We are Rethink Mental Illness

We improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through our network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. Our goal is to make sure everyone severely affected by mental illness has a good quality of life.

Carers Week 2023

Help us celebrate the work of the millions of carers who support us every day.

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The facts about mental illness

1 in 4 people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. People can, and often do, recover with the right treatment and support. Our advice and information pages can help you learn more about conditions, symptoms and diagnoses, so you or a loved one can get the help you need.

Living with mental illness

Living with a mental illness should not be a barrier to a good quality of life. Our advice and information pages contain all you need to know about getting the proper treatment and support for you or a loved one and what you can do if you feel the help you are getting is not right.

Your rights and restrictions

If you experience mental illness or care for someone who does, it is essential to know your rights. Our information pages has advice on mental health laws, rights and restrictions, social care, welfare, and resources about the police, courts & prison service.

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Our latest blogs

“No one knows what life’s like as a carer” – Sharon’s story

08/06/2023

For Carers Week, Sharon shares her experience of caring for some of her family members at the same time, one of them being her son who experiences autism and difficulties with his mental health. With the help of Julie from Rethink Mental Illness and a supportive carers group, Sharon has spent the last 20 years keeping her family well.

07/06/2023

In this blog for Carers Week, Julie shares her experience caring for her son who deals with severe anxiety and agoraphobia. She sheds light on juggling many responsibilities at once, the debilitating nature of mental illness and the value in appreciating the little things.

06/06/2023

For Carers Week, Steve explores his tumultuous journey caring for his wife who has experienced paranoid schizophrenia for 29 years. He brings awareness to the lack of recovery-focused support for acute schizophrenia, the importance of community and how his caring responsibilities deeply impacted his own mental health.

05/06/2023

In 2022, Helen's brother, who experiences schizophrenia, was sadly detained under the Mental Health Act for 12 months. She reflects on her personal experiences, sharing advice to help other carers, particularly siblings, who may be preparing for a hospital visit.

30/05/2023

In January 2023, the government announced it would be shelving its 10-year plan for Mental Health and Wellbeing, replacing it with a new shorter-term Major Conditions Strategy that would look at mental health alongside a number of health conditions. In this blog, Kirsten from our policy team looks at the new proposals and asks, could this change in direction deliver better outcomes for people living with mental illness?

23/05/2023

In this blog, Krystyna shares how it felt to experience voice-hearing for the first time. After receiving treatment from an Early Intervention team, her voice-hearing has lessened and she is in a much more positive place.

22/05/2023

In this blog, Keido reflects on his journey with bipolar disorder, from experiencing a manic episode after his grandfather’s passing to being sectioned to being a successful musician and mental health campaigner. He expresses the importance of practicing acceptance and self-compassion.