Please support us by coming to a fundraising event organised by Shirely Lions in aid of Solihull Mind. The band Imperfect Storm will play a misxture of rock, soul and blues at Shirley British Legion on the 6th August. Doors open at 7-30pm and tickets are £10 on the door. For further details see www.shirleylions.co.uk.

Crisis service

Our out of hours telephone helpline unfortunately ended on the 28th May due to funding and staffing issues but will reopen shortly as an in-person service at Faulkner Road as soon as we can be sure it can be provided safely - see below item on coronavirus. However, the 24 hour mental health helpline for the whole of Birmingham and Solihull is still avaiable on 0121 262 3555. Please still continue to contact us on any aspect of mental health, particularly if you are self isolating. There is a lot of helpful information about this on National Mind’s website: www.mind.org.uk

Mental Health Helpline

The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0121 262 3555

Coronavirus/Covid-19

We are continuing to provide as much help and support as possible during the present coronavirus crisis. Despite the removal of all covid restrictions on the 19th July we are still having to restrict some of our services and are still unable to re-open our OASIS social support service in our Faulkner Road building. However, we continue to provide counselling in our building using masks, visors and clear screens, although there is still the option of receiving counselling by telephone. The social support part of the OASIS service remains at our horticulture project in Knowle where we are able to safely social distance in the open or using a large polytunnel for when it’s raining. The horticulture project is also remaining open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. We are providing transport to Knowle in our new minibus (in accordance with social distancing rules) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with sessions starting at 12 and ending at 3pm. For details on the minibus pickup points please contact the Mind office. We will review the situation regularly and any change will be posted on this website and our Facebook page. There will still be advice and support available on the telephone and through email, and this is now available from 9-30am until 5-30pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturday/Sunday 12-30pm - 5-30pm. The contact details for this are: 0121 742 4941 or 0121 743 4237; and contact@solihullmind.org.uk.

Facemasks

The government has made the wearing of facemasks optional from 19th July, but many shops and organisations are still requiring them. However, there are exemptions from this requirement; including young children, people with breathing difficulties, and, most significantly, “people whose disabilities make it difficult for them to wear a face covering”- and this includes people who are unable to wear masks due to their mental health. As it isn’t obvious that people with “hidden disabilities” are exempt from wearing a mask, there are badges available that can be worn or displayed on your smart phone. The government issued ones can be obtained here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face- coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make- your-own. You can also buy a card and a lanyard or plastic holder at the Hidden Disabilities website: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/hidden- disabilities-face-covering.html

Black Lives Matter

Mind believes that Black Lives Matter and black mental health matters and we share our support for the Black Lives Matter movement. In mental health – as in other areas of life – there is a huge disparity in how black people are listened to and supported at every level. People from black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups living in the UK are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems, be diagnosed and admitted to hospital, experience a poor outcome from treatment, disengage from mainstream mental health services, leading to social exclusion and a deterioration in their mental health. Under the outdated Mental Health Act, Black people are more likely to be compulsorily admitted for treatment, more likely to be on a medium or high secure ward and more likely to be subject to seclusion or restrain. We know there’s no easy solution and that there is still a long way to go to make sure everyone experiencing a mental health problem and other forms of discrimination, is treated equally, both within our organisation and outside it.