With lived experience
at our core
Chasing the Stigma was established by CEO and founder, Jake Mills, following his own battle with depression and suicide attempt in 2013.
Jake Mills
Founder of Chasing the Stigma
During his recovery, Jake went public about his mental health issues, speaking out on social media and to regional and national media.
As he did, he was flooded with messages from people who were also struggling and who - like himself - found nowhere to turn for help.
Discovering this lack of clear signposting to local and relevant support, and determined to ensure people could find the help they needed when they needed it, Jake began building a centralised database of mental health services. That database became the Hub of Hope, now the UK’s largest and most comprehensive directory of community mental health services, listing tens of thousands of services for the 300,000+ people who use it each year.
Jake continues to advocate for people with lived experience of mental health issues in the corridors of power, speaking to government, politicians and leaders in the statutory and voluntary sector to drive change in response to mental health. Through his leadership he also highlights the importance of acknowledging that we all have mental health, and empowers people to look after their own, and recognise and support it in others
000+
Placeholder measure of partners
20,000+
recieved mental health training
280,000
unique users on the Hub of Hope
What we do best
We’re here to make mental health support more visible, accessible and easier to navigate, helping more people know where to turn through training, Hub of Hope and our work with communities.
Ambassador of Hope training
We want to reach everyone in the workplace, not just a few, transform communities, and equip people with the basic knowledge that could save lives. Since everyone has mental health, we believe everyone should have the skills and knowledge to care for their own well-being and support others. You never know when you might need it
A national directory
The Hub of Hope is the largest directory of mental health services in the UK, with over 14,500 multi-sector organisations listed. It’s free for the general public to use via a smartphone app and website that connects users to the nearest relevant local support & overseen by a dedicated service development and quality assurance team.
Transforming community spaces
Hope in the Community helps councils and communities transform existing spaces into welcoming, non-clinical places for mental health support. By bringing together charities, services and community organisations, we create connected spaces where people can access support, build relationships and strengthen their communities.
Amy Yarker, Chair
Amy has spent a decade rebuilding underperforming services and leading national stakeholder engagement across NIHR and NHS England, work that taught her how to earn trust with communities the system too often overlooks. She also co-founded and exited a social enterprise. Her connection to Chasing the Stigma predates her board role, and its mission is personal to her.
Lizzie Pearl, Vice-chair
Lizzie Pearl is a senior fundraising leader, currently Head of Corporate Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Society, with more than 14 years’ experience across leading charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Save the Children UK and the British Heart Foundation. She specialises in developing high-impact partnerships and strategic collaborations that deliver meaningful social impact. Lizzie is a values-led leader, passionate about developing people and driving social change.
Nikki Croft-Girvan
Nikki Croft-Girvan is a communications and media professional with 20 years’ experience across journalism, public relations and ghostwriting. She supports a roster of arts, professional services and third-sector clients with strategic communications guidance and campaign delivery. Nikki draws on her experience as an LGBT+ person with lived experience of mental health to support organisations and actively work for change.
Andy Murray
Andy is an AAT and ICB-qualified accounting professional with over 10 years’ experience across industry and the not-for-profit sector, combining technical accounting expertise, commercial experience, and governance knowledge. Andy is also passionate about mental health and wellbeing. Drawing on lived experience of anxiety, depression, and suicide, he advocates for breaking down stigma, encouraging open conversations, and creating supportive environments where people feel able to access the help they need.
Dr. Anindita Sarkar
Dr. Anindita Sarkar AFBpsS, CPsychol, a consultant clinical psychologist, former head of clinical services and founding director of Affiniti+ Ltd, serves as a board trustee for Chasing the Stigma. With a passion for destigmatising mental health and neurodiversity, she brings a unique perspective as a woman of colour with dyslexia. Her mission is to dismantle barriers surrounding mental health and make high-quality care accessible to all.
Sonya Clarkson
Sonya Clarkson FCIPD is a senior HR and OD professional with more than 20 years’ experience across the NHS and education sectors. Having held leadership roles within NHS organisations across the Northwest, including specialist learning disability, mental health and community trusts, and now within the further education sector, Sonya is passionate about championing wellbeing, influencing inclusive decision-making, and creating positive outcomes for individuals, colleagues, learners, and communities.
