Getting support for a charity for people with mental health problems is not easy. But it's the challenge facing the new director of Mind in Brighton and Hove.

One in four people look for help for mental health problems at some time in their life.

More than 4,000 people take their own lives each year in the UK, while more than two million prescriptions are issued every year for major tranquillisers.

Minor tranquillisers account for a further 19 million.

Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, works for a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

Now the new man heading the Brighton and Hove branch of the charity has decided it is time more is done for local people suffering with mental health problems.

Graham Millett took over as director six months ago.

He knew he had inherited a well-established branch which had a good relationship with NHS organisations and voluntary groups in the area.

But today he is outlining ambitious plans to update the charity's equipment and try to raise £1 million a year to pay for better services.

That means launching a fund-raising campaign to find the cash to help cope with ever-increasing demand.

Mr Millett said: "The most basic thing is to work on better mental health, which includes stress, anxiety, depression and isolation. Poor mental health issues can lead to mental illness.

"It can affect some more than others so it is important to make sure people know they can get help."

Sixty to 100 people use Mind's advice, information, advocacy and drop-in services in Brighton and Hove every week.

A further 60 to 100 across large parts of West Sussex use its advocacy services Advocates help people with concerns about treatment, access to resources, housing, benefits and hospital stays.

This can include filling out forms, speaking to organisations or finding out who they should be talking to.

The charity gets support from several organisations, including Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust, South Downs Health and Brighton and Hove City Council, but more is always needed.

The charity usually works with an annual budget of £600,000 but this figure really needs to be nearer £1 million to provide the services it wants to.

One of the areas Mr Millett would like to expand is the charity's welfare benefits service, which operates four days a week.

It has a waiting list of two months and the charity is keen to employ an extra part-time worker to help out.

Other plans include upgrading the charity's equipment and installing computer facilities.

Anyone interested in learning more about the charity should telephone 01273 749600.