West Kent Mind

Working with and on behalf of people with mental health needs, ensuring their fair and equal treatment, and promoting better mental health for all.

West Kent Mind is one of over 180 local Mind associations (LMAs) which are affiliated to the national charity Mind. It is an independent charitable organisation, which supports the overall values and vision of the national organisation and is subject to its quality standards.

Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, and the best known charity for mental health. The goals of Mind are:

• Staying well: Support people likely to develop mental health problems, to stay well.
• Empowering choice: Empower people who experience a mental health problem to make informed choices about how they live and recover.
• Improving services and support: Ensure people get the right services and support at the right time to help their recovery and enable them to live with their mental health problem.
• Enabling social participation: Open the doors to people with experience of mental health problems participating fully in society.
• Removing inequality of opportunity: Gain equality of treatment for people who experience both mental health and other forms of discrimination.
• Organisational excellence: Make the most of our assets by building a culture of excellence.

West Kent Mind began as the Sevenoaks and District Association for Mental Health (SDAMH) in 1962, and was one of the first local associations to affiliate to national Mind (then known as the National Association for Mental Health) in 1964. As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations, Development Officer (Fundraising) Jenny Godfrey interviewed some of the early pioneers and compiled this history of SAM.

Place Categories: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations, Clubs, Societies and Organisations, Community Resources, Family Support and Health and Keep FitPlace Tags: Sevenoaks Chamber