Honouring a lifelong commitment to the mental health sector: Dr David Palmer’s inspiring legacy

Dr David Palmer has transformed his local Mind charity – one of 100 in the national federation and five in Kent – from a charity employing eight staff, to an award-winning organisation employing 150 staff.

In recognition of his commitment and work within the mental health sector, of more than 30 years, Dr. David Palmer, CEO of Mind in Bexley and East Kent and Honorary Senior Research Fellow Canterbury Christ Church University, recently received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

His enduring impact in mental health advocacy and support began with his early work with victim support in 1990 as a volunteer, his own experience of being near-fatally stabbed and his subsequent mental health issues had a profound impact shaping his journey and passion. He also volunteered for Albanian Action Group teaching ESOL to unaccompanied youth, this was a life changing experience and the catalyst for his commitment to combatting racism with further work as the Chair of the Brent Refugee Action and voluntary work with the Ethiopian Health support Association.

He moved on to work at the St. Pancras Refugee Centre and the Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum (MRCF), where he dedicated years to addressing the mental health needs of refugees and developed the highly acclaimed Refugee Doctor’s Mentoring Programme that matched refugee doctors training to practice in the UK, with GP’s, in order to improve knowledge, understanding and share good practice. His pioneering efforts not only brought attention to the unique struggles faced by refugees but also highlighted the importance of tailored mental health support in vulnerable communities.

Since stepping into his role at Mind in Bexley and East Kent in 2007, Dr. Palmer has expanded services that offer support to thousands across the region. Under his leadership, the organisation has garnered awards for their research-driven approach, emphasising the use of data and monitoring to improve mental health services and the development of innovative services and partnerships. This approach was validated in 2024 when Mind in Bexley and East Kent won the national Mind Excellence Award for Monitoring and Evaluation, celebrating their robust commitment to research that informs effective mental health interventions.

The Chair of Trustees at Mind in Bexley and East Kent, Shaheen Westcombe, MBE, was proud to acknowledge his work: “An academic, community leader and experienced senior executive, David’s contributions in the field of Mental health are highly valued. He works tirelessly on developing partnerships across sectors in order to build strong and effective integrated care for residents. David is extremely creative and always willing to explore new ideas. Mind’s service users and the community of Bexley and East Kent appreciate him greatly for the benefits secured from his initiatives.”

Dr. Palmer’s impact also extends to his important strategic work, recent appointment by NHS South East London Integrated Care Board as the Clinical and Care Professional Lead for mental health in Bexley. His influence in this role includes championing alternative non-medical approaches to mental health and promoting a shift of culture which focuses on causal and current concerns/issues rather than diagnosis. He has also moved focus to streamlining patient access to mental health services, advancing preventative care, and reducing social isolation. His leadership fosters innovation within the NHS, as he strives to bridge gaps between mental health, physical health, and social support.

The Director of Public Health at KCC, Dr Anjan Ghosh, acknowledged his impact: “David has been a titan, a towering and yet humble leader in Bexley and East Kent. He is a tireless champion for people suffering from mental ill health and has made an enormous impact as a leader, a champion, a service provider, an academic and above all as a human being – in enabling residents to lead their glorious ordinary lives with dignity and hope. His arc of contribution leaves a blazing comet-tail of achievements, a lifetime of dedicated service and a growing legacy hard to match.”

Lucy Dodd, Strategic Lead for Mind in London, said: “It comes as no surprise that David has achieved such a well-deserved accolade after his years of dedicated service to mental health. David has been a proactive and dynamic member of the Mind in London collaborative since its inception, bringing his wealth of experience and commitment to partnership working, reinforcing that the strength of our unity directly benefits the people who use our services. It’s a joy to see David in action, as a true innovator and vibrant leader, he is an authentic advocate for those people who are often the least heard and has ensured that Mind in Bexley and East Kent has the stability and sustainability needed to support the community into the future.”

David was the driving force behind setting up East Kent Mind in 2019, the KCOG Kent Community Oasis Garden with Canterbury Christ Church University, saved the Herne Bay Umbrella Centre from closure in 2022 and was instrumental in developing the concept behind Revival food & Mood offering an alternative to negatively viewed clinical mental health spaces, creating a vibrant and welcoming hub incorporating the importance of music and creativity and providing life-changing support and initiatives that improve personal and communal wellbeing, and enrich and save lives impacted by mental ill-health.

In addition to his executive work, Dr. Palmer has collaborated with academic institutions to produce research projects with national implications. Key projects include studies on mental health advocacy, crisis café support, and the effects of COVID-19 on mental health. This award, on behalf of the Mind in Bexley and East Kent Trustees, staff and the Bexley and East Kent Community, marks an appreciation of his legacy, symbolizing a career dedicated to driving positive change in mental health at the community and policy levels.