Partnership with Touchwood Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull has announced that it has selected Solihull Mind as its ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2023. “Touchwood is committed to creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere for its staff members, visitors, and the surrounding community. This new partnership with local charity Solihull Mind will ensure Touchwood’s community will continue to thrive and grow.” Tony Elvin, General Manager at Touchwood, said: “Mental health is a hugely important part of all of our lives and a cause close to the hearts of many of our team here at Touchwood. By partnering with Solihull Mind, we hope to raise awareness of mental health issues and extend this crucial support service within our local community.” Dave Skerrett, Chair of Solihull Mind, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to work in partnership with Touchwood. “We are looking forward to developing the relationship, which we anticipate will not only be hugely beneficial to both organisations, but, more importantly, will help us to maintain our current services and also provide the opportunity to develop and deliver more mental health support for the people of Solihull.” 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 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 Under the outdated Mental Health Act, Black people are more likely to be compulsorily admitted for treatment, more likely to be on a medium or high secure ward and more likely to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.

…Touchwood partnership...black lives matter…