Rethink in the news - highlights

Rethink Mental Illness often appears in national, local, and trade press - see below for current highlights.

National stories - Fair Treatment Now launch

Stack of newspaper, pile of newpapers, media,July saw a successful media launch of Rethink Mental Illness' new national campaign, Fair Treatment Now.  Rethink featured in a number of national newspapers and on local and national radio programmes.

The Observer published a lead feature detailing Rethink’s concerns about the government’s health plans (this article was later discussed on Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme), and ran a news story about our poll which revealed that only 16 per cent of service users received the care recommended by health watchdog NICE.

The Times reported Rethink research showing that less than a third of GPs feel equipped to take on mental health commissioning responsibilities. This statistic was also quoted in the Financial Times and by Labour Health spokesman Andy Burnham in the Independent on Sunday, as well as in specialist magazine, Nursing Standard.  Meanwhile, Rethink's chief executive, Paul Jenkins, promoted the campaign on BBC Radio 5, BBC Stoke and on LBC radio (London).

More national stories

The Daily Mail printed a letter from Paul Jenkins, who was responding to an article by Janet Street Porter about depression. Rethink Mental Illness' Media Team was instrumental in making this happen.

Jenkins's letter points out that Street Porter's assertions that depression is rare, only affects those who have money, is relatively "new" and without stigma, are all misleading and inaccurate.  He says that one in six people will be diagnosed with depression during their lifetime and that it can affect anyone - regardless of background.

The Times quoted Rethink's concerns about plans to introduce electronic tags for mental health patients who are deemed to be "dangerous".

More trade press stories

Rethink Mental Illness' government relations advisor, Michelle Smith, was quoted in Mental Health Today in an article assessing the potential impact of the Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition. Smith welcomed the coalition's commitment to a real term increase in NHS spending, but voiced concerns about potential changes to the benefits system.

The British Journal of Nursing referenced Rethink's Suicide and Self-harm report in an article about how nurses view people who self-harm. 

Mental Health Practice quoted from Rethink's Make a Fresh Start action pack in an article about improving the physical health of people with severe mental illnesses.

More local stories

The Braintree & Witham Times reported on a Rethink Mental Illness anti-stigma march organised by Rethink campainer, Trina Whittaker, in conjunction with Braintree Rethink Art Group.  Almost 30 people marched through the town to raise awareness of mental health stigma. 

Rethink service users in Leek, Staffordshire, have helped to transform a derelict site into a public garden, as reported in The Leek Post & Times.

The Surrey Advertiser reported that the recently retired head of Rethink's Advice and Information Service, Mary Teasdale, was awarded an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

 

Further information

For more information on some of the issues and services featured in these news stories: