Born: 14 July 1916, United Kingdom
Died: 1 November 2012
Country most active: United Kingdom
Also known as: NA
Mary Frances Applebey was an English civil servant and mental health activist. She was an early director of the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), now called Mind. In 1969, Scientologists joined the the National Council for Mental Hygiene (NCMH) – one of NAMH’s member organisations – and tried to ratify as official policy numerous points concerning the treatment of psychiatric patients. When their identity was discovered they were expelled from the organisation en masse. in what became a notable case in British charity law, the Church of Scientology unsuccessfully sued the NAMH over the matter in the High Court, with Appleby one of the NCMH’s strongest defenders. She was involved with the formation of Christian Aid, a relief and development agency that works to support sustainable development, eradicate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. She was also instrumental in implementing the Care in the Community policy of deinstitutionalisation, treating and caring for physically and mentally disabled people in their homes rather than in an institution.