Campaign successes
By speaking out for people affected by severe mental illness, campaigning can make a difference. Find out about some of Rethink Mental Illness' recent successes:
Liberal Democrats vote Yes!
On Saturday 17th September, the Liberal Democrat Party Conference voted to challenge aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill.
Rethink Mental Illness are particularly pleased about this as we had an overwhelming number of our activists email their Liberal Democrat representative urging them to vote Yes. Clearly campaigning works!
Read more about why the Welfare Reform Bill needs to be challenged.
After many months of campaigning, Rethink Mental Illness is delighted that the Government has accepted ALL of our calls to give patients and carers a much greater say in their care, and in the running of the NHS.
Rethink Mental Illness has led a coalition of health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Age UK, to push for greater patient and public involvement in the new NHS. Our campaign has involved hosting events with the Prime Minister, Health Secretary and Minister for Care Services and with the Deputy Prime Minister to hear directly from over 200 patients, service users and carers on NHS reform.
Read more here.
October 2010: talking therapies victory
The government has committed to expanding access to psychological therapies to people with severe mental illness. We don't know yet how much money will be allocated to this, but it is a great step forward. This is all due to Rethink Mental Illness staff and supporters getting behind the Fair Treatment Now campaign. Well done everyone!
Find out more about this fantastic success
October 2010: health questions banned from job applications
Thousands of people join the 'I care about mental illness' campaign.
In the run up to the 2010 General Election, Rethink Mental Illness called for a government that cares about mental illness. Over 12,000 people signed our petition delivered to Downing Street on July 15th and lots of MPs pledged to champion mental health in the new parliament. Thank you to everyone who took part, you've shown that mental health needs to be a real priority.
Find out about our top asks for the new government.
A fairer criminal justice system
Rethink Mental Illness members played an important role in shaping Lord Bradley’s 2009 review of how the criminal justice system responds to people with mental illness. Lord Bradley found, “their powerful stories really brought to life the issues I have been investigating in my review, and they have made an invaluable contribution to my final report.” All of the recommendations made by Rethink Mental Illness' Service User and Carer Panel were included in Lord Bradley’s review.
Find out what we're doing to make sure these become a reality.
Rethink Mental Illness member's story leads to a change in the law
In 2008 we achieved a change to the Health and Social Care Bill. The basis for this change was the experience of a Rethink Mental Illness members' son who developed diabetes. His condition arose after consistent failures to monitor the side effects of his medication for schizophrenia. Despite the Healthcare Commission then recommending that the local Trust implement proper monitoring, the Trust was not obliged to do so.
Rethink Mental Illness lobbied successfully for this to be changed within the Health and Social Care Bill, which means that such recommendations will have to be implemented and improvements made in the future.
Join the movement
All Rethink Mental Illness' campaign successes would have been impossible without so many people getting involved. From signing our petition, to speaking to MPs, to sharing their stories, to dressing up for stunts, to sending thousands of emails, Rethink Mental Illness Activists made sure that decision-makers had to listen.
Find out more about getting involved in Rethink Mental Illness campaigns.
