Posted: Wednesday 18 November 2009
Over the past month I've been interviewing people about their experiences of social care services, to inform Mind's response to the social care Green Paper.
It's really opened my eyes to how vital these services are to supporting people with mental health problems to stay well and live independently in the community, and to preventing crises.
But at the moment far too few people with experience of mental distress are entitled to access social care. Those who do receive services often find they are not flexible enough to fit round their needs, or they are not offered a choice of services, due to pressures on the public purse.
One person I spoke to was refused an art therapy evening class costing just £80 for the whole term, because she was already doing a vocational training course for two days a week, and her social worker said she could only have one thing at once.
To me, this approach is misguided. We all know that because of the recession there are greater pressures on public spending than ever before. But investing in preventive social care services now will save the state money in the long run, helping people with mental health problems towards recovery and reducing the need for expensive crisis care interventions. A smart Government will take this forward in its proposals for a future social care system.
Amy Whitelock, Policy and Campaigns Officer
Read more on Mind's response to the Green Paper
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