MORE THREATS RECEIVED FROM MIND CEO PAUL FARMER

The latest threats by Paul Farmer against this news website are becoming more sinister and accusatory including linking comments made in the public interest with acts ‘inciting abuse and violence against our most senior staff ‘  You can read the full transcript of the e mail sent below with editorial comments at the end:-

MIND CEO Paul Farmer pictured outside their East London HQ

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Dear

I wrote to you on 23 April to ask that you stop naming our employees, that you remove names from previous posts and that you take down any comments that name (without permission) current or former members of staff, or their relatives.

I wanted to remind you that naming people alongside your public criticism of Mind causes them significant distress. It has an impact on the wellbeing of staff who manage and respond to the criticism, and a much more serious impact on a personal level for some of those who are named.

We note you have continued to use your blogsite to publish articles naming staff, alleging impropriety in their personal business affairs, and their work in the charity sector. You have also named staff in recent Twitter posts which link back to your blog.

We have also seen comments on a Facebook group which reference your blog, and in response, there are comments inciting abuse and violence against our senior staff.

In our previous letter we made it clear that we would protect our employees. We will now moderate or remove comments or posts made by you on our social media channels which,

· Name staff and their personal affairs alleging any impropriety or dishonesty

· Are personally abusive or dismissive, or have the potential to incite any abuse

· Use offensive language

We will also restrict the ability to post content on our channels if any more comments or posts are made that breach the guidelines above.

Yours sincerely

Paul Farmer
Chief Executive

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Editor’s Response

1. Infering that any action I take via this news site could potentially ‘incite violence and abuse’ against MIND staff is very serious and dangerous and such a claim would need to be backed up by hard evidence
2. Any articles written on this news website are evidence based and if articles are ‘Editors comment pieces’ they clearly state that. I have frequent contact from victims of abuse and bullying at MIND who ask me to publish information provided. I only ever do so if this is backed by evidence, is in the public interest and is compliant in all respects.
3. In recent weeks I have been receiving threatening e mails, been trolled and I have been keeping details of all these. Some of these comments I have allowed to appear on this website as it is important for people to see them for themselves. Some I haven’t published purely on the basis of the content. There is growing evidence these latest e mails are likely to be from someone with close links to MIND given some of the comments made. I have absolutely nothing to hide in respect of what I write on this website and if anyone criticises that is fine in an era of freedom of speech. I have to say that this is very rare and most people who contact me do so to thank me for highlighting the issues raised,  often giving their own account of bullying and abuse at MIND
4. ALL victims and whistleblowers have a right to shine a spotlight on wrongdoing and this is within the stated remit of this website since established in 2017.
5. When the BBC highlighted the toxic bullying culture at MIND’s Wales office ( aka MIND Cymru)  they asked for other victims to step forward. Around 30 did which highlights how serious  the issue is

One of the most chilling aspects of this most recent threat made by Paul Farmer and the previous one REVEALED – MIND’S LATEST THREATS AGAINST THIS WEBSITE are the repeated references made to his concerns about the wellbeing of his staff. So many people have contacted me about this and have questioned why he has therefore allowed so many staff to become victims of abuse and bullying at MIND. As one of those victims I can tell you that Paul Farmer and his Trustees were well aware of the serious impact on mental health and wellbeing from the toxic culture at MIND – both at the time and afterwards. As I told Paul Farmer to his face in front of Welsh Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething, the bullying I and others endured at MIND is the equivalent of ‘mental rape‘. I would stand by that same comment in front of anyone

GASLIGHTING BY  PAUL FARMER CEO BULLYING CHARITY MIND