Business Details
34 Years
experience
Your Voice in Mental Health Advocacy
Established in 1992, Dorset Mental Health Forum has been at the forefront of mental health advocacy for three decades. Our organisation is built on the lived experiences of individuals who have navigated mental health challenges, enabling us to provide authentic insights and support. We collaborate with statutory services, healthcare providers, and communities to reshape mental health understanding and practice. Our values of honesty, courage, compassion, respect, and integrity guide every initiative we undertake. Through Recovery Education, Crisis Support, and Social Connection programmes, we empower individuals to reclaim their narratives and influence systemic change. Our partnership with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust exemplifies our commitment to integrating lived experience with professional expertise.We have facilitated thousands of interactions through digital platforms, community activities, and advocacy initiatives, fostering resilience across Dorset. Our work extends to supporting carers, young people, and marginalised groups, ensuring equitable access to mental health resources. As a registered charity, we rely on diverse funding sources to maintain our independence while pursuing our vision of a society that truly understands mental health. Our team comprises individuals who have transformed personal challenges into strengths, creating a unique ecosystem of peer-led support and professional collaboration.
Services
Recovery Education
Crisis Support
Social Connection
Advocacy Services
Employment Support
Youth Mental Health
Carer Support
Community Engagement
Details
- Year established: 1992
Highlights and features
- We offer 30 years of lived experience-led mental health advocacy
- Our team comprises individuals with direct experience of mental health challenges
- We co-produce services with statutory partners like Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust
- We provide peer-led support programmes tailored to Dorset communities
- Our work has positively impacted thousands through localised initiatives
Services
Recovery Education
Our Recovery Education programmes provide structured learning opportunities to understand mental health challenges and develop personal recovery strategies. Through workshops and peer-led sessions, participants gain tools to navigate their recovery journeys while building supportive networks within Dorset communities.
Crisis Support
Crisis Support offers immediate assistance during mental health emergencies through a safe, non-judgmental environment. Our trained support workers help individuals manage acute distress, develop coping strategies, and connect with ongoing support networks across Dorset.
Social Connection
Social Connection activities create inclusive spaces for individuals to combat isolation through shared experiences. Our community events and peer support groups foster belonging while developing social networks that sustain mental wellbeing across Dorset.
Advocacy Services
Advocacy Services empower individuals to assert their rights within mental health systems. Our advocates provide one-to-one support to navigate care pathways, challenge discrimination, and ensure voices are heard in treatment decisions.
Employment Support
Employment Support helps individuals find purpose through work-related opportunities. We offer tailored guidance to overcome employment barriers, develop skills, and connect with inclusive workplaces that value lived experience expertise.
Questions
What mental health services do you offer in Dorset?
We provide Recovery Education, Crisis Support, Social Connection activities, Advocacy, Employment Support, and youth mental health programmes across Dorset.
How can I share my mental health experiences with your organisation?
We welcome personal stories through our 'Share Your Story' initiative, offering guidance to help individuals articulate their experiences for collective learning.
Do you offer support for mental health carers?
Yes, our Carers & Supporters programme provides tailored assistance for those supporting others through mental health challenges.
How does your charity influence mental health policy?
We collaborate with statutory partners and use lived experience expertise to shape local services and challenge systemic prejudices.
Can businesses partner with your mental health charity?
We actively seek corporate partnerships to create mutually beneficial relationships that advance mental health understanding and support.
