Our Head of Income Generation, Wendy Sheppard, recently had the pleasure of attending a local Mind network event – a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and explore best practices across our network. One of the highlights of the day was an optional activity that left a lasting impression on Wendy.

I travelled to Warwick recently to join an annual event of charity leaders from across our local Mind network.

The event itself reinforced many things, but above all, why I choose to do what I do at Suffolk Mind and for the greater good of my community here in Suffolk. I truly meet my emotional needs for Meaning & Purpose, Community and Achievement.

On the agenda I spotted this line: ‘Drumming Workshop Activity ‘ – optional.

Optional I thought… ‘really?, who would want to miss that?’

Well, it seemed a few people did, opting to finish off some work, or catch up on their emails in the downtime. However, most of us went for it and those that didn’t hugely regretted it that evening and the next day.

We know that making even a little time for those things in life that don’t come around that often, are the very times when we all should be saying ‘YES!’

Behind the conference room was a bountiful space, packed full of drums of all shapes and sizes from around the world. Naturally, I went for one of the bigger ones.

As we all got comfortable with our drums and other musical instruments – like the sweet sound of, what can only be described as a double headed cow bell – there was a united, cacophonously loud noise from the room.

Under the gentle guidance of just two people, two groups were given a different beat to follow. Slowly, what went from an inharmonious noise of nothing started to become quite a nice sound, even to the untamed ear.

After about only 20 minutes of practise and guidance we had mastered it, the layers of beat and rhythm, suddenly coming together in harmony.

I took a moment to look around the room, feeling very pleased with myself and the part I had played by repeatedly beating my drum to the beat, despite the distractions. 

Together, we have all Achieved something beautiful and had lots of fun in the doing so. Getting out of our comfort zones to learn something new, or even practise what we’re already good at helps us meet that need for Achievement, which in turn boosts our self esteem.

So, the next time you’re at a conference or corporate event, I urge you to get stuck in with the optional activity – you never know what you’re missing otherwise.

Find out how you can get involved with our workplace training.

Suffolk Mind has partnered with Mid & North East Essex Mind to launch a new service for people affected by the loss of a loved one through suicide.

The new Bereaved by Suicide Support Service will provide practical support and advice to guide loved ones through the grieving process and legal proceedings.

Suicide is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35¹ nationally and the largest killer of men under the age of 50¹. In 2023 alone, 73 people were recorded to have taken their own lives in Suffolk, alongside another 143 over the border in Essex.

Our CEO Jon Neal said: “Losing a loved one through suicide is one of the most difficult experiences one could imagine, with emotions ranging from grief to the anxiety which can arise from the coroner’s court process.

“We want to be there for those experiencing that reality – providing genuine, specialist support to loved ones, be they family, friends or colleagues.

“Our thanks go to our Mid and North East Essex Mind colleagues and our friends at Suffolk County Council for helping us bring this incredibly important service to Suffolk.”

Access to the confidential service is free, and will include one-to-one support on practical issues, advice around inquests, funerals and personal affairs, plus counselling, peer support groups and tailored support and signposting to further help.

Support can be provided in-person, online or by phone, with all services in Suffolk delivered by Suffolk Mind, commissioned by Suffolk County Council.

Those looking to access the new service can either self-refer directly by emailing info@bereavedbysuicidesupport.org or phoning 01206 764600. Referrals can also be made via a GP, social worker, school or the police.

Learn more about the service

• ¹Source Leading causes of death, UK: 2001 – 2018 www.ons.gov.uk
• ²Source www.ons.gov.uk
• ³ Suffolk had 73 recorded deaths by suicide in 2023 according to the Home Office for National Statistics.

A total of 29 people signed up for this year’s Suffolk Mind Skydive, raising £21,353.87 – smashing last year’s total of just over £13,000.

Those funds will go directly towards our mission of making Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.

Our CEO Jon Neal said: “A huge thank you goes out to all our fundraisers who have soared back to earth from 13,000ft to support their local community.

“It never ceases to amaze me the great heights people will go to in order to support us and our mission – both literally and figuratively in this case.

