Vision, aims and mission

SANE’s vision is of a time when no individual or family has to face the distress or isolation that results from coping with mental illness alone.

We believe everyone should have someone to turn to and the right to live a full life.

Our vision has remained consistent since we were founded.

• To raise public awareness.
• Excite research.
• Bring more effective professional treatment and compassionate care to everyone affected by mental illness.

SANE is committed to fulfilling and developing its three main aims

• Raising awareness and education to combat the stigma surrounding mental ill-health and fighting to improve mental health services.
• Providing emotional support and specialist services through its helpline, SANEline, email and ongoing Support Services, Textcare and an Online Forum.
• Promoting and hosting research into the causes of mental ill-health and the effectiveness of treatments and therapies.

Detailed below is the connection between our aims and the outcomes we have developed to evaluate our work.

1. Reducing the impact of mental illness

• People affected by mental illness are more able to access and make better use of available sources of support.
• Improved confidence in communicating with other people eg family, friends and casual encounters.
• Increased capacity for self-management of mental illness and the process of recovery.
• Increased sense of being supported consistently and with continuity while living with mental illness.
• People affected by mental illness feel less distressed or despairing.
• Reduced loneliness and isolation of people affected by mental illness.
• People whose family member, friend or colleague has a mental illness are better able to cope with its effects.

2. Improving treatment and care by increasing knowledge about mental illness

•  Better knowledge and understanding among the general public of the daily reality of living with a mental illness.
• Mental health professionals know more about the daily reality of living with a mental illness.
• Wider availability of effective treatments and support options for people affected by mental illness.

3. Influencing policy and public attitudes by increasing understanding of mental illness

• Changes to policy and the mental health system reflect the reality of mental illness as experienced and described by members of the SANE Community.
• People affected by mental illness increasingly feel that their experiences are recognised, used and valued as a form of expertise, insight and learning.
• People affected by mental illness feel that their voice helps increase public understanding of mental illness.

Values