facilitated by Kirsty Stanley. It will run for 8 weeks and tea and coffee will be provided.
If you are interested in joining, please telephone Hannah on 07557 667066 or email hannahwalker@dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk to confirm that places are available.
Mental Health Housing Survey
The Forum is undertaking a piece of work to find out about people's experiences of accessing accommodation and housing support. Your views about services are important and will inform and shape the services that are provided locally.
You can complete the survey online, or download the survey in PDF format to print off and post back to the Forum.
The Recovery Education Centre
Prospectus 2012
Everyone has a right to wellbeing, to feeling positive about today and feeling hopeful for tomorrow.
At times life can feel uncontrollable, and empty of opportunity, and most of us experience this at
some point. At the Recovery Education Centre (REC), you will find courses that help to empower you to
find hope, to see and embrace opportunity through building skills and gain control by putting these
skills into practice in your life.
Please download the REC Prospect Leaflet and the Full REC Prospectus 2012 for more details. You can also download the REC Registration Form.
Access Dorset Fun Run, Walk or Wheel Event in Weymouth
The Access Dorset 1.5km and 3km events are taking place along Weymouth seafront on Saturday the 19th May 2012. More information can be found by downloading the Poster, Invitation, and Entry Form. Everyone is welcome.
Mind Your Head Conference
On Sunday the 12th of August world-class speakers Tony Buzan, Dominic O'Brien, Professor Michael Crawford and Leontxo Garcia will deliver their expertise on how you can increase your mental potential and wellbeing.
Entry is £95 per person and includes admission to the conference, refreshments, lunch and access to the Mind Your Head Challenge Showcase. This is a fund raising event to enable a sustainable mental wellbeing for people over 50. For more details download this PDF.
Reflections Magazine Spring 2012 Issue
![Download Reflections Magazine Spring 2012 [PDF in new window]](images/reflections-image.jpg)
The Spring 2012 issue of Reflections highlights some of the creative aspects of the Forum's work from the past 6 months. It includes articles about the 'Transitions Recovery Art and Narrative Project'. The 'Hidden Talents' project in which NHS staff share their own lived experiences of mental health. A great piece by Dr Jonathan Godfrey about the 'Recovery Mentoring' pilot project, with our chair Hannah Walker, as well as some powerful Recovery Narratives.
There is a review by Paul Siebenthal of the latest David Cronenberg film, 'A Dangerous Method', and includes quotes from Paul's interview with Christopher Hampton, the writer of the screenplay. The film is about the fathers of Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. This was an opportunity for the Forum to comment on a film that is currently on national release, and which touches on important issues of how mental illness was seen in the past, as well as how it's seen today. To have been asked by the film's communications firm to review the film shows that the Forum has an important voice.
Previous issues are available from our archive on the Reflections webpage.
Dorset Mental Health Forum Information Leaflet
![Download the Forum Information Leaflet [PDF in new window]](images/forum-information-leaflet.jpg)
Please download the Forum Information Leaflet (please be patient, it's quite a large file size).
It explains who we are and the many pieces of work and projects that we undertake, including:
- Consultation and Representation
- Wellbeing and Recovery Partnership (WaRP)
- Dorset Mental Health Advocacy
- Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
- WorkWise - An employment support co-ordination service
- Sports and Leisure Activity Programme
- Peer Support Groups and various other projects
Read the leaflet to find out more, and most importantly, for details on how you can get involved and help shape the mental health services of tomorrow by becoming a Forum Member.
Latest Information
Music - Practice and Jamming at the Lantern, Weymouth
Open to all musicians of any level. Practice and jam in comfort with like-minded people who want to improve, relax and chat. Internet access available For limited online jamming. Everyone welcome. Some instruments are available. Download poster.
Contact Mike at the Lantern on 01305 787940, or just turn up.
Celebration Olympic Lunch at Positive Approach
Make this historic event a day to remember. Watch the Olympic torch runners go through Blandford, afterwards you are invited to the Positive Approach Shop for a complementary light lunch. Meet at Positive Approach 10.30am, Tuesday 12th July. Download poster.
R.S.V.P.
Please contact:
Positive Approach
01258 488560
or Florence
07979 437076
Schizophrenia Label Enquiry
An independent Inquiry into the 'Schizophrenia' Label has been launched on 16th April 2012 by a group of organisations and individuals concerned about the meaning and usefulness of 'schizophrenia' and similar labels such as 'psychosis'. The Inquiry aims to investigate the impact this label has on people's lives and to collect evidence from people, including mental health service users and carers, those (including professionals) who use these labels to describe mental health problems in other people, and those who have concerns about the use of such labels.
Please visit the Schizophrenia Inquiry website for more information.
Wellbeing & Recovery Newsletter
Issue 13: Spring 2012 of the WaRP Newsletter is now available for download.
Contains details on the Recovery Education Centre, Hidden Talents and tackling stigma.
Forum Blog
& Twitter
We have started the Forum Blog to highlight mental health issues and the Forum's work. You can also follow the Forum's Twitter Feed to keep abreast of developments.
Bridport Moving On Group Coffee Mornings
Coffee Mornings are held at the Gundry Lane Community Centre on the last Tuesday of every month, 11am to 1pm.
Visit the Bridport Moving On Group page or download the poster for more information.
Eating Disorders Survey
The consultation period ended on the 1st March - thank you to everyone who responded to the survey.
A summary of the results will be published on this site shortly.
Where applicable, individuals will be contacted in due course.
The Dorset Mental Health Forum is not responsible for the contents or reliability of linked websites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing shall not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.