“Unfortunately the weather wasn’t completely on our side on the day – so we’ve still got a few fundraisers left to dive over the next few months, but we’ll still be cheering them on!”

This year’s event was made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsor Churchmanor Estates.

The firm’s Head of Communications, Emma Proctor King, was one of those lucky enough to dive before the afternoon’s change of weather.

Emma, who raised £2,180 for her skydive, said: “They say do one thing every day that scares you – I think I’ve got enough credit for the rest of the year.

“Hurtling towards the ground at 150mph wasn’t exactly my usual Saturday, but raising money for such a great cause as Suffolk Mind made the panic worth it.

“10/10 would recommend… once.”

Jon added: “Both congratulations and thanks are in order for Emma and her team for their continued support of our work throughout the county.

“We would never be able to put on events like this without our incredible network of sponsors.”

Spaces for our next big fundraising event, our annual Colour Rush, remain available.

View the Suffolk Mind Skydive gallery

B C F M N V Feeling inspired?

We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to all of these fantastic businesses and individuals who have helped us raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind this month.

Ben Lane, TNFC and friends

Thank you to Ben Lane, TNFC (Thursday Night Football Club) and friends who took part in Play on the Pitch at Ipswich Town Football Club last month to mark the group’s 15 year anniversary. Ben noted that having TNFC has been great for the group’s mental health, and several players have stated that football has helped them through stress and difficulties in their lives. The team raised an incredible £355.54 at Play on the Pitch, which could fully-fund six counselling sessions for someone in need of our support. Thank you so much!

Coes

Thank you to Coes, who created a cycling challenge to raise awareness of Suffolk Mind. Members of the team took part in the challenge on Saturday 5 July, which saw them cycling between the five stores across Suffolk, a total of 151 miles! Coes also had a static bike located in its Ipswich store for staff and customers to keep ‘spinning’ throughout the day! Our CEO Jon even popped along to have a go! They managed to raise more than £1,600 for Suffolk Mind, and this amount could enable our CFYP team to take our Skill-shops for Young Minds programme into a secondary school for two groups of 10-12 students. This programme helps young people to better understand their brain and empowers them to have the skills and strategies to look after their own mental health. Thank you all so much!

Frankie Rutson

Thank you to Frankie Rutson, who completed a huge challenge for Suffolk Mind, running 60km from ONE Sixth Form to Ha’penny Pier in Harwich! Frankie raised an amazing £1,235, which could provide 23 fully-funded counselling services for people in need, or enable our CFYP team to present our Life Hacks for Young Minds for six large groups in secondary schools. Thank you Frankie!

Mahala Nicholls

Thank you to Mahala, who took part in the Orwell Challenge Half Marathon last month! Mahala smashed her target, raising £380 for Suffolk Mind. This could fund our Helpline for 15 hours or provide six fully-funded counselling sessions for someone in need. Thank you Mahala!

Nova Automotive Group

Thank you to Nova Automotive Group, who raised £884 from a raffle in aid of Suffolk Mind at their staff summer party! This amount of money could enable our CFYP team to present our Life Hacks for Young Minds assembly to two groups of students, helpling them consider specific challenges to their age group and giving them support to stay well. We hope you all had a brilliant time at your summer party and thank you so much for your support.

Vivo Clean

Thank you to Vivo Clean, who raised a fantastic £500 for Suffolk Mind at the Suffolk Show in May! This could allow our CFYP team to work with two classes of primary school children using our Sammy the Sea Squirt Movement Sessions, helping them understand the link between movement and good mental health. Thank you Vivo Clean!

---

Fancy fundraising yourself? There’s all sorts you can do on our events page or, if you have your own fundraising idea, get in touch with the team.

Suffolk Mind hosted its inaugural Stand Up For Mental Health night at Seckford Hall on Thursday, June 26 – with guests treated to a host of national and local comics alongside a Greek street food feast.

The night was headlined by Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo regular Angela Barnes, with support from fellow stand-ups Shazia Mirza, John Mann and local MC Louie Green.

In total, comedy lovers raised £2,000 – enough to fund our Helpline for two weeks or provide 40 counselling sessions.

