Jami aims to improve collaboration with Manchester charities on mental health

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis hosted Laurie Rackind, chief executive of mental health charity Jami, on a Manchester visit geared to improving collaboration on mental health support.

Mr Rackind and Jami head of services Tanya Harris met communal professionals working in the mental health field at The Fed, Manchester Jewry’s major welfare charity, The Fed’s Heathlands home and Neshomo, a culturally sensitive mental health charity for adults.

They also met Cassie Horwich from 42^nd Street, a charity supporting young people on emotional well-being and mental health, and Dr Sandi Mann, author of more than 20 psychology books.

Mr Lewis said that “recent mental health tragedies must act as a wake-up call to our community. We need a radical improvement in the way we promote mental well-being and respond to mental health issues.

“I wanted Jami to find out more about our work but crucially offer us the benefit of their expertise in tackling both the stigma and the illness itself. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Jami."

Welcoming the increase in public awareness, Mr Rackind pointed out that “Jami provides complex interventions for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. But we firmly believe mental health is everyone’s business. We are therefore working with many communal organisations to help them build capability to support the mental health of their constituents.”