Mental Health Liaison Service
Connecting, representing and strengthening Derbyshire’s voluntary and community sector to improve mental health and wellbeing.
The Mental Health Liaison Service (MHLS) is a specialist mental health infrastructure project funded by the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board.
Creating Connections Across Mental Health
Derbyshire’s voluntary and community organisations provide vital support for people’s mental health and wellbeing. The Mental Health Liaison Service helps bring those organisations together, creating opportunities to connect, collaborate, learn from one another and build valuable support networks.
Working in collaboration with the Derbyshire Mental Health Forum, we run countywide Forums and create opportunities for organisations to share their knowledge, experiences and priorities.
These conversations also strengthen our ability to represent the sector across Derby and Derbyshire, ensuring voluntary and community organisations have a voice in the wider mental health system.
How the Mental Health Liaison Service Supports the VCFSE
Connect
We bring voluntary and community organisations together, helping develop relationships and stronger support networks across Derbyshire.
Collaborate
We create opportunities for organisations to share knowledge, learn from one another and work together around common mental health priorities.
Represent
We represent the voluntary and community sector within strategic mental health conversations, partnerships and multi-agency groups.
Create Change
We develop creative projects, campaigns and events that encourage conversations about mental health and suicide prevention and help people find support.
A Voice Where Decisions Are Made
The MHLS represents the voluntary and community sector at a strategic level, bringing community knowledge and sector experience into the places where mental health services, programmes and priorities are discussed and developed.
Taking part helps you build relationships, stay informed and contribute your organisation’s knowledge and experience to wider conversations.
Could We Help You Make the Right Connection?
If your organisation works with people or communities whose mental health and wellbeing could benefit from stronger connections, information or partnership working, talk to DVA’s Mental Health Liaison Service.
The MHLS is also known for creative and powerful activism around mental health and suicide prevention.
We use exhibitions, events, remembrance and storytelling to create safe spaces where difficult conversations can happen openly — helping challenge stigma, raise awareness and connect people with support.
Connect With the Mental Health Liaison Service
The MHLS works with voluntary and community organisations involved in mental health and wellbeing across Derby and Derbyshire, alongside statutory services, strategic partners and wider organisations interested in strengthening community mental health.
You don’t necessarily need to be a specialist mental health organisation to start a conversation with us.
Looking for personal mental health support?
The Mental Health Liaison Service is an infrastructure project and does not provide clinical treatment or individual mental health support.
Award-Winning Mental Health Activism
Led by Rachel Bounds and Ellie Scott, the award-winning Last Photo Exhibition used powerful visual storytelling to raise awareness of mental health and suicide.
The exhibition encouraged people to look beyond appearances and helped create a safe space for honest conversations.
The team’s work has also included creating space for people bereaved by suicide to remember those they have lost.
Stronger Connections for Better Mental Health
Whether you want to connect with other organisations, contribute to our Forums, share what you’re seeing in your community or become involved in our mental health work, we’d like to hear from you.
