Nicola Richards, MP for West Bromwich East, has taken The Kaleidoscope Plus Group’s mascot to Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the charity in 2023.

‘Kally the Stigmasaurus’ has already visited Washington DC and has now had the chance to sit in the famous seat of the Speaker of the House of Commons with Mr Speaker, Sir Lyndsay Hoyle MP.

As part a campaign to end the stigma of talking about our mental health, Kally the Stigmasaurus was launched to help spread the message that we should never be afraid to talk about what is troubling us.

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group provides mental health support to thousands of people around the country to those who need it most, no matter who or where they are.

Late last year, Nicola visited the charity to learn more about their services, which includes a 24/7 text messaging service staffed by trained volunteers who can provide support to people who need it. Nicola said:

“I am very grateful for Mr Speaker to take time out to meet me and discuss The Kaleidoscope Plus Group’s work. Kally has now visited Washington DC and the House of Commons as part of a tour to spread the message that it’s okay to not be okay.

“The Kaleidoscope Plus Group do vital work helping people of all backgrounds in their time of need. They truly are a credit to our area and I would encourage anyone who wants to talk about their mental health to consider the services they provide.”

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group CEO, Monica Shafaq, added: “Our ethos has always been to help people on the road to feeling good again.

“However the stigma that’s associated with mental illness often prevents people from seeking support.

“We came up with the idea of a mascot as a way to raise awareness of this issue in a fun and innovative way that more people can relate to. It also helps to start conversations about mental health.

“We are the only mental health charity to be addressing stigma in this way and will continue to find ways and approaches that make it easier for people to seek support.

“Kally has been seen stamping out the stigma all over the world as mental health is an issue that affects every single person on this planet, so to have this support from Nicola Richards is truly fantastic.

“Together, we can stamp out the stigma against Mental Health”.