About Interaction

Interaction operates unconventionally, but uses methods and models of proven value to ensure positive changes to the lives of people affected by serious mental disability, and greater democracy in the societies in which they live.

Interaction does the things that many of the present international mental health organisations and transnational agencies either do not, or cannot do because they are focused on annual programmes, core fundraising or direct service provision. At the same time, those few organisations that do have the resources or agendas to pursue such policy and strategic activities operate in ways that either privilege particular groups over service users or exclude grassroots actors in various ways. Interaction is responsive, flexible and able to offer short-term interventions that empower, rather than creating dependency in beneficiary organisations.

What we do

Interaction facilitates public action and works to:

• Research and identify countries and sites in which to work based on an assessment of opportunities and possibilities for mental health development
• Identify and build relationships with individuals (especially users of mental health services) and organisations committed to mental health reform and development
• Transfer know-how skills, advice and expertise to individuals, groups, organisations and institutions to enable them to reform their mental health systems
• Develop the capacity of organisations and NGOs in developing countries to undertake their activities by using organisational development and capacity building tools through workshops and materials
• Facilitate advocacy (enabling individuals and groups to have a voice) in terms of promoting the rights of people with mental health problems
• Assist mental health organisations to develop the skills and tools to influence policy, campaign and lobby and bring about positive changes to mental health systems
• Enable people with mental health problems to participate fully in civil society through the participation of individuals and groups in wider NGO and civil society forums and areas such as the arts, local politics, the environment and civil decision making.

Funding

Interaction facilitates independent local action through our support and expertise. As an enabler rather than a service provider, we supply tools, consultation, mentoring and information to empower individuals and groups.

The work is low resource cost and as the Trustees will be providing their time at nil cost, there will be no consultancy fees or associated UK costs. Rather, Interaction will use its networks to leverage contributions in kind and obtain unpaid time from respected experts in the field.

However, funding and resources are necessary for this kind of work to enable us to assist people in local communities. During 2005 approaches will be made to some of the larger philanthropic donor organisations to fund core parts of our programme. Small grants will be applied for to fund individual projects. For example, a generous grant from the Webb Memorial Trust enabled the first MIRROR think-tank meeting to convene. Individual donations do help and make a real difference to people living in poor countries who have additional disadvantages caused by their mental health status.

The intention of Interaction is that on principle, most of the money raised will be spent overseas and with partners. For more information on funding Interaction contact Robert Hayward on +44 (0)1227 272789 e-mail: pamhid@interaction.uk.net

Interaction mission:

To promote mental health development by providing strategic support services to grassroots mental health organisations and activists (especially those with strong user involvement) to empower and enhance their local public action through:

• Research
• Reflection
• Learning
• Dissemination
• Information, tools and materials
• Creativity
• Observation
• Mapping
• Networking
• Trend Identification.

We envisage InterAction as a freely available and open grassroots mental health activism version of the type of management consultancy often available to international business.

Since InterAction is very different to many of the other international mental health organisations it is helpful to be clear about the things we do not do:

• We do not do grants
• We do very little training
• We do not run traditional projects or programmes
• We do not run conferences
• We do not employ people - everything is provided by volunteers
• We do not sell products
• We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies, those involved in armaments, tobacco or similar "unethical" operations.

Pathways to Public Action...

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