New 'one stop shop' mental health support boost for Mansfield residents

The Mind Map’s innovative new platform, www.themindmap.co.uk, enables folk to get expert advice and read articles about mental health issues – and is the result of a ground-breaking research project carried out between The Mind Map and organisations such as the Imperial College London and NHS.

Phil Bridges, The Mind Map’s founder, 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, to deliver across the UK.

“Clients can choose a qualified counsellor by location, gender and specialism.

“People are understandably anxious at the moment and need increased mental health support. They’re dealing with disrupted education, a depleted jobs market and distance from their friends.”

Smita Melling, a counselling psychologist at The Mind Map, has been practising for 17 years and says the year-long Covid-19 pandemic has posed a serious threat to people’s mental health.

“Unfortunately, anxiety has been through the roof since March,” she said. “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.”

And she said The Mind Map’s new platform will now provide much-needed support to people in a quicker and more efficient manner.

“It can take an awful lot for a client to seek help and if they have to wait, it adds insult to injury,” she said. “The Mind Map bridges the gap between counsellor and client, allowing them to find help immediately.

“I decided to join The Mind Map as being paired with clients means I get to concentrate on delivery, as opposed to the business side - an achilles heel for many counsellors.”