About Us
Self Empowerment Foundation
Bridgnorth Stay Mentally Healthy Hub is an initiative of the Self Empowerment Foundation. The foundation is a passionate not-for-profit organisation dedicated to empowering you, through the SEJ Process, to learn the skills to stay mentally healthy, find purpose and direction and reach your true potential.
You can find out more about our initiatives here.
Bridgnorth 'Stay Mentally Healthy' (SMH) Community Hub - Our Mission
Bridgnorth 'Stay Mentally Healthy' Community Hub, which serves Bridgnorth and the surrounding areas, delivers high-quality self-help services that enable individuals to maintain their mental health and unlock their true potential. Donation-based and affordable self-help services are accessible to all with a focus on prevention while assisting those in recovery.
All SMH Consultants and Trainers at the Hub are qualified in the innovative and evidence-based SEJ Process, promoting emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Whilst collaborating with enthusiastic and committed delivery partners, service providers and like-minded organisations, both locally and nationally ensures a comprehensive and holistic approach.
Our Stay Mentally Healthy Hub Vision
Our vision is to provide accessible and affordable self-help services to empower individuals and organisations. In turn we will create a mentally healthy world, where everyone lives to their true potential!
Our Values
Our core values are our guiding principles.
Compassion - we aim to understand and meet community needs with service, awareness and kindness.
Inclusivity - openness, inclusion and collaboration are central to our growth and success.
Integrity - we act with honesty, personal responsibility and transparency in all our relationships and services.
Perseverance - we never give up! Finding solutions to problems through our own practice of the SEJ Process.
Creativity - we embrace an open-minded approach, continually developing our skills to ensure excellent practice.
Service - we work with an open-hearted approach providing a meaningful experience for those we support.
Jacqueline Mary Phillips
Founder of the Self Empowerment Foundation and Stay Mentally Healthy Initiative
Mary (as she prefers to be known) is the originator of the Stay Mentally Healthy initiative. She is responsible for ensuring that the vision of the Stay Mentally Healthy Hubs is realised and oversees the flagship Stay Mentally Healthy Hub in Bridgnorth.
About Mary
"I originally worked in the corporate world for many years whilst simultaneously experiencing mental health challenges; including depression, anxiety, and self harm, culminating in attempted suicide. I spent over 14 years in and out of psychiatric hospitals and was eventually diagnosed with complex PTSD. During this time I suffered several recurring bouts of depression, some mild, others severe culminating in a life changing event at the age of 28 when the SEJ Process was born out of my experiences.
I have now been depression free for over 28 years, despite being told by the health professionals that I would most likely suffer with recurring depression for the rest of my life, and that I would need to learn how to manage it. I never did learn how to manage it, instead I learnt how to stay mentally healthy.
I have shared the SEJ Process training and services with people from all walks of life, the Armed Forces, Police, Clergy, Sports Professionals, Education and in Business. It is my firm belief that if we can educate everyone about their mental health and at the same time give them the life skills required to stay mentally healthy, then they will go on to live empowered lives, reach their true potential and become productive members of society."
Carol Blakemore
Head Volunteer and Executive Assistant
Carol as Head Volunteer, has been volunteering and working closely with Mary for over 19 years, she has a wealth of experience with her primary focus on service. Her daily function in the organisation is to help support all volunteers with their work, and to work collaboratively to ensure the organisation fulfils its aims.
Carol says...
“Part of my Head Volunteer role is to provide leadership to the function of volunteering. To promote and enable a positive culture of engagement and the values of work for the organisation, ensuring that volunteering is understood and respected throughout the organisation which reflects on the day to day work.
Being a volunteer has given me a deepened sense of empathy and compassion, it allows me to connect with people on a deeper level. The smallest act of being in service can make an enormous difference to the lives of others."