Our Corporate Partnerships Manager Henry Tapp said: “Our first-ever comedy night was a roaring success and yet another example of how you really can put the ‘fun’ in fundraising.

“The comics had us all in roars of laughter throughout, with Angela opening the show on a high with her renowned and hilarious way of spinning a yarn.

“The amount we have raised will make a real difference in supporting our mission of making the county the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.

“A huge thanks goes to Louie and the team at Glass Eye Comedy for helping us put on the night, alongside our incredible sponsors MSC, Greenscape Energy, Hudson Group, Bates Wells & Braithwate, Pound Gates, Pitkin & Ruddock, and TMJ Interiors.”

Further fundraising events planned for us this year include our annual Colour Rush in October, while runners will also be working up a sweat to raise money at the Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon in September.

A local family channelled their grief into a golf day fundraiser to remember keen golfer, Barrie Tingley. Paul Tingley wrote and shared the family’s story with us.

“This past year has been incredibly tough for our family, following the loss of our dear Barrie.  

“Losing a loved one to mental health struggles is a pain no one should have to endure. But from tragedy, we found purpose.

“In honour of Barrie, we came together to organise a charity golf day in support of Suffolk Mind, an organisation dedicated to providing mental health support and resources.

“Barrie was a keen and talented golfer. He loved nothing more than to shoot a round with his friends and family and add his wicked wit to the occasion with well-chosen banter, masking the true pain he constantly battled during his adult life. 

“It was his release from his pain and suffering and what better testament to Barrie than to arrange an occasion in which he would have been in his element.

“What happened next was truly overwhelming.

“Businesses and individuals alike, all of whom knew Barrie personally, stepped forward with generosity beyond words.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed, whether by donating, playing golf, or simply spreading awareness, to help us raise an absolutely incredible £22,365 for Suffolk Mind.  

“This was more than just a fundraiser. It was a huge collective statement that mental health matters; that no one should feel alone in their struggles; that together, we can make a difference.

“Thank you to everyone who stood by us on this journey. Let’s continue the conversation for many years to come, help to raise awareness, and support those who need it most.”

Jon, our CEO, wanted to thank them for their support:

“I want to say a massive thank you to Steve and Paul Tingley who organised a golf day in memory of their brother, Barrie. They have raised, along with their supporters, £22,365 including Gift Aid.

“I know that they would like to extend their thanks to the 19 hole sponsors, nine auction prize sponsors and donors and the 20 raffle prize donors for their support. And of course, to everybody who came out on the golf day itself.

“I know that they’ve had a difficult year since they lost their dear brother, Barrie.

“As they say, losing a loved one to mental health struggles or mental ill health is a pain that nobody should endure and they’re absolutely right.

“We want to be here for everybody that is struggling with their mental health no matter who they are, where they live in Suffolk and whatever their circumstances. Raising money in this way helps us to do exactly that.

“For example, £22,000 could fund our Helpline for nearly half a year or help hundreds of people to access subsidised or free counselling services so that more families don’t have to endure what Steve, Paul and their families have gone through.

“Barrie was a keen golfer, and what better way to honour his memory and to help people in Suffolk by running a golf day.

“We’re incredibly grateful to them and to everybody who has stepped up and supported it.”

View the golf day gallery

—

In memory of Barrie Jon Tingley

11 December 1969 – 29 March 2024

People in Suffolk are meeting their emotional and physical needs better than those in the neighbouring counties, Suffolk Mind has revealed to mark Suffolk Day.

We have released our new State of Suffolk report, which uses data from our Emotional Needs Survey – an online questionnaire asking people living both in the county and elsewhere about how well they are meeting the 12 physical and emotional needs which contribute to our overall mental health.

The survey revealed people living in the county are almost two times more likely to be meeting their needs than respondents in Norfolk and Essex – with the scores for each individual need ranking higher across the board.

Our CEO Jon Neal, said: “These are really positive findings which show the impact the work of us and our partners are having in the county.

“Our mission is to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health – and while we’re not there yet, this is a real sign of how things can improve.

“For these findings to come out ahead of our county’s special day is definitely a cause for optimism.”

