Connecting minds, creating change:

Trailblazing sounds fun, doesn't it? But it's hard and often lonely. You need to find the others. The ones who nurture you and understand your passion to change the status quo.

What the Mental Health Innovation Network does beautifully is brings those risk takers and mavericks together, to a welcoming space (both real and virtual) for proper, vital content and a sense of real connection and community. For me, it's not just a brilliant and selflessly curated collection of speakers on topics that inspire and motivate, but a source of energy and shared values that fuel the drive to change the world for the better.

We have attending meet-ups for the past year - as an attendee and as a panel member. For our company it has opened the door to connections and conversations we would never have known about, let alone benefited from.

On a personal level, the opportunity to build relationships with likeminded people approaching the same problems from new angles has been hugely rewarding and stimulating.

As a member of the mental innovation network, I am part of a community of innovators, academics, and organisations interested in advancing mental health provision in the UK. In addition to insightful speakers and discussions at the network events, the community provides information on the latest trends, research and funding opportunities across the UK and EU.

On a personal level, I have met many inspiring people including founders and leaders from the most established mental health and technology companies in the UK. This is a real community that values human connection, lived experience and operates to serve its members.

The Mental Health Innovation network is a wonderful forum of contributors towards the shared journey of making mental health care more accessible, efficient and effective via all channels. I really value the insights and connection to a wide range of stakeholders in this space.

This includes commissioners, partners, investors, researchers, regulators, advisors and of course solution providers, of which there is a great mix of early stage-startups, scale-ups and established players, all with valuable lessons to learn and insights on opportunities ahead.

Aahuti and the team have done a great job of bringing together a diverse and inclusive group of inspirational mission drivers who are prepared to give and share, not just pitch and sell. It's not a commercial conference or summit and it's not an exclusive subscription club or power group – it's a community for the greater good!