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No longer a second class citizen
Posted Wednesday 2 February 2011
On a visit to a local Mind a couple of weeks ago, I met Helen (not her real name) who told me about some of her mental health experiences. She started having problems when she was at school, but nobody thought about mental health, so she was put down as the “class oddball”.
She then struggled to find any help for her mental health, lost what little self confidence and self-esteem she had left, and spent long periods of time in hospital. Now in her mid forties, she has never been able to work. Thanks to the support of her local Mind, she sees a bright future as her confidence grows.
Today, the Government publishes its mental health strategy. Not the Department of Health, but the Government. Helen’s struggle explains why this is so important. People who experience mental health problems don’t just experience them in mental health services. They experience mental distress in schools, in work, with friends and families.
There isn’t a government department which doesn’t have a role to play in achieving a transformation in support for people with mental health problems, whether it’s supporting veterans returning from Afghanistan, or ensuring that Police Officers are able to support people with a mental health problem who have been victim of a crime.
It’s a wide ranging document as you’d expect, and sets out six clear objectives to be achieved over the coming years. By tackling stigma, improving public mental health, and providing high quality recovery focussed mental health services, you can start to see what is and should be possible. Young people receiving early intervention, people with mental health problems having access to talking therapies wherever they are in the country, working environments supporting staff.
The strategy makes it clear that mental health has a “parity of esteem” with physical health. The message to health and social care commissioners is clear-mental health services are no longer an easy cut — in fact, you should be spending more in increasing access to talking treatments.
It also begins to move mental health into the realm of public health, rightly recognising that local authorities have an important role to play in preventing poor mental health amongst the population, just as they have a role to play in preventing obesity, smoking and alcohol problems.
Launching the strategy, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg sent a clear message that stigma will not be tolerated, by announcing the repeal of an outdated law which forces an MP to stand down if they have been sectioned for more than six months. This is a great success for the mental health charities, including Mind, that have long campaigned for this to be overturned.
So far, so good. But of course this strategy appears in the same week as MPs are debating a massive upheaval in the NHS, and starts at the same time as hundreds of thousands of people with a mental health problem will face a test of their Incapacity which is already discredited and unfair. And there are local cuts which threaten services which can be a matter of life and death to many.
In this new world order, no one really knows whether a Government strategy will work. But for people who experience mental health problems, it must work. For too long, people with mental health problems have been viewed as second class citizens, with restricted rights, and often the victim of disproportionate funding cuts. In recent times, we have seen the start of a positive change in public attitudes, evidence which shows clearly how to support people in the workplace and the wider community.
There is an emerging social movement led by people who know what it’s like to be discriminated against. To take two steps back would be a major indictment on our Government and on wider society. We can’t let that happen; this strategy must work.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive
13 Comments
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I was really pleased to hear that finally the Government are putting mental health strategy on the same level as physical wellbeing.
Yes, the NHS cuts is worrying. Crucial mental health services may be cut and charities will no doubt end up baring the brunt. I believe employers could do more to support staff who may be experiencing mental health issues and challenege the stigma of mental health in the workplace. They should be offering free initial counselling sessions for employees as well as training managers to recognise when stress etc manifests into mental health issues.
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Oh good. But I'll be a second-class citizen as long as the Government and media keep on telling me that my inability to work makes me scum unfit to live. Please stop ignoring the damage that causes, it makes you look ridiculous.
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lets hope they will do what they say as alot of mental health depends on charities to help them as this is what gets referred to them x
because mental health sufferers have an invisible disorder many don't receive the help that they need and become more isolated from society x
i feel that mental health gets overlooked where nowadays it's more recognised not just adults though as more pressure is put onto our children now aswell x there are alot more children who have mental health issues aswell which should be taken into consideration aswell xyet with cutbacks they are not getting the help which they require either x i really do hope that there are going to be changes and we get the help we deserve x -
Hi Jan, We're pushing for the media and government to use more positive language. For more info see http://www.mind.org.uk/timetochange and http://www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues/policy_and_issues/making_benefits_fairer-welfare_reform/benefits_welfare-key_is
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I have to agree Jan what are you celebrating here? People are losing service support at the rate of knots whilst being subject to fixed reviews which make them destined to life on JSA and workfare and stigma is most great within the health service itself which no campaign will ever address. People have less power now than ever before and the mental health strategy will not doubt focus on employment as the main outcome measure because apparently any work, under any conditions at minimum wage is always better and despite the fact the top cause of sick days is work related stress and 70% of employers don't want people with long sickness histories which cannot be concealed [despite the victory on pre-employment health questionnaires] because all employers ask for these [if it isn't obvious by a CV that someone hasn't done paid work for X years]. This strategy cannot work, service users know what would but no one is listening
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Sorry Mind, no disrespect but I'm not buying any of this. Nick Clegg waffling on about stigma? Strange how the great and the good always talk about stigma whilst ignoring the real problems we face. I get the impression this is all about the mental health of everybody rather than helping those who really do have problems. If Clegg and co really want to do something positive, scrap the welfare and NHS reforms and get on with improving the economy by investing in talent and industry. I fear those whose lives are already harsh are going to be completly buried under all this rhetoric.