The biggest differences between Suffolk and the surrounding counties were seen in Meaning & Purpose, Value, Movement and Food & Drink.

Overall when considering all 12 needs, people in Suffolk are meeting their needs 7% better than those in our neighbouring counties.

Jon added: “Starting off with Food & Drink, this can’t be a surprise with all the amazing local produce we have on offer here in Suffolk, although really the reason will be much deeper than that.

“Knowing that people in Suffolk feel more valued and have a greater sense of purpose shows just how much people in our county support one another.

“The national mental health picture is still continuing to worsen through the ongoing cost of living crisis and global conflicts – and we are in no way immune from that here in Suffolk – but these are promising signs we can build on for sure.”

Suffolk Mind continues to call on people in the county to take part in the short survey, helping it gain vital insights on the areas where people require the most support.

Fill out the survey View the full State of Suffolk report

Here, Suffolk Mind’s CEO Jon Neal explains how investing in mental health support is beneficial to small businesses, your staff and your bottom line.

During an economic downturn, or recession, or just when times are looking a bit more shaky than they have done for a while, there are always ‘easy’ savings businesses tend to look for.

I used to work in PR and marketing, and those budgets were often the first to be cut when times are tough.

Another contender might be the training budget. Right now, it’s probably tempting to put off any kind of investment in the mental health of the workforce. Let’s do that when we’ve got a better cashflow situation. Or maybe it’s one of those ‘nice to haves’ that we just can’t afford at the moment.

The crucial word here is investment. If you spend money on some sort of mental health support, you’ll get a return on it, just as you would any other investment. At least you should expect a return.

Perhaps it should be seen as the cost of doing business, rather than simply an expense you don’t really need.

I would say that, of course, as I work for a mental health charity that sells workplace training, consultancy, counselling, etc. But ignore me, and Google it instead. Search ‘return on investment for workplace mental health’ and see what you find.

Actually, I’ll just tell you what you’ll find. Commissioned by Theresa May’s Government in 2019, Deloitte released a report called Thriving at Work. They wrote it, along with Lord Dennis Stevenson (who lives in Suffolk) and Paul Farmer, who was CEO of the national Mind charity at the time. Deloitte have updated this report every couple of years.

They have proven, a number of times now, that you get a £5 return for every £1 you spend on mental health in the workplace.

If you were told you could get a five to one return on any other sort of investment, you’d go for it, right?

Not only that, Deloitte also say that the biggest return, sometimes more than double the 5:1, comes from genuine culture change in a workplace.

It’s not just about having a few mental health champions around, or making counselling available to unwell staff. That’s good, of course, but to have an even greater impact on performance, and, therefore, the bottom line, you need to go a bit further.

And that means creating a workplace culture that meets people’s emotional needs.

For example, trusting everyone to do a good job without endless targets, controls or other means of monitoring them. It means giving people stretching, challenging work that they are praised and recognised for achieving. It means making sure everyone knows the meaning and purpose of the organisation as a whole, and how their role fits into that.

These are good practices – not just for mental health, avoiding stress and improving employee engagement – but for great performance that will improve the bottom line. You’ll make more money. You’ll achieve better outcomes. And you’ll also, of course, reduce staff sickness rates and improve retention.

If that’s just a cost you can do without, think about the saving in sick pay, recruitment fees and productivity losses through people turning up to work in body, but not in spirit.

Check out our award winning workplace wellbeing courses at our sister-site The Mental Health Toolkit.

Suffolk Mind has opened up its annual Colour Rush event to more runners than ever this year, doubling capacity to allow for 1,000 runners to experience a flash flood of colour on both its 3km and 1.5km routes.

It is hoped this year’s event on October 4 will raise more than £25,000 – enough to either fund our Helpline for six months, run a year’s worth of our popular GreenCare allotment services or offer more than 500 counselling sessions.

Vicky Matthews, the charity’s Fundraising Manager, said: “Our annual Colour Rush puts the fun in fundraising – so we are delighted to welcome it back bigger and better than ever before.

