Who are we?

MhIST, the Mental Health Independent Support Team, is a community based Mental Health support organisation located in Bolton.  Established in 1992 after the introduction of the care in the community act 1990, the organisation began as “Bolton Mental Health Support Council” (BMHSC), meeting twice a month with between 8 and 15 people attending meetings.  BMHSC operated by being inclusive and consensual with no hierarchy.  Despite a name change to MhIST we continue to achieve our aims by working with Bolton residents.

MhIST is an innovative user-led organisation that provides a responsive, safe and confidential service that supports people with mental health challenges and their carers. We ensure service users have a voice, begin to build resilience and can express their views. Our purpose is to support people in a positive environment where an individual can flourish and achieve their goals. Our services are free at the point of access, inclusive, responsive and creative. We are committed to supporting people to build their resilience, drive their recovery so that they develop self-management strategies, and can respond positively to future challenges. We are committed to creating a safe and non-judgemental space where people can receive a warm welcome and help to access the right support at the right time. We believe everyone has the right to be listened to, to be heard and to have a voice in services that impact them directly.

The realm of mental health and the charity landscape have changed dramatically over the ensuing years and although we are proud of our achievements thus far, there remains a lot to do.  If the organisation is to survive and continue to support the people of Bolton, we must transform to meet the new and developing needs that become more apparent every day.  We need to reach out to more individuals and families with offers which they can take.

We currently hold the nationally recognised Advocacy Quality Performance Mark, we are members of Bolton CVS and GMCVO. We are also a ‘Living Wage’ employer.

MhIST is a charitable company limited by guarantee.  The organisation was formed in 1992 to support people experiencing mental health problems and carers in Bolton.

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