NIMHE was launched in June 2002 at our first event in Newcastle (CONNECTIONS 2002), following a national consultation from October to December 2001.

Our mission

We aim to improve the quality of life for people of all ages who experience mental distress. Working beyond the NHS, we help all those involved in mental health to implement positive change, providing a gateway to learning and development, offering new opportunities to share experiences and one place to find information. Through NIMHE's local development centres and national programmes of work, we will support staff to put policy into practice and to resolve local challenges in developing mental health.

To achieve these aims, service users, families and communities will be at the heart of our work. We will embrace diversity, champion achievements, help to break down bureaucracy and promote flexible ways of working. NIMHE is forging new partnerships at a national and international level. We will take a lead in connecting mental health research, development, delivery, monitoring and review.

Our organisation

We are made up of:

• Eight development centres (the engine room of NIMHE, the main point of contact for local services).
• National work programmes (shared priorities for action, which include service development and community, cross government work areas).
• A mental health research network (with the infrastructure managed by the Institute of Psychiatry and University of Manchester, and research hubs across the country).
• A small central team (based in Leeds).