In November 1992, Mental health service users in Clacton On Sea, encouraged and supported by the local branch of MIND, started forming peer support groups that would, in 1996 join together to become Mayday Self Help Groups.

By that time we were running groups every weekday, each with a different theme, the aim being to offer support and self help therapy to as wide a range of users possible.

These were:

"Whole Health" a holistic, mind, body, spirit group.

"Good Thinking" for anxiety, agoraphobia and panic attacks.

"Women's Group"

"Men's Group"

"Writer's Circle" expression through the written word.

"Defeat Depression" an interactive support round.

And a Monday evening social group.

1996 was also the year we started receipt of public sector funding, which was to last about 12 years. We also decided that in due course we wished to become fully autonomous and break our formal connection with Tendring MIND, the local MIND affiliated organisation.

Group themes have varied over the years but the "Support Round" whereby everyone who wishes gets the chance to "Share" is now very much embedded in the group's DNA.

In 2008 conditions were placed on our public sector funding that would have seen us further incorporated within Tendring Mental Health Support TMHS (formerly Tendring MIND) and so we decided to make the break and become fully autonomous.

Future plans, depending upon resources, envision renting our own premises which would offer the opportunity to extend opening hours / group themes once again, but beyond that, scenarios leading up to the "Pipe Dream" which never totally vanishes, that of a large property offering Mayday not just a permanent home, but the opportunity to become an "Intentional Community" comprising residential / dispersed members and also offering crisis care. An Ashram or "New" Monastery creating a sacred safe and healing sanctuary for everyone, guest and resident alike affording opportunities to enjoy and explore sustainable holistic living, reverencing the natural environment and all people and contemplating the transcendence that such purposeful attention may reveal, which itself becomes the inspiration for further advocacy.

I have been involved with Mayday for over twenty years and in this time I have seen both public and third sector mental health services decimated. For the well, independence means choice, but for many with more complex needs it can all too often mean isolation and loneliness. For the well integration means connections, for the mentally unwell it can mean disconnection, four walls or walking the streets. Dependency is not a dirty word when it is healthy dependency, like many of the relationships we all enjoy with friends, family and colleagues what underpins these relationships apart from familial ties is often a shared common experience. People with mental health problems used to find support with their peers in many dedicated drop ins and support centres and far too many have closed!

If our vision resonates within you, we'd love to know and receive your support, financial or otherwise, to make it happen! Thank you. ~Tom Wood~ Peer Facilitator~