Mental distress has social and economic consequences; it can affect family life and make it difficult for people to engage with work, education and social activities.
The Dilnot Commission's report on the future funding of social care defined care as: 'supporting people in building social relationships and participating fully in society'.
Appropriate social care must work alongside medical treatment in order for those experiencing mental distress to manage their health. Social care can provide personal support in the home. It can help with accessing a range of social, cultural and training activities, exercise and respite. It can also support families by providing back-up help when parents or carers can't cope. It can help someone rebuild an independent life in the community after a hospital stay. Sadly, most mental health patients do not receive the social services they need.
Read more about community mental health and social care.
Mind has consulted service users and then lobbied government on each of the below attempts to reform social care:
The Government also aims to personalise care services. This means the promotion of independent living through personal budgets. It involves those experiencing mental distress deciding, in consultation with their care workers, what services they need, managing them and paying for them directly.
We support the principles of independent living and are working with the University of Bristol on Putting us First, a project which aims to make sure that more people with mental health needs get a chance to use personal budgets.