Campaigns on the move

Is there something to do with mental illness that you aren't happy with and want changing? Not sure how to go about this?

One thing you can do is fill out one of our new 'Out of Order' postcards.

Read more about the postcards here

It's now 100 years since the term Schizophrenia was first coined. Makes you wonder why people with Schizophrenia still gets the raw deal! On Tuesday 1st November, Rethink Activists and staff launched our new Unhappy Birthday campaign by handing out unhappy birthday cards and cakes to commuters in Liverpool Street Station.

Help us urge David Cameron to take action by signing up to our 5 unhappy birthday day wishes for people affected by schizophrenia!

Over thirty people attended the Milton Keynes mental health summit on the 28th October. Local people heard from and asked questions to local representatives from the local authority and NHS  about the future of mental health services in the area.

MP Mark Lancaster spoke on the day and pledged his support.

Read more about the day

Activists from all over the country got together in September to sharpen up their campaigning skills, meet other activists and enjoy the amazing view over London from the 15th Floor. Who needs the London Eye!

Everyone said they enjoyed the day and particularly the workshop on speaking to decision makers and the media.

Read more about what happened.

Our Fair Treatment Now campaign has been capturing the imagination of campaigners around the country. In June, we held a physical health training day in London to help activists with some ideas and skills to get their local campaign started.

Read what the Berkshire Activists had to say about Physical Health Training in London

Support and care available for Chesterfield people with mental illnesses was the hot topic last month as local MPs heard concerns of service users.  Over fifteen Rethink Mental Illness activists and members gathered on the 31st August at a Rethink service in Chesterfield to talk to their MPs.  The MPs pledged to visit local services and to hold surgeries at Rethink in the future.  Find out more here.

Rethink members, including our Chair Bert Johnson, heard the Deputy Prime Minister make his first speech on the NHS and questioned him on how plans will improve the care of people affected by mental illness.

Read Rethink Activist Josie's blog about the day, Come on, Clegg!

Over thirty Rethink supporters and activists made sure their voices were heard at the Hardest Hit march against cuts and welfare reforms on May 11th.

With placards, a megaphone and lots of shouting, we were one of the most vocal groups on the march. Find out who was there and what happened after the march when we went on to meet our MPs at parliament.

The NHS is facing the biggest shake-up in it's history. To inform the government's plans, Rethink hosted a listening event for 100 people who use NHS services attended by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary. Rethink Activists were there to raise the concerns of people affected by mental illness. Find out more

Secretary of State for Health and South Cambridgeshire MP, Rt Hon Andrew Lansley and senior NHS representatives met with residents to discuss the future of mental health services at the Rethink Cambridgeshire Mental Health summit, on Friday 18th March.

Find out more about what happened and read what Mr Lansley said afterwards on his blog.

March 14th was the start of Comic Relief week and a group of Rethink Activists headed off to the Royal Albert Hall for a night of music, laughing and world record breaking.

Find out what one Activist thought when we went along and saw Basil Brush, Comedians Sue Perkins and Tim Vine, a kazoo band and 4,000 others for a Red Nose evening!

On March 11th carers and services from Salisbury came together to discuss what is and isn't working in mental health locally. MP John Glen always came along to give his perspective on the changes happening, and to answer some questions from the group.

Read about what was discussed here.

March 8th was the date of the Mental Health Summit in Chesterfield. The day was full of conversation between carers, service users and Rethink staff all sharing experiences of accessing mental health services locally.

Read more here.

On 4th March 2011, Rethink met with a group of carers and service users from around the York and Harrogate area. We were joined by two local councillors and the Associate Director of Mental Health for North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services which led to a lively discussion and some great recommended changes.

Find out more here.

Local mental health services users and carers met with the local MP and other decision makers to discuss mental health issues in Bury on February 11th.

With an aim of improving access to treatment and support for people with severe mental illness, the event was a great success.

Find out who was there and what was discussed.

Read what happened when over 600 Rethink supporters emailed the Minister responsible for Welfare Reform.

Find out what was asked by the hundreds of online supporters and members who took part, and what the Minister had to say. Also, read the blog of our Activist who was in the room while it all happened.

There have been so many exciting activities over the past weeks and months that we can't show them all here. Read about more on our archive page.