UK Organisations

As you probably know by now if you've been around the site, that there are no support or self-help groups dedicated purely to personality disorders within the UK (with the possible exception of the James Naylor Foundation. However, the following organisations are groups are very useful to know about.

National Organisations

James Nayler Foundation

Admin Office, PO Box 235, York, YO1 7YW
Tel: 01904 624993
Web Site: http://www.jnf.org.uk

"The philosophy underpinning the work of the Foundation is that every person is born sociable, lovable and non-violent. Personality Disorders arise as a consequence of traumatic childhood experiences and the Foundation is absolutely committed to the belief that in even the most severely disordered conditions something can always be done to alleviate the distress and suffering. The James Nayler Foundation intends to show that this is the most fruitful strategy for resolving conflicts, violence and all other Personality Disorders." So there you have it!

Survivors Speak Out

34 Osnaburgh Street, London NW1 3ND
Tel: 0171 916 5372 Fax: 0171 916 5473
Web sitel: http://www.comcom.org/acorn/survivor.htm

"Survivors Speak Out was founded in 1986 by a group of mental health service users and workers. The term survivors was chosen to portray a positive image of
people in distress and people whose experience differs from, or who dissent from, society's norms. Our main aim is to promote self advocacy: the fundamental right
of every individual to promote their own view-speak out - and to have that view heard."

Mad Pride

Email:: info@nsf.org.uk
Web Site: http://www.madpride.net

"Mad Pride is committed to ending discrimination against psychiatric patients, promoting survivor equality and celebrating Mad culture. Mad Pride now sees itself as part of the newest (but probably not the last) Civil Rights movement." Great site, great organisation and makes a refreshing change. They have a great list of UK survivor groups and also organise events and gigs.

MIND (The National Association for Mental Health)

15-19 Broadway, London, E15 4BQ
Info Line (Outide London: 0345 660163) (Greater London: 0181 522 1728)
Web Site: http://www.mind.org.uk

MIND is the UK's largest mental health charity and can provide information on a wide range of mental health issues. They have a network of local groups across the country and you can find the one nearest to you by calling their info line or visiting their website. They also offer a range of publications and leaflets covering mental illnesses.

Mental Health Foundation

20/21 Cornwall Terrace, London NW1 4QL
Tel: 020 7535 7400 Fax: 020 7535 7474
Web Site: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/index.html

The Mental Health Foundation is a charitable organisation that covers every aspect of Mental Health. They fund care programmes and research, produce many leaflets and publications, and run training courses.

ACORN

The Annex, Portland Works, Portland Road, Off Canning Circus, Radford, Nottingham. NG7 4GQ
Tel: 0115 970 0075 Fax: 0115 970 0075
Web Site: Advocacy & Community On-line resource Network (ACORN)

"The A.C.O.R.N project was designed in late/early 1994/1995. The concept was to use the media of the Internet to
produce a service that would be useful for communications, organisational developments and information and most
importantly a service that was open and independent." This provides a good list to UK based organisations that are on-line.

UKAN - United Kingdom Advocay Network

UKAN, Volserve House, 14-18 West Bar Green, Sheffield. S1 2DA
Web Site: UKAN ADVOCACY

This organisation is the National Federation of Patient Councils, User Forums, Advocacy Pojects and User/Survivor Led groups (!). Find about affiliated groups in your part of the country.

National Schizophrenic Fellowship

28 Castle Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. KT 1 1SS
Tel: 0181 547 3937 Fax: 0181 547 3862
Email: info@nsf.org.uk
Web Site: http://www.nsf.org.uk

Whilst primarily concerned with Schizophrenia the NSF is very concerned about PDs because "there is some overlap between personality disorder and psychotic illness like schizophrenia. Also, many young people who are in the 'prodromal' period and will develop schizophrenia are inappropriately given a diagnosis of personality disorder, and do not get the right care and treatment at an early stage".

Survivors' Poetry

Diorama Arts Centre, 34 Osnaburgh Street, London NW1 3ND
Tel: 0171 916 5317 Fax: 0171 916 0830
Email: survivor@survivorspoetry.org.uk

Survivors' Poetry is an organisation that "promotes poetry by survivors of mental distress". They are based in London, but have groups throughout the UK that organise poetry workshops and performances. They publish a bi-monthly newsletter regarding their activities, and anthologies of survivors' work as funds allow. Survivors Poetry Scotland (30 Cranworth Street, Glasgow, G12 8AG) publish a poetry magazine NOMAD, that contains poetry from survivors all over the UK.

Royal College Of Psychiatrists

17 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PG
Tel: 0171 235 2351 Fax: 0171 235 1231
Web Site: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk

The Royal College of Psychiatrist's is primarily and educational and professional body, but their web site does provide information on basic mental health issues. They are currently running a Changing Minds campaign that aims to challenge the discrimination and stigma attached to mental illness. Worth a visit.