January is a natural time to pause, to look back at what has been built, and to think about what comes next. For us at Focus on Mental Illness, this January saw us celebrate two events that, together, say a lot about who we are and why our work matters.
On the 15th of January, supporters, partners and islanders came together at Government House, kindly hosted by our Patron, His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and Lady Kyd, to mark five years since Focus on Mental Illness was founded. It was a moment to celebrate progress, but also to reflect honestly on the need that still exists.
Looking back over the past five years, our Chair and co-founder, Tom Binet, reflected on what Focus on Mental Illness has become: “something special, a caring, extended family that has made a real and lasting difference to hundreds of people and their families.".
Reflecting on her experience at Focus, Liz Kendrick-Lodge said: "What drives our work every day is listening and learning from the people we support and shaping our work around their lives, always human to human, always people first."
His Excellency spoke about the values at the heart of the charity, describing Focus on Mental Illness as something that “truly personifies the values of Jersey, community, care, and looking after one another,” and shared what an honour it is to be its Patron.
Lady Kyd also spoke powerfully about the importance of wraparound support for families. Reflecting on her own experience, she shared that had this kind of support been available when her family needed it most, “it would have made an enormous difference, knowing you’re not on your own changes everything.”
Five years ago, islanders living with severe mental illness were too often left out of conversations about mental health. Their experiences were misunderstood, overlooked, or ignored. Focus on Mental Illness was set up to do things differently, to work with people, not for them, and to support islanders and families at points where stigma, complexity and need are at their greatest.
Just over a week later, on the 23rd of January, we gathered again, this time in a very different, but equally meaningful, setting — for the opening of our third Art in Focus: The Healing Arts exhibition at the Harbour Gallery. Delivered in partnership with the Art in the Frame Foundation, Art in Focus offers islanders living with mental illness a supportive space to explore creativity, connect with others, and share their work with the wider community. The exhibition brings together artwork developed through our twice-weekly workshops, alongside a small number of pieces from Change Minds, a separate heritage-based project exploring historical records from St Saviour’s Hospital, delivered in partnership with Jersey Archive. The exhibition is open to the public and runs until 1 February.
For many of the people who take part, the impact of Art in Focus is great. One artist, Claire, described how the sessions have changed her Mondays:"Even if I come out very stressed, with lots of things going round in my head, by the time I get here, sit down and get my art materials out, it all stops. Being involved in painting and thinking about colours makes me leave much happier than when I came in, which is great!" At the exhibition opening, His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor reflected on the words shared earlier about the power of creativity, saying, “I want to pick up on what Liz said about healing, inspiring and uniting. I think that’s a lovely way to capture what these two charities, working together, can give and do.”
Taken together, these two events, the conversations at Government House and the voices seen and heard in the gallery, speak to the same values. They reflect a commitment to listening to islanders living with mental illness, reducing isolation, and creating safe, empowering spaces where recovery, dignity and self-expression are possible.
As we enter our sixth year, there is much to be proud of, and much still to do. The need for our work in Jersey remains significant, and sustaining it will continue to rely on partnership, community support and investment.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to walking alongside islanders living with severe mental illness, and to building a future where people are not defined by diagnosis, but supported to live fuller, more connected lives.
You can help by getting involved. Whether by attending training or events such as exhibitions, volunteering your time, or supporting our work through donations, every contribution helps islanders living with severe mental illness feel seen, supported and valued.
Find out more by emailing info@focusmi.org
Donate by following this link JerseyGiving- Focus on Mental Illness
