For nearly 70 years, the
Mental Health Foundation has pursued its mission of helping people to thrive through understanding, protecting and sustaining their mental health.
We caught up with Head of Individual Giving and Legacies Sarah Tite to learn more about the charity’s work, the evolution of charitable giving and the challenges of operating a charity in the online age.
Do you think that society’s attitudes to mental health have changed in recent years?
I think we are in a period of change. There’s a heightened awareness of mental health and people feel more confident in talking about their own mental health. It’s no longer just something that the one in six [people who report a common mental health problem in any given week] have. We all have mental health and we all need to look after it.
The Heads Together campaign, supported by Prince William and Prince Harry, has been huge. They’ve been very open about their mental health and people look up to them. People see that “I’m not the only one” and that there is help out there.
We see a lot in the media about the mental health of young people, especially school children and students. Has there been an increase in mental health problems for that age group, or are we just more aware and willing to speak about it?
Well, 50% of all mental health problems are established by the time you are 14. And, 1 in 10 schoolchildren will be struggling with a mental health problem. Those are stark figures.
Particularly for children moving from primary to secondary school, there is real pressure that can increase anxiety.
Prevention is at the heart of all that we do at the Mental Health Foundation. If we can prevent children developing mental health problems, and help them understand how they can manage their own mental health then potentially we are changing the next generation’s mental health.
Does press coverage of mismanagement at some charities make it more difficult for the whole sector to raise funds?
No, I don’t believe so. It means we have to be very clear about what we do and how we do it, but people want to support other people.
When you support a charity, you are supporting other people or animals. Those who want to support charities fundamentally understand that their donation is making a difference. It’s saving lives.
Has the way that Mental Health Foundation raises money changed in recent years?
Yes, we’ve seen an increase in community fundraising and event-based fundraising; from things like the London Marathon or the Three Peaks Challenge, through to local Tea and Talk or Curry and Chaat events.
There’s a move towards people wanting to do activities simply – online platforms like PayPal help that – and doing things with other people; involving their communities in what they’re doing. That connection with your community is really important when you’re doing a fundraising event.
So, is the age of the collecting tin over?
No, not at all. In many ways PayPal is an online collecting tin. We still see lots of people giving small amounts, but in different ways like when you’re in a restaurant and they ask if you’d like to round up the bill with a charity donation.
Humble Bundle, through
PayPal Giving Fund, was like that for us.
The Yogscast chose us as one of their nominated charities and we’ve received lots of small donations. Over the last three years, those small amounts have totalled nearly £1 million! That is a transformational sum for the Mental Health Foundation.
What does the future hold for charity fundraising?
We’re going to see an even greater increase in community-based activities. We won’t move away from traditional methods of talking to people on the street or using phone, mail, email but there is also a move towards people wanting to bring their community together to fundraise.
In part, it may be generational. Tools like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram mean you can talk to lots of people very easily and reach out to the community. And then there are simple ways – with PayPal or Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving – for them to donate.
It’s a smartphone-led generation. They talk to all their friends online and all their tools are there. They can arrange a night out, set up the fundraising, share the website and do it all in one quick post.
Finally, how would you say PayPal Giving Fund has supported the Mental Health Foundation?
PayPal and PayPal Giving Fund have had a huge impact on the Mental Health Foundation, and not just financially. Being involved in events like the PayPal Turkey Dash puts our name up there with well-known charities like the British Legion, Save the Children and RNLI. That gives us fantastic exposure.
The effect that PayPal has had on Mental Health Foundation is astonishing.
Thank you, Sarah.
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