Founded in 2017, Liverpool-based The Mind Map is an expert group of counsellors and mental health trainers and it has now created a digital ‘one stop shop’ for mental health provision

Mental health support organisation The Mind Map has launched what it claims is the UK’s first ‘one stop shop’ for mental health provision.

Founded in 2017, Liverpool-based The Mind Map is an expert group of counsellors and mental health trainers. Most of the team have their own lived experience of mental ill health.

It has trained staff at Netflix, eBay, the NHS and Facebook in mental health first aid. Counselling clients have included the University of Liverpool. Founder Phil Bridges was motivated to launch The Mind Map in 2017 after struggling for years to find appropriate support for his OCD and anxiety.

People and organisations can now book online counselling, mental health first aid training, find free mental health services and read expert advice and articles, on The Mind Map’s new mental health platform – www.themindmap.co.uk

It’s the result of a research project carried out between The Mind Map and leading organisations with mental health at the centre of their agenda, with contributions from Liverpool John Moores University, Imperial College London and the NHS.

Mr Bridges, a lecturer in mental health innovation and a mental health first aid instructor, said: “Our research uncovered that people don’t feel they have access to the support they need, in a format that is accessible and relevant to their everyday lives. This was certainly the case for me personally when trying to find help for my anxiety and OCD.

“With recurring lockdowns restricting people’s ability to receive in person support, we have recruited 20 associate counsellors experienced in delivering therapy online. Clients can choose a qualified counsellor by location, gender and specialism.

“We have sessions people can purchase, plus are providing free counselling to healthcare workers and unemployed people in Liverpool’s L8 area.”

Smita Melling, a counselling psychologist at The Mind Map has been practising for 17 years and sees the pandemic as a serious threat to people’s mental health. She added: “Unfortunately, anxiety has been through the roof since March 2020.

“It’s like peeling an onion, you start with pandemic-induced anxiety – exacerbated by working from home and loneliness and often find deeper lying issues such as thinking errors.”

Using graphic design from Kruger Bro and innovative website development by Citrus Suite. The Mind Map’s new website offers tangible mental health support and helps normalise mental health through engaging advice and articles from academic experts, writers and public figures.