About Natasha Donnelly the Founder of Students in Mind
Following four years of extensive research and networking into student suicide and student mental health issues Natasha Donnelly was inspired to create this the first national charity for students experiencing mental distress. Natasha began her career as a Registered General Nurse, (RGN/Dip HE, St Bartholomew's Hospital/City University, qualified 1991). Natasha worked as a health professional in various areas including psychiatry, paediatrics and A&E. She also worked in Africa using both her RGN and Midwifery qualifications. Whilst in Africa she became involved in a large global research project about the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in transient African populations. Natasha then returned to the UK and completed a BSC Hon’s in Health Studies, MSc in Sociological Research Methods and a Post Grad. Cert. in Education. Natasha is currently a registered Doctoral Researcher (ESRC Scholarship University of Reading) and Senior Lecturer at the University of Chichester. Natasha has contributed and published work about student mental health issues and suicide which includes her work with the Universities UK 'Student Suicide Project.' Natasha has been awarded a Scarman Trust Community Champion Social Entrepreneur Award for founding the Students in Mind charity and has also been honoured by receiving a lifetime Fellowship by the Millennium Commission. Her latest award is a Department of Health Section 64 Grant to establish the charity and she is also proud to announce that Students in Mind has been selected by Media Trust to have a three minute film made which will be shown throughout 2006 on the Sky Community Channel. For further details about Natasha, her publications or current research please email
or write to: Natasha Donnelly Chief Executive Students in Mind University of London Union Malet Street London, WC1E 7HY Tel: 0207 586 624
Interview with Natasha Donnelly August 2004 - Why Studentsinmind?
”Many people over the last few years have asked me "What drives you? Why do you feel so strongly that this charity is needed? Why are you giving up a stable lecturing job to work on this charity?"
I have many reasons for being so passionate about working towards removing the stigma associated with mental distress and a firm belief that positive mental health can be achieved and should be celebrated but that we have to acknowledge that most of us live with a fluctuating state of mind.
We as a society need to work towards supporting each other in times of distress rather than being exploitative and discriminatory. From my life experiences of being a nurse, carer, mother, friend, teacher, emotional human being and eternal student I believe that people need support and encouragement to complete their own personal journeys. Every journey is very different and unique but if a person feels they have achieved in some way this will have a positive impact on their mental health.
Other Quotes:- “One life many emotions… enjoy them, feel them, share them, be inspired by them, create with them (Donnelly, N 2004). “We are working together to fight global poverty now lets fight stigma, shame and discrimination…” (Donnelly, N 2005, International Sanity Fair Plenary Speech).
