Family support specialist to lead Mind Jersey

Sunday 07 June 2020

A former mental health nurse and head of a local family support centre is to help shape the island's wellbeing response to the pandemic as the new Executive Director of Mind Jersey.

Previous Head of the Bridge Centre Dr Patricia Tumelty will succeed James Le Feuvre, who is stepping down after leading the mental health charity for eight years.

Ms Tumelty said she was delighted to join "such a progressive charity" as it continues to reach out to islanders and offer practical and emotional support "whenever it is needed, be that in the home, school or workplace".

"My experience working with children and families and having worked on the frontline as a mental health nurse will, I hope, enable me to build upon the excellent work and reputation of the charity," she added.

"My research on community engagement will also enable me to play a key role in supporting an island-wide pandemic recovery plan.”

Pictured: James Le Feuvre has been leading Mind since 2012.

Mr Le Feuvre, who has led Mind since 2012, said Ms Tumelty would be "brilliant" for the charity as she brings a "wealth of experience to the role".

Reflecting on his time with the charity he said he had helped him understand that "each and everyone of us has mental health".

"As a community we are becoming much more comfortable talking about these things and this is really important in helping us protect our own mental health and in looking after one another as well," he added.

"I hope that in some way I have been able to help advance this debate here in Jersey. I could not have done this without the brilliant team at Mind Jersey and the support we have had from Government, our fundraisers and, of course, our many volunteers.”

Pictured: Mind Jersey supports families and carers, children and young people.

"Mind has taught me that staying active is essential in maintaining good mental and physical health," Mr Le Feuvre added.

"I am therefore, looking for new challenges bringing together what I have learnt from Mind, working with Government and employers.”

Mind Jersey provides a number of services, including supporting families and carers, children and young people and offering peer support.

The charity has also been developing education and training programmes, including Mental Health First Aid, and trained over 500 islanders in schools, colleges as well as work places.