25th Anniversary Appeal

25 years ago SANE was founded to address the growing challenge of mental illness. Over 22,500 people receive emotional support and practical help from SANE each year. However, the impact of mental illness extends well beyond the person who experiences it. Experts estimate 6-10 more people are affected. SANE’s work also benefits this extended community of c.125,000 individuals.

Your generosity has led to real progress and many notable achievements. However, there is much more to be done. Mental illness is still shrouded in stigma, misunderstanding and fear – often leading to people suffering in silence for far too long. We aim to raise an additional £40,000 in the eight weeks from now until Christmas. This will give long-term help to 3,000 more vulnerable people - like Daisy - who also need SANE's help this year.

23-year-old Daisy has an eating disorder, regularly self-harms and has made a number of suicide attempts. Recently it has been suggested she may have a personality disorder. Daisy has received regular help through SANE’s email service and Support Forum for over a year. As a result, she has regained some sense of normality and hope; she has also participated in voluntary work. We support people like Daisy every day of the year, enabling them to recover their health and regain their lives.

Please donate to our 25th Anniversary appeal. £25 will fund 60 vital minutes of life-saving emotional support – enough time to transform the lives of three vulnerable people.

If you are able to contribute more, please do so. Any amount, however large or small will have a huge significance to vulnerable people. Donate now

You can also support SANE by purchasing our 2011 Christmas cards. Download the brochure.

1. What is personality disorder?

Someone may be diagnosed as having a personality disorder if their pattern of behaviour, mood, social interaction, or impulsiveness causes severe disturbance in the individual’s personal and work life. In general, individuals with personality disorders may have difficulty sustaining close or intimate relationships. They may experience chronic interpersonal problems, or have difficulties in establishing a coherent sense of self or identity. Others may perceive them to be impulsive, irritable, fearful, demanding, hostile, manipulative, or even violent. Problem alcohol or drug use, mood disorders, certain anxiety or eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or attempts, and sexual problems often accompany personality disorder.

The consistent quality of support SANE provides is invaluable. Many people find it hard to speak about their mental illness, so our email service and Support Forum provide a space to share problems, worries and difficulties. SANEline provides an opportunity for those who prefer to talk about their mental health.

SANE works to increase the understanding of mental illness. Learn more about Personality Disorder and other mental health conditions.

2. Send a Text Save a Life

It is widely accepted that intervening as early as possible is the best way of helping anyone who may be in distress or experiencing mental health problems. The consequences of not identifying or responding quickly to warning signs can be devastating. Around three quarters of people who commit suicide in the UK each year have not been in contact with specialist mental health services within a year of their death and in the last months of their life many have no contact with their GP either.

SANE believes the public can play a vital role in recognising and responding to the critical early warning signs of vulnerable people; and it does not require specialist skills or extensive training.

SANE is launching a new concept of care – Send a Text Save a Life - to give members of the public the ability to offer practical comfort to those they love.

3. Year of the Black Dog

SANE’s vision is to ‘normalise’ mental illness so that it will be perceived like any physical condition. We aim to put mental health on the same level of importance as physical health: in terms of priority, range of treatments, funding, research and public understanding. The Black Dog statues will help people to:

i. define their experience of the ‘invisible’ condition: mental illness
ii. find a new language to express difficult inner feelings like anxiety, depression and loneliness
iii. discuss mental illness more openly, thereby promoting greater understanding and acceptance

There are many ways that you can get involved:

• Create a Black Dog event
• Display a banner at work
• Publicise SANE via social media

Click here for more information.

Download the campaign brochure.