Mind Reviews 

These people will make your mental health worse!
Trying to push you into full time employment when you suffer serious mental health, accusing you of not engaging if you miss several appointments due to being too anxious and depressed to leave home. I thought mind was designed for mental health? They just expect you to miracously recover and become a normal functioning member of society after 2 months of fortnightly appointments. You're left feeling guilty and useless for explaining how you feel.
I had a similar issue last year with a different support worker! They are completely inconsiderate, they will speak loudly of personal details about yourself in front of a busy setting instead of lowering their voice. (great for anxiety)!!!! Basic respect and boundaries are just NOT there!!

I can’t honestly say that Birmingham Mind were of any help whatsoever. The support worker was emotionless and seemed to be annoyed with me for requiring support, and kept pushing me to fill in questionnaire after questionnaire asking for all sorts of random personal information about myself which had absolutely nothing to do with my mental health (eg. did I want to be buried or cremated!). I got the feeling that they were making money out of me by selling my information on to third parties/businesses, but idk. Why did they need to know what Bank I was with? Any interaction I had with them for the first 6+ months was only limited to filling in more and more flipping questionnaires!

Periodically I was asked to fill in forms assessing my support worker’s performance…with them right there watching me do it and suggesting what I fill in! This is ridiculous, how on earth can you be frank with how bad the support worker is if they’re "helping" you fill the form in? I felt pressured into writing a glowing review in fear that they would take it out on me if I was truthful about how bad they actually were.

Then abruptly I was told that I was being dropped from the service, right when I really needed some help concerning a serious situation. They harassed me into a certain course of action, then told me I was basically on my own dealing with the aftermath. They grudgingly said I could make an application for further "support", then listed all the ways this would be an imposition on Birmingham Mind, how more deserving people were waiting for their services, and how difficult it would be for them if I insisted on still requiring help. I guess because I was getting worse, not better, they thought they’d cut their losses. Well, if they don’t think I’m worth anything, neither do I. I give up. I won’t be engaging with life anymore.

This is a review for Richmond Borough Mind. The counselling service is absolutely abysmal. The therapist Sarah Bristow-Bailey, is inept, disorganized, incompetent and clueless. Don't be fooled by her resume, she has no expertise. She has no meaningful experience, and limited practical knowledge of psychiatry. She puts no effort into her sessions, and has no idea what to do, frequently appearing bemused and lost, and has no interest in taking notes or recalling anything. What little attention she does pay, she responds with vacuous canned phrases and laughter. That is how bad she is. She does not even maintain the professional persona of a "therapist" during sessions, frequently breaking character. Also she prioritizes herself and her needs, focusing more on planning her diary than putting any effort into her sessions. I also witnessed her interactions with other clients leaving as being cold and inhumane. On top of that she is culturally insensitive bordering on racist. This woman should not be involved with anybody seeking mental health support. Plus Richmond Mind does not accept any responsibility for the poor behaviour of the therapists. The excuse that the organization offered for her missing sessions was her inability to use email. This is unacceptable in the 21st Century. The woman who runs the service Dorothée Bonnigal-Katz, also has a massive ego, and does not even accept any complaints or criticisms. Overall Richmond Mind is a complete waste of time and money and a horrible place to visit for anybody seeking help in their lives.

I have had the misfortune of dealing with MIND twice. The first time, a rude woman on the phone told me "We can't help, sorry" and simply hung up.

The second time was a lot more complicated, but briefly, I was under the care of a crisis recovery worker and after my sessions ended, was told I could re-refer back.

Long story short, I did re-refer myself back, only to be told that MIND won't help me again, because they don't have the staff.

Maybe if they spent more time actually helping people, than posting to their social media and doing fun runs, they might have time to actually support people. Avoid if you don't want to make already complicated mental health problems, much worse.

This company is infamous for refusing SAR requests. Don't bother going to them they are not good. They are just after your money. Go to a reputable organisation with qualified staff.

‘Mind’ has been radicalised by the far left!

