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Future Vision and the future of mental health

The Government's strategy on mental health and wellbeing came to an end in 2009. The publication of a new strategy, New Horizons, gives us a great opportunity to ensure all areas of England have the mental health services they need.

Read New Horizons, the Government's new strategy for mental health.

In order to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the nation, Mind has joined forces with the Future Vision Coalition to set out what we believe are the priorities in mental health policy for the next decade.

The Future Vision Coalition, like Mind, believes that mental health is an issue too important to be left to the specialists – mental health and wellbeing affects everybody. The coalition got together in 2008 to think about how we believe Government and society should be changing to ensure people with mental distress have the best chance of recovery and a full life, and to give the whole population the best chance to stay well.

The coalition's report, A future vision for mental health sets out some details of what needs to done.

The Coalition has four key changes it believes need to happen to enable those with experience of mental health problems to enjoy an equal opportunity of a fulfilling life:

  • Mental health and wellbeing is everybody's business. It affects every family in Britain and it can only be improved if coordinated, assertive action is taken across Whitehall and at all levels of government.
  • Good mental health holds the key to a better quality of life in Britain. We need to promote positive mental health, prevent mental ill health and intervene early when people become unwell.
  • People should get as much support to gain a good quality of life and fulfil their potential from mental health services as they expect to receive from physical health care services. Mental health care should offer hope and support for people to recover and live their lives on their own terms.
  • We need a new relationship between mental health services and those who use them. Service users, carers and communities should be offered an active role in shaping the support available to them.

On 18 October 2010 the Department of Health published two consultation documents: An information revolution; and Greater choice and control. Patients will be offered more choice and information so that they can share in decision-making for their care: ‘No decision about me, without me’.

Both documents form part of the Health White Paper of July 2010: Liberating the NHS which aims to make the NHS:

  • centred on patients and carers
  • achieve outcomes amongst the best in the world
  • put clinicians in the driving seat, with hospitals and providers free to innovate.
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