The Social Care Lobby - Why I am attending

The Social Care reforms that are being discussed at present could affect the lives of so many people and I see this as my chance to speak out for those that normally go unheard. For some people who are suffering with mental health problems life can be difficult enough without having to worry about how they will survive with very little money coming into their pockets. Most people I know, including myself, who suffer or who have suffered with a mental illness want to work and try our hardest to carry on working throughout our struggles. Luckily for me my depression is practically all behind me and I can march forward and give a voice to those who are struggling right now.

Most of us want to work but with stigma hovering like a great mist in the air it is sometimes hard to find work and these issues need to be addressed by everyone involved in the social care reforms. The fact that there may be a cap on benefits after a year can be extremely problematic to thousands of people. Everyone who has experienced a mental health problem will relate to the fact that it takes a lot longer than a year to get to a position where you will feel comfortable enough to work and even give confidence to the employers to hire you. With a lot of people I know still going through their battle I know this first hand and I know even how hard it is to get help in working through your mental health problem. If these benefits are capped then many of my closest friends will find it hard to pay for their expenses to get to vital therapy sessions. They will miss out on the leisure activities they love and that vitally keep them in the community rather than being shut away in their houses all day every day. Their quality of life will just not be the same if they are not fully considered in this social care reform; and I don’t want to see any of my friends made homeless or relapsing because they don’t have the support they need.

This is why I am going along to talk with my MP to hopefully give a voice to everyone I care about that can’t fight for the help they need themselves. I’ve helped out with Rethink Mental Illness before and everyone is so supportive and understanding. I am sure that the day will be exciting and enjoyable and it will be great to be surrounded by like-minded people. There are going to be other organisations there as well so the atmosphere is going to immense. Everyone is coming together to fight for such a great cause and I am very proud to say that I will be a part of it.

• Sign up to join the Social Care Lobby

Find out more information:

• Learn more about Social Care Reform
• Become a Rethink Mental Illness Activist
• Read our advice pages on money, debt & benefits