Not allowed to have your own opinion on things , basically they are trying to remodel you into their own ideology.

No boundaries, respect anymore.

I remember when mind and other mental health charities had time and patience with people and were there for the ‘Patient’ not there own concerns and beliefs.

I don’t see ‘Mind’ anymore ‘because’ of my mental health. They scare me with their selfish agenda.

We need this ‘far leftist’ culture to stop being radical and for mental health services to care about ‘People’ not ‘Themselves’.

‘Left’ use to mean for the people!

Not any more.

A reflection of a deteriorating country ( UK ).

No morality, boundaries, respect.

Radicalism has no place in a decent society.

Beware!

My daughter had a series of 8 sessions with a Mind 'counsellor'. She received what sounded like a very basic form of CBT during which she and her 'counsellor' went through work sheets, ticking off exercises. At the end of each session she was asked to rate how effective the session had been - how on earth was she supposed to be honest? It's not only that it was a waste of time - it was also the worst waste of hope. My daughter now refuses to even countenance seeing a therapist because her experience with MIND was so counter-productive that she is unable to see therapy as a potentially useful tool.

Another charity operating as a business in all but name . I tried to reach out for help . I made a phone call to the Birmingham office.
The initial greeting . Was empathetic enough . The call went as follows I was asked what was on my mind. I told Alisha about some of my mental troubles . In hindsight she took this as her cue , to rev up the antagonistic nature of the way the service and many of these false help lines , have been recalibrated and re -designed to operate. In the post COVID Era.
The sequence of response was as follows;

1) “What’s your name?
2) How do you think we can help ?
3) What did you want to get out of this call. ?”

All of the above was demanded in a flat and bossy tone . With a disinterested brush stroke .
Wow ! So I was lulled into a false sense of a safe space to open up and the response was a lot of closed and pre determined questions. ?? . True to form . I was by no means expected to supply any kind of valid answer to those questions. After years of trying to get help for my MH or just trying to find a safe place to offload some inhibiting mental anguish. I can categorically state that these helpless helplines are designed to disempower the caller and leave them rooted in square 1. Submerged in their pre existing brain fog . In a lonely place .
Back to the call in question. Aisha’s tone grow louder and the anger of this narcissistic operator was palpable. She hated being challenged on her silly question. After all how was I expected to know how she could help and in what way , I don’t work in MH services. Services such as this one are deliberately designed to recruit reward and fine tune. People of a low intelligence with an arrested degree of emotional empathy. With a mind that never questions its paymasters or wider environment. They have to be , because their training manual has been written for such people.
The trick is to promote help for MH which does not exist and keep the masses scurrying around a gerbil wheel of helplessness . Socially , economically and emotionally.
All of this engineered and designed by graduates and post graduates. Generational middle class Mainly white . But there might be a few exceptions. However the rallying ethos is a lack of moral integrity.
I wouldn’t be surprised. If these services track every single call and the data trail
Of its journey. I’d be even less surprised to learn that they share information out of house . With other institutions masquerading as help points .

Look until we see lawless law makers like Gove and others across the board under the wheels of a metaphorical bus . as this is not a partisan issue it’s cultural generational and endemic. In our society. There will be no
Change and no dice for those indeed in need .

A service that states they are there for people but are not they just gather information from you then lie and make excuses so they don’t have to contact you again I am concerned for there mental health on the grounds of the way and behave towards society and how they constantly write negative remarks about people just be honest to people and tell them the truth like every other organisation you use for research

Very mean on time, she wouldn't even spare 5 mins to approve what I wrote resulting in major inconvenience at the tribunal. My appeal was rejected as a result.

In today's society, the term "mental" is often used as an insult, reflecting a lack of understanding and empathy towards those struggling with mental health conditions. Surprisingly, even a reputed charity like Mind has not taken significant steps to campaign against the derogatory use of the word "mental."