“The event really is a sight to behold, with hundreds of runners being doused in every colour of the rainbow at the dedicated colour stations along the route.

“It’s a real family day out, raising vital funds to help us on our mission of making Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.”

This year’s Colour Rush will once again be held at Trinity Park in Ipswich, with runners aged four and above welcome to take part.

Runners taking on the challenge last year raised £12,800, with those taking part this October encouraged to raise at least £10 each via their dedicated Suffolk Mind fundraising pages.

This year’s event has been made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors CMG Technologies, Baker Transport, Knights Lowe, GBS Builders, East Suffolk Council, Ellisons Solicitors, NFU Mutual Ipswich and Goldstar.

Representatives from each of the sponsors will run their own colour station, dousing runners with the paint powder on their way to the finish line.

Local businesses Brownie and the Bean and Suffolk Coffee Pod will be providing refreshments on the day, while GB Bootcamp Ipswich will be hosting a pre-event warm up.

Take a look at our 2024 Colour Rush photo gallery Sign up today!

E I J P S Feeling inspired?

We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to all of these fantastic businesses and individuals who have helped us raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind this month.

EPPH

Thank you to our Charity of the Year supporter EPPH, who held a golf day on Friday 13 June at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club in support of both Suffolk Mind and EACH. Thank you so much for your continued support, and for letting our Vice Chair of Trustees, Clare Taylor, represent Suffolk Mind and say a few words!

Insurance Institute of Ipswich, Suffolk and North Essex

Thank you to the Insurance Institute of Ipswich, Suffolk and North Essex who chose Suffolk Mind as its Charity of the Year for 2024. Throughout the year, the team raised an incredible £7,589.88 which could enable us to deliver mental health training to two entire primary schools (including six EARLY Minds sessions and two Sammy the Sea Squirt Movement Sessions each), plus run our Suffolk Mind Helpline for a whole week. Thank you so much for your invaluable support!

Judy Clark

Thank you to Judy Clark, who arranged to do a collection for Suffolk Mind in her local Asda Superstore last month! Judy raised a fantastic £117.26, which could fund our 0300 Helpline for four hours. We’re so grateful that Judy gave up her own time to run this collection, thank you!

Paul and Steve Tingley

Thank you to Paul and Steve Tingley, who organised a golf day in memory of their brother, Barrie. Together, along with their supporters, they raised an incredible £22,365 including Gift Aid! This amount of money could fund our 0300 Helpline for nearly half a year, or enable hundreds of people to access free of charge of subsidised counselling. Thank you so much! Read more about the Barrie Tingley Golf Day

Sandra Young

Thank you to Sandra Young, who completed an incredible Snowdon Sunrise challenge in aid of Suffolk Mind through Elite Adventures. Sandra did this in memory of her dad, and raised an amazing £233 for our charity. This amount of money could provide four fully-funded counselling sessions for someone who needs our support, thank you so much!

---

Fancy fundraising yourself? There’s all sorts you can do on our events page or, if you have your own fundraising idea, get in touch with the team.

In less than a month, dozens of fundraisers will soar to 13,000ft before making an exhilarating fall back down to earth in our annual charity skydive. But none of that would be possible without the generous support of the event’s headline sponsor, Churchmanor Estates.

Ahead of her own daredevil dive at the event on Saturday, June 14, we spoke to Churchmanor Estate’s Head of Communications, Emma Proctor King, about why the firm has chosen to support us.

Tell us a bit about Churchmanor Estates

The Churchmanor Estates Company plc is a commercial property development company based in Suffolk. For over 35 years, we’ve been delivering commercial, mixed-use and regeneration projects across the East of England and beyond.

Our focus has always been on creating high-quality, sustainable developments that serve the needs of local communities and contribute positively to the regional economy. We pride ourselves on long-term relationships – with our partners, clients and the places we help shape.

What made you decide to support Suffolk Mind for this year’s skydive?

Mental health affects every one of us, whether directly or indirectly and we were inspired by the incredible work Suffolk Mind does to support people across the county.

Their services have a tangible, positive impact on our local communities, and as a Suffolk-based business, we feel a responsibility to give back where we can. The skydive felt like a brilliant way to combine raising vital funds with a bold, energising challenge.

