Our history

We've spent over 75 years as a UK charity working at the forefront of mental health.

Our timeline below takes you through our history and the biggest changes we have achieved with your support.

1949

Derek Richter establishes the Mental Health Research Fund (The Fund) to address the imbalance in physical and mental health funding, and focuses on social circumstances and trauma in mental health.
Derek Richter

1952

The Fund hosts its first major conference bringing together a range of perspectives on mental health.
A building

1960

The Fund starts to use outcomes of its research to influence government health and social policies.
An image of the houses of Parliament and Big Ben in greyscale

1973

The Fund merges with the Mental Health Trust to create The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and grows to include structures for grant-making, policy – making and fundraising.
Old MHF logo

1974

MHF open a Scotland office in Glasgow.
Equestrian statue with traffic cones on both the rider's and horse's heads. Background features large columns, adding a playful contrast.

1989

MHF amplifies the voice of people with lived experience of mental health problems. This includes setting up membership organisations and publishing reports working with service users in equal partnership for the first time.
Magnifying glass graphic

1994

MHF uses social research to address mental health problems in the community instead of NHS clinical context.
Bright futures cartoon illustration

1998

MHF innovates digital approaches to research young people’s mental health and pioneers evidence reviews for public mental health.
Girl and boy talking

2001

MHF launches Mental Health Awareness Week. It brings awareness and action at scale and grows to be the biggest annual mental health campaign in the world.
A group of diverse hands placed on top of each other in a circle, symbolizing teamwork and unity, on a wooden floor background.

2007

MHF launches the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival - it is the largest of its kind in the world and it is replicated internationally.
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

2009

MHF opens a Wales office in Newport, later moving to Cardiff.
Contemporary bronze building with large text, historic red-brick structure, Ferris wheel against blue sky; vibrant, open urban atmosphere.

2015

MHF focuses on prevention as the only reasonable answer to the scale of today’s mental health challenge.
Man holding MHF prevention sign

2020

MHF starts a ground-breaking long-term UK-wide research study of how the COVID pandemic affected people’s mental health. We went on to fund a £2.5m response programme to help those most impacted.
3D rendering of a gray spherical virus with red spike proteins, blue and green surface details, floating against a light gradient background.

2021

Following the death of George Floyd, MHF implements new commitments on race and diversity.
A clenched fist is raised against a neutral tan background, symbolizing strength and unity. The image conveys empowerment and solidarity.

2022

MHF publishes a flagship report that sets out the economic case for prevention of mental health conditions across the UK. (
A stack of UK pound coins

2022

MHF opens a Northern Ireland office in Belfast.
Historic building with ornate columns and green domes at sunset, surrounded by trees and benches. The sky is overcast with hints of pink.

Support us

As we reflect on our achievements over the past 75 years, one thing is clear - our work is not yet done. We know that 50% of mental health problems are established before age 14 and that suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.

We need your support to continue making a difference.

Donate now