Centre for Mental Health has today announced the appointment of three new trustees to its Board. Dr Ariel Breaux Torres, Emma Mamo and Philip Ross have been appointed to help guide the work of the Centre after an open recruitment exercise last year.
Ariel Breaux Torres is Head of Mental Health Equity at Mind. A clinical forensic psychologist, Ariel has worked in prisons and forensic hospitals, witnessing first-hand the intersections between racism, mental health and criminalisation. Emma Mamo is a specialist in workplace wellbeing. She was previously Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, with experience at Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) and Mencap, and is trustee at the children’s charity Inside Out. Philip Ross is co-founder of Safehinge Primera, and Chair of the Design in Mental Health Network, a not-for-profit dedicated to improving the quality of mental health hospital environments.
Welcoming the new trustees to the Board, Michael Morley, Chair at Centre for Mental Health, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ariel, Emma and Philip as our new trustees, strengthening the range of expertise on our Board to support the innovative policy and research work of the team at the Centre. I’m confident that their experience and dedication will advance our work to pursue social justice in mental health.”
Ariel Breaux Torres said: “I’m thrilled to join the trustee board for such an inspiring and impactful organisation and I look forward to furthering the organisation’s mission in challenging injustice, a cause that is very close to my heart.”
Emma Mamo said: “I’m delighted to join Centre for Mental Health as a trustee. I have long admired its work in challenging injustices and campaigning for equality – values that strongly resonate with me. With 17 years in the mental health sector and past collaborations with the Centre on welfare reform and employment, I’m passionate about driving systemic change and supporting its vital mission to improve and protect mental health for all.”
Philip Ross said: “After my friend was detained under the Mental Health Act in 2010, where I’d witnessed how unsuitable the place of care was and how the wider system continuously let him down, I’ve been trying to do my little bit to improve the quality of mental health care. Driven by listening to people with lived experience, I hope my design thinking can help Centre for Mental Health in its pursuit for fairer, more equitable and better mental health.”
