The Talking Minds Mission

The Talking Minds mission is to provide you with two specific features:

• a support resource that will enable you to find out more about the social model of mental health and its subsequent issues such as stigmatisation and discrimination - provided in the form of comprehensive information and debate sections.

And

• a feature rich community facility that will enable you to build a support network - provided by Wordspace in the form of social networking, support and social groups, blogging facilities, and much more.

This website will endeavour to ensure that all registered and non-registered site users are supported in accessing all of the available facilities - along with signposting for further support if required. All members and non-members are respected as individuals and recognised as having different needs; therefore, all areas of this site are designed to respect this diversity. You are encouraged to challenge anything that you may not agree with, or question anything that you may not understand. This site, as a whole, strives to be your social care internet companion: a companion that provides comprehensive mental health information; supported by a feature rich community that empowers you to have as little, or as much interaction as you choose.

Access to the sites main content and information is available to all site users. However, some Wordspace facilities are only fully available to registered (and logged in) site users. Other facilities such as Viewpoint is available to read and comment on, whether you are registered or not . Wordspace allows members to submit discussions, so if you want to publish a particular article that you feel may be of benefit to others, then you can do so. Site registration is available for everyone (see equal opportunities policy) free of any charge. By registering with Talking Minds and Wordspace you will be able to influence the site content and have full access to the community sections. The features available once registered are designed to encourage all members to have a say over the information and support that is available throughout.

All site users are offered (whether registered or not) full access to comprehensive information on the subject of Mental Health. Additionally, the Viewpoint blog offers a unique in-depth approach to issues that influence how our society functions, with the added opportunity for you to add your own views and comments via the facility available at the end of each blog - in a similar way that you can comment on the mental health articles published throughout Talking Minds. The social model influences most of the discussions available throughout Talking Minds; therefore, many of the articles will make reference to social work and its value. Within Wordspace, you will find discussions that pertain to some of the sections available throughout Talking Minds. This is designed to allow you to explore the subject in greater detail and share experiences that may benefit other users: possibly influencing the provision of further content that may then be published on Viewpoint.

Whether you are registered or not, you will still be able to get involved and take an active part in the ongoing development of Talking Minds. You can get involved by: commenting and/or discussing on most articles that have been published throughout the site; register for free and submit discussions, blogs, stories, and experiences on Wordspace - the mental health social community for Talking Minds.

If you want to find out more about Talking Minds, you can follow the "About" and Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q's) links available in the main menu at the top of the page.

This site is designed to enable you to find your way around easily. The modules and links on the homepage will provide you with further ideas of what is available. Please also take a look at the "About" page, because this provides an insight into further motivations and policies that underpin this site.

It is hoped that you will find your way around the site and that you will feel able to register and contribute. If you have any questions, ideas, or require any support with regards to anything that is discussed on this site, please contact Talking Minds at any time - just follow the link on the main and/or top menus.