What about the future?

The prospects for people with severe mental illness and their carers look brighter in the 21st century than they ever have done previously. Real progress has been made in the field of antipsychotic medication and also in the use of talking treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy. In some parts of the country community care is working successfully.

Group of carersEveryone hopes that these advances will mean that the proportion of people who recover from severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia will increase. It is also important to try to remember that everybody is an individual and each person's circumstances change over time. Many people given a diagnosis of severe mental illness, have one or two periods of illness and are then able to return to a normal lifestyle - relatively few will remain so ill that constant care is required.

Even so, as it is the case that some families will have long term caring responsibilities, Rethink will continue to provide support and advice to those who require it, whether for long or short periods of time.

You may find as time goes on that you experience new and recurring practical problems surrounding factors like...

insurance and driving problems, befriending and leisure activities, finding appropriate accommodation with required level of support, routes into and staying in employment, benefit problems and debt, legal rights and advocacy, genetic counseling, treatment including medication and complementary therapies, representation at tribunals court appearances or inquests.

These practical issues are commonly reported experiences over time for carers with a family member with a severe mental illness.

Issues and experiences may also arise in the future as a result of changes to the way things work through further developments in care and treatment for people within mental health services and through amendments to existing legislation or new pieces of law.

What will happen to my relative when I am no longer around?

It is sometimes appropriate to make careful arrangements in your will and perhaps set up a trust in order to protect the future interests of someone who may be vulnerable because of a mental health problem. How set up these arrangements are covered in Wills & Trusts

Rethink has a legal department who can help you set up such provisions for the future for your relative and information about these services are available on request from the National Advice Service.