What made you decide to take part in the skydive yourself?

Truthfully? It’s completely out of my comfort zone – and that’s exactly why I wanted to do it.

It felt important to step up personally, not just professionally. Mental health is so often about facing fear, pushing through discomfort and finding strength in unexpected places. Taking part in the skydive is my small way of showing solidarity with those who do that every day.

Is supporting charities an important priority for Churchmanor Estates?

Absolutely. Community and responsibility are part of our DNA as a business.

We’re proud to support charities and initiatives that reflect the values of our team and the communities we work in. It’s not just about writing a cheque – it’s about showing up, getting involved and making a meaningful contribution.

What does supporting mental health mean to you and your team?

Mental health is just as vital as physical health. For us, supporting mental wellbeing means creating a culture where people feel heard, supported, and empowered to speak up.

Whether it’s through training, open conversations or simply checking in with one another, we aim to ensure our team feels supported both in and out of the workplace.

How does Churchmanor Estates work to ensure your team’s wellbeing is supported?

We take a proactive approach to wellbeing. That includes flexible working arrangements, access to mental health resources and fostering a culture where balance is not only encouraged but expected.

We’re a tight-knit team and that brings a level of care and attentiveness that we’re proud of. Regular team activities, open-door policies and promoting a healthy work-life balance are just some of the ways we try to walk the talk.

What advice or tips would you give to other companies considering sponsorship opportunities?

Choose causes that align with your values and involve your team in the process. Sponsorship is most impactful when it’s authentic, when you’re not just supporting a cause, but championing it from within. And don’t underestimate the power of small actions, they often lead to meaningful change.

Are you looking forward to taking part in the skydive?

I’m somewhere between nervous and excited! But yes, I’m looking forward to it because of what it represents.

Taking that leap is a reminder that we’re capable of more than we think, and if that leap can help raise funds and awareness for Suffolk Mind, then it will be absolutely worth it.

Want to get involved?

If you’re a budding fundraiser or a business looking to support a future Suffolk Mind event, you can discover our upcoming opportunities on our website. Alternatively, you can organise a fundraiser yourself and set up a Giving page.

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Community’ – which is not only one of our Emotional Needs but also ranks among those met the least well according to our Emotional Needs Audit of more than 2,000 people living in the county.

To help people meet this important Emotional Need, here are our tips to help meet it.

Volunteering

Volunteering can be a great way to get out there, meet people, to contribute to the local area and to meet your emotional needs.

Not only is volunteering a way to meet your need for Community, it can also boost your emotional needs for Status, Meaning & Purpose, and Achievement.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people, make friends and form positive relationships.

Supportive groups

If you feel you are not meeting your emotional needs, there are lots of group activities that can help you meet them while taking part in something fun.

Groups such as the GreenCare project across Suffolk allotments, a Suffolk Mind gardening scheme, giving people the opportunity to take part in a constructive activity while meeting new people and making good connections.

These activities also keep you active, boosting your need for Movement, and give you the chance to meet people with similar interests.

Community events

There are a host of community events taking place across Suffolk every week – from local sports events and village fetes to music events and dog shows.

These events are a great place to meet your need for Community, as well as other needs such as Movement.

Fundraising challenges

Fundraising challenges can help us meet our emotional need for Community, particularly group fundraisers where you could do it as part of a team.

The Colour Rush event, on Saturday, October 4, is a great example of this.

Our family fun run, where runners don white T-shirts, with the aim of completely covering them in brightly colored powdered paint, is a fantastic opportunity to take part in a community event while raising money for a good cause.

It can help meet your need for Community, as well as Achievement, Status and Movement.

Set up your own community

If a community doesn’t exist yet – create one. If you have a passion for something, it’s likely others will share your passion too.

Knitting groups, book clubs, running clubs, hiking clubs, dance clubs – they all started somewhere. And with social media, it’s easier than ever to connect with people with the same interests.

Groups like this are great for meeting your need for community, as well as your need for Achievement and Status.

Find out more about our Emotional Needs and how to meet them.