One would expect a mental health charity like Mind to take a proactive stance against the derogatory use of the term "mental." However, their silence on this matter suggests a missed opportunity to educate and advocate for change. By standing up against the misuse of the word, Mind could contribute significantly towards reducing societal prejudice and discrimination.

Another alarming concern is the avoidance of individuals with mental health conditions by solicitors within the legal system. This practice highlights a deep-rooted bias that needs to be addressed urgently. People with mental health conditions deserve equal access to justice and legal representation without facing prejudice or discrimination.

I used Mind Crisis cafe once, it seemed helpful, not been back recently, however, Richard Hurst, operations manager, avoids calls from the public, I feel that is really really rude of you Richard Hurst, he avoids emails also, so unprofessional and so very rude. Its like most charities only really want donations, but when they need to support the public with problems with mental health service they avoid doing anything at all. They are basically just an online website, much like the NHS, a glossy magazine website of how great they are, but the reality is far from the truth.

Very poor untrained and inappropriate response on mindline. Rude and insulting.
Called Samaritans instead and received a first class service.

I am Male and Waited almost 2 months for a first phone call to talk about when I was sexually assaulted by a previous MALE G.P, so mind decided to send a gay man to council me over it, I just put the phone down, that is like getting a convicted rapist to counsel the rape victim. what are you playing at mind, do you people stop and THINK for one second

I contacted on behalf of my mum she bipolar and we are facing homelessness after domestic abuse. A month we have been waiting on a call back. Its disgusting because this charity is meant to help with vulnerable people. There is ho help.

I do not trust this organisation. Especially the one in Littlehampton, West sussex. 10 Years ago - i was street homeless and psychotic. But their "support" involved me having me prosecuted when i left messages on the phone whilst in psychosis. They were not even trained to recognise, that i was off my rocker at the time.

In fact this "organisation" caused more harm then good to me. I refuse to deal with them.

Surprise surprise - 3 months later i was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Something they simply failed to pick up on. There response was calling the police on me. That was their "support".

Understanding Mental health is never easy or often explained clearly. Same goes for managing mental health illnesses. Mind covers almost every mental health condition in easily understandable detail from possible causes, symptoms, and self-help techniques to help manage these disorders and illnesses. Wether understanding your own condition or illness or that of a loved one Mind is extremely helpful when one needs to understand mental health better. Also due to the detailed information available at Mind it is also extremely helpful for those looking towards general self-education and understanding of mental health and our minds. Great Job 👏

My husband who is a medic was diagnosed with depression and anxiety which resulted in him being 3 months off work and at the same time my mother who suffers from schizophrenia had a relapse due to negligence from an nhs mental health department who was supposed to monitor her switching to a different drug I also have a 5year old son (autistic) and a baby 6 months old. Turning desperately to Mind in my dire situation was the the worst thing I have done when seeking for help they did nothing at all and was completely ignored I filed a complaint. In the end I had no choice but to give up my job to take care of my family to support them and see to it they get better and do you know what it was the best decision I made as charity starts at home!can’t call this charity it’s a money making org.

I had booked a Mental Health First Aider course with the charity. Course location was a totally different area (Barnsley, then Rotherham). Course details were sent 2 days before course, after having been advised they would be sent two weeks before course. Emails to the trainer and training department have not been answered. I have now contacted them and removed myslf from the course and asked for a refund. I will be arranging an online course instead with another provider. Whilst I understand Mind are a charity they should provide a professional service when dealing with course bookings etc.

Anyone donating money to this charity should be aware that they don't actually help people who need it. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression last year and was referred to them. Their 'help' was in the form of a letter telling me if I didn't contact them within 7 days they weren't going to help me.

For a mental health charity they don't seem to understand mental health and that those suffering with it struggle to do things and that giving them an ultimatums in the form of a letter isn't helpful.

Sadly this is the type of thing that all the money raised for this 'charity' is funding just basically sending out letters to people and ticking their boxes, that and paying their wages of course.
I am still mentally suffering and need help but am not getting it so thanks for nothing Mind.