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Leave benefits alone and have a 50% tax rate for claimants so that people retain all their benefits and half any additional income and the exchequer takes half of the income. That way people's expertise can be used [especially in teaching/training] and doing it through the tax system distinguishes it from benefits and we all win - no pressure to work but you're better off if you do. This escapes the full-time work or JSA & Workfare scenarios neither of which suit many service users otherwise we're in danger of forced minimum wage manual work becoming a mental health strategy "treatment".
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I`m glad that you were able to visit a local Mind. That is unlikely to be an option in the county I live in (Lincolnshire) for much longer. The county council will cease to provide funding for our local branches of Mind, or indeed for any services for people will mental health problems. We, (mental health service users who attend any of the pitifully few groups or agencies available) were told that this is so we can all have more "choice" by opting to fund organisations ourselves with personal budgets.
In reality, people with life-long mental health problems are being weeded out at every stage of trying to access these budgets and will therefore be unable to attend anything. Centres such as those provided by local Mind charities may well have to close if there are no longer people who can afford to attend them. So much for "choice". The future health and stability of those now left unsupported does not appear to concern the council.
At a time when council budgets are being slashed, social care is under a great threat. Any talk of a "strategy for mental health" is somewhat meaningless in the circumstances, particularly for anyone with long term problems.
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I strongly agree with all the previous comments. I cannot see how any of the initiatives will work whilst those reliant on benefits are being forced to live in fear of a system policed by deeply flawed medicals.
With plans to reduce housing benefits by 10% for JSA claimants who have failed to find employment after 12 months and further proposals to time-limit contribution based ESA - how can living under such a cloud and potential homelessness promote recovery?
Taryn, it is not just the language that is unacceptable - it is the whole notion that work has suddenly become 'the cure for all ills' and those who are not engaged in it labelled 'worthless'. The reality for many is that work is a major contributory or trigger factor in their illness. Sustaining work has always been extremely difficult or impossible for some and too daunting a prospect for many people battling with enduring or fluctuating physical/mental conditions.
I listen to family and friends describing the pressures they are under at work and how they are just managing to keep their heads above water. I cannot begin to imagine how I would cope.
CBT may well be helpful for some, but there has to be a range of counselling and therapies on offer through GPs and mental health services.
Whilst I welcome voluntary schemes that promote flexible and supportive work opportunities (paid and unpaid) for people with mental health conditions and other disabilities, the government and its agencies has to stop pushing the simplistic 'work is good for you' nonsense. Not only are they denying us any real understanding and making themselves look 'ridiculous' as Jan rightly says - they are using the propaganda to fuel hatred and the removal of the unconditional support and place of safety we need to thrive.
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Thanks for all the comments-Jan, we've been clear that the strategy should be for people who experience mental health problems, and there's a good section in the strategy about the role of mental health services in supporting recovery. Mindreader and Jan, we continue to campaign against unfair changes in welfare, a point I made to the Minister today. We are concerned about cuts, please do let us know where you hear of services being cut which you value.
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@paul - WHAT mental health services are left to support recovery? across the UK local mh charities including Minds have shut, Phone lines at premium rates seem to be all thats available from the national mental health charities.
As for campaign about unfair cuts - how, where and when? Your concern about the cuts extends as far as your collaboraion with the private sector that will ultimately be the only winners in this strategy. -
Hi Gemma, you can find out about our campaign on welfare reform here: http://www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues/policy_and_issues/making_benefits_fairer-welfare_reform/benefits_welfare-key_is
Hi A Mind supporter, it shouldn't be all about work and your comment about work triggering distress rings very true in my experience as well. Do take a look at the webpage above which describes what we are doing on the welfare and benefits cuts.
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I have briefly skimmed through the strategy and while I am impressed by its ambition, I would like to see clear evidence of its proposed delivery. I believe in complete social inclusion for all those with mental health problems yet this does not mean 'one size fits all'. What will work for one person will not necessarily work for another and it is essential to remember this when developing mental health service provision.
I acknowledge the use of the term 'recovery' in the government's strategy but need to understand what is actually proposed to facilitate this - how will actual support for people with all ranges of mental health problems be defined to ensure each has the opportunity to achieve a good quality of life? How creative and dynamic will this support be?
As a so-called 'service user' myself, I struggle with the fight to gain the right support for my needs, moving the beyond the strictly, and dare I say it, narrow, medical model. I want and deserve a good quality of life but the support I require needs to be widespread, consistent and objective to help me move towards that. At the heart of that, I need to be able to have my voice heard and my choices acknowledged.
At present, I witness large pockets of inconsistency, poor outputs and short-term focus in service provision in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. Bringing about the potential for recovery for those experiencing mental ill health demands intelligence, creativity and flexibility from the service providers.
Commenting is now closed.