Denise's story

My son Edward became ill in 1980 after beginning a successful career as an artist. The GP and hospital did not believe me when I said that he was seriously ill.

After his first suicide attempt I refused to take him home and demanded that he be admitted to a psychiatric unit.

Edward was resistant to medication, self-harmed and attempted suicide five times. He hurt others and was hurt in return as well as being frequently sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

When he was admitted to a hostel - poor building and fittings, lovely staff - he again attempted suicide, this time by tying bricks to his feet and jumping in a canal.

His health is most stable when we are listened to by medical staff and goes down hill when we are not listened to.

He has since had a daughter, Margot, who is now aged eight-years-old. His relationship with his girlfriend has ended, but they remain friends and his daughter stays with him and us at weekends.

I had to fought to get him on the specialist medicine Clozapine seven years ago which involved him being admitted to a medium secure unit. He has now moved into his own flat but needs substantial support because hygiene is a problem and he finds it difficult to take part in a social life.

I was treated as an overbearing mother. I believe that if I had not had knowledge and confidence, he would not have been treated. After he was admitted, I, like others, received a very negative picture of the future and little knowledge.

I was advised not to have him home because I would not cope. Later, when we recovered from the shock, we needed education and skills training.

I learnt how to cope through a Rethink group, from other families and from service users. How can families provide realistic care without knowledge and skills? Community care has not failed. Many have benefited from it. But most families have complained of the patchiness and lack of responsiveness of the service.

Praise is given for the care and help from individuals, rather than the service as a whole.