What we do

Providing practical support

We run over 130 groups which meet regularly to provide carers and people with severe mental illness with a support network in their local area.

Providing services

We are the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services with over 350 services. Our wide range of services includes advocacy, carer support, community support, employment and training, helplines, housing, nursing and residential care and services dedicated to black and minority ethnic communities.

The support we offer spans high care and long-term care through to practical
help and advice. We place the people who use our services at the centre of our service delivery. We provide high quality services that are carefully planned,
managed and monitored and we support the people who use our services towards achieving their potential. We rigorously examine our services to find better approaches to their provision and we explore innovative strategies that build new partnerships and ways of working with people with severe mental illness and other mental health problems.

Campaigning

We have successfully campaigned for over 30 years, positively influencing the modernisation and reform of mental health services and championing the right of those experiencing severe mental illness and other mental health problems to be treated as equal citizens.

We are dedicated to creating a world where prejudice and discrimination against those who experience mental health problems are eliminated. We actively campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding. In addition, we are committed to bringing about change across mental health and social care, and actively campaign for a holistic approach to mental health which addresses
all of an individual’s needs and aspirations, as well as more innovative prevention,
treatment and care.

The people who use our services and their carers are at the heart of all our campaigns. Together we have achieved a track record to be proud of. And we know that the more we raise the profile of severe mental illness by continuing to campaign, the greater the chance will be for those affected by it to recover a
better quality of life.

Policy development

We are committed to creating change across mental health and social services by
supporting positive policy changes which improve people’s lives and enhance hope
and recovery, while being critical and opposing changes that undermine the
building of a mental health system fit for the 21st century. We work with Government as an independent voice for all those affected by severe mental illness and other mental health problems.

Research

Our research findings help us to provide higher quality services, support and treatments for people with severe mental illness and other mental health problems. By examining the current and future mental health needs of the whole population, we are able to create effective strategies to promote better mental health and prevent mental health problems.

Our dedicated Research Team works with people who use our services, staff and
members to strengthen our evidence based innovative service delivery, enabling us to understand what really works. We are committed to sharing these discoveries with the wider mental health world. We work in partnership with universities, hospitals and other charities to contribute to best practice in mental health. Our research also contributes to shaping Government mental health policy.

We offer high quality education and training to both internal and external groups such as the police, school children and employers. All our training is needs-led and is designed and delivered by mental health professionals, with a growing and increasingly important input from people with experience of severe mental
illness and other mental health problems and those who care for them.

Information

Our National Advice Service provides expert advice and information to people with severe mental illness and other mental health problems and those that care for them, as well as giving help to health professionals, employers and staff.

We also provide a wide range of information in print and video formats for people affected by mental health problems, carers and health professionals, education and social care workers, as well as for journalists, policy makers, Government and the general public. We also produce a free quarterly magazine for all our members.

And this website, www.rethink.org provides a wealth of information and support including updates on treatment and changes in the law.