Hampshire Mental Health Charter
The Mental Health Charter was created in collaboration with the Hampshire Autism Partnership Board and National Autistic Society South Hampshire Branch in 2020. This charter is dedicated to ensuring that autistic individuals receive the mental health support they need, tailored to their unique strengths and preferences.
The charter was crafted through coproduction involving autistic individuals, their families, mental health professionals, and community organisations. Extensive consultations, expert contributions, community workshops, and iterative feedback shaped this comprehensive guide.
Our aim is for all organisations, which provide mental health services, to adopt this Charter, promote its principles and then display it in their work place. We invite all mental health service providers to adopt these principles, helping to create a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.
More information, including a film, on the consultation findings: NAS South Hampshire Branch mental health consultation.
Key principles of the charter:
- Recognition and Response: We will recognise and respond to your mental health needs, ensuring autism does not present any barrier to accessing services.
- Strengths and Expertise: We will recognise your strengths, expertise, and knowledge, valuing the insights of autistic individuals and their support networks.
- Communication: We will communicate with you, your parent, carer, and/or advocate in the way you prefer, providing accessible information and clear, respectful communication.
- Involvement: We will value your involvement in the development of our services, encouraging participation in planning, development, and evaluation.
We would like to thank all those that have contributed to this work and, particularly, Hampshire County Council's former Head of Mental Health for his whole-hearted support.