Media

The Mental Health Foundation possesses a huge range and depth of knowledge on mental health and learning disability issues.

As part of our commitment to raising public awareness of mental health, all of the Mental Health Foundation and Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities staff listed below are available for interview by the media on issues relating to mental wellbeing or learning disabilities, and on the symptoms, prevalence and treatment of most mental health problems (including depression, anxiety, bipolar and schizophrenia).

If you are interested in speaking to case studies about their experiences with mental health problems, please visit the Mental Health Foundation Speakers’ Bureau.

Contact the Press Office team on 020 7803 1110, or email press@mhf.org.uk

Note: our main office is moving location between 7-12 December and we’ll be unable to respond to any phone calls during this time. Our main media email address - press@mhf.org.uk - will also be affected but any media requests sent through our online contact form will be responded to as normal.

Mental Health Foundation Spokespeople 

		Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive Areas of expertise: mental health and learning disability policy, government mental health strategy, mental health legislation, economic impact of mental health, service improvement, science and technology, therapy, spirituality, and general mental health. Read Andrew's biography
		Simon Lawton-Smith, Head of Policy Areas of expertise: UK mental health policy, government mental health strategy, mental health in parliament, mental health legislation including Community Treatment Orders, mental health commissioning, mental health service provision, mental health funding and costs, personalisation in mental health. Read Simon's biography
		Toby Williamson, Head of Development and Later Life Areas of expertise: older people’s mental health, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mental capacity, Mental Capacity Act, accessibility and development of community services, government mental health and social care strategy, mental health assessments, veterans and mental health, loneliness, ethics and values, and social inclusion. Read Toby's biography
		Dr Eva Cyhlarova, Head of Research Areas of expertise: general and abnormal psychology, nutrition and mental health, depression, vulnerability factors in psychological disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions (Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder/ ADHD), psychoses, personality (Schizotypy), and general mental health. Read Eva's biography
		Dr Dan Robotham, Senior Researcher Areas of expertise: general mental health, general psychology, mental capacity, young carers, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sleep, and general learning disabilities. Read Dan's biography
		David Crepaz-Keay, Head of Patient and Public Involvement Areas of expertise: development, delivering and evaluation of service user involvement, family and carer involvement, peer support, mental health awareness, self-management training, and empowerment. Read David's biography
		Jane Wycherley, Project Manager, Self-Management, Wales Areas of expertise: self-management, volunteers, and peer support groups. Read Jane's biography
		Susan Blishen, Project Manager, Right Here Areas of expertise: Right Here project, mental health and wellbeing of young people, youth involvement projects, and charity partnership management. Read Susan's biography
		Isabella Goldie, Head of Mental Health Programmes, Scotland Areas of expertise: Scottish mental health policy, public mental health and wellbeing, prevention and early intervention, later life, equalities and inequalities in mental health, mental health of black and minority ethnic communities, asylum seekers and refugees, Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, mental health and the arts, service user centred research, empowerment and recovery, and general mental health. Read Isabella's biography

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities Spokespeople 

		Alison Giraud-Saunders, Co-Director Areas of expertise: Valuing People, partnership boards, housing, general policy, roles of Community Learning Disability Teams, consultancy, working together initiatives, all aspects of health, physical and mental health of people with learning disabilities, NHS structures and organisation, primary care, the Criminal Justice System, and offending. Read Alison's biography
		Barbara McIntosh, Co-Director Areas of expertise: Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, consultancy, young people and the Criminal Justice System, bullying and harassment, day centres and services, Local Authority provision, services outside of the UK, transitions from child to adult services, service reviews and quality checking of services, personal budgets, Circles of Support and innovative approaches, development of the voluntary and third sectors, care management, and social work. Read Barbara's biography
		Christine Burke, Senior Development Manager Areas of expertise: spirituality and faith communities, ethnicity, person centred planning, employment, leadership for self-advocates, and Circles of Support. Read Christine's biography
		Jill Davies, Research Programme Manager Areas of expertise: young people and transition, Autism, mental health of people with learning disabilities, children and families, and leadership for self-advocates. Read Jill's biography
		Christine Towers, Service and Development Manager Areas of expertise: fathers, family work, day opportunities, older family carers, respite and short breaks, direct payments, and consultancy. Read Christine's biography
		Keith Bates, Project Manager, In-Business Areas of expertise: supported employment, self-employment, social enterprise and social firms, supporting people to set up co-operatives, and business and enterprise development. Read Keith's biography
		Molly Mattingly, Assistant Director Areas of expertise: person centred planning, circles of support, community inclusion, consultancy, employment, personalisation, families and transition. Read Molly's biography