Rethink backs Healthcare Commission findings on mental health

03 September 2007

Mental health charity Rethink today (Monday September 3) backed a new report from the Healthcare Commission showing that years of investment were beginning to produce 21st century services.

The Healthcare Commission survey found improvements in community-based services, improved relationships between service users and psychiatrists and wider access to out-of-hours services and for people with severe mental illness.

Rethink Director of Public Affairs Paul Corry said: “This is good news – it shows that government investment in mental health since 1999 is delivering. More people can have confidence that they will receive the community support they need to recover a full and meaningful life from severe mental illness.

“The message to the government is very clear – ‘don’t take your foot off the investment pedal’.”

Mr Corry pointed out that, even with recent improvements, half of service users were failing to get the support they needed.

“This is a terrible reflection on decades of neglect when people with a severe mental illness were badly failed. The government is planning its next three-year spending round now and mental health must be at the top of its list of priorities.

“Only last year, the Commons Health Select Committee warned that mental health was a ‘soft touch’ for cuts. The government cannot afford to let down service users and carers now, when there is real evidence that reform is working for so many people.

“We want an early commitment from the Treasury and the Department of Health that mental health will receive the investment it needs over the next three years to spread these improvements to everyone.”


Notes to editors

The Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) have published their national review of adult specialist community mental health services. The joint work reflects the shared responsibility for the delivery of these services across health and social care.

The findings show that, since the introduction of the National Service Framework for mental health, there has been a steady improvement in the range and quality of such services for those who need them and Local Implementation Teams (LITs) appear to be an effective vehicle for commissioning and delivering new models of community mental health.

However, the pace of change and improvement has been variable, leaving some people with little or no access to specialist care and treatment.

Further information can be found at:

About Rethink
Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. We aim to provide hope and empowerment through effective services and support to all those who need us and campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding.

For further information on the charity and its work, visit: www.rethink.org or call 0845 456 0455.

The Mental Health Shop is an online resource for mental health publications, leaflets, booklets, videos, DVDs and more.  Jointly founded in 2006 by Mental Health Media and Rethink, the Mental Health Shop is funded with the kind support of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales. Visit www.mentalhealthshop.org

For more information contact:
Vicky Trimikliniotis, Media Officer: tel 020 7330 9149, mobile 0791 866 9129.