2003-2019 Resources and Reports

2003 - 2019 Resources and Reports

2019

General election 2019 manifesto: We've waiting long enough - it's time for a fair mental health system

Read our general election manifesto which outlines the three key issues we believe the next government must address for people severely affected by mental illness - these are creating a cross-government mental health strategy, modernising the Mental Health Act and providing fair funding for mental health services (Nov 2019).

Has welfare become unfair: the impact of welfare changes on disabled people?

This report by the Disability Benefits Consortium (of which Rethink Mental Illness are a member) takes an in-depth look at the changes to welfare benefits since 2008 and its impact on disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, including those living with mental illness (July 2019).

Towards equality for mental health: developing a cross-government approach

This report considers in detail the steps that must be taken if the ambition of ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health is to be achieved in England. Its starting point is the belief that improving the nation’s mental health cannot be achieved through a focus on health services alone, vital though these are. A much more ambitious, cross-government approach to mental health is also required (July 2019).

Building communities that care: a blueprint for supporting people severely affected by mental illness in their local communities by 2024

This report reveals how wider community support for people severely affected by mental illness such as supported housing, employment help, debt advice and access to independent advocacy services can help people living with mental illness to thrive, not just survive (April 2019).

2018

Right treatment, right time

This report highlights how the people who are most unwell are waiting the longest for treatment, and assess the impact of this on both patients and the NHS (November 2018).

Progress of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health: On the road

This report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health looks into the implementation of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. It focuses on the challenges and progress made so far (October 2018).

Fair funding for mental health: putting parity into practice

Commissioned by Rethink Mental Illness and written by the Institute for Public Policy Research, this report sets out the funding which is required to achieve parity of esteem for both mental and physical health (October 2018).

Managing a healthy weight in secure services

This research report examines barriers to healthy eating and physical exercise for people in secure care services and recommends a targeted provision of information and quality standards for service users (August 2018).

No voice, no choice

Working with Adelphi Research UK, this report shows that people detained under the Mental Health Act are given very little choice about their care. It looks at how to make the Mental Health Act more person centred and fit for the future (April 2018).

This could cost lives: a frontline view on the funding of supported housing

This report shows how staff who provide supported housing to people severely affected by mental illness believe funding needs to be protected by the housing benefit system over the long-term to enable them to recover and live well (April 2018).

2017

It's broken her: assessments for disability benefits and mental health

This report explores why assessments for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are a major source trauma for people severely affected by mental illness (December 2017).

The schizophrenia commission progress report: five years on

A follow up from Schizophrenia: The Abandoned Illness published in 2012, this report examines progress against the 11 key recommendations (December 2017).

Mental health supported housing: securing financial stability, supply and quality

This report analyses the range of provision within the mental health supported housing sector and outlines what improvements are needed to ensure that people severely affected by mental illness have a place to call home (October 2017).

Progress through partnership: involvement of people with lived experience of mental illness in CCG commissioning

An analysis of a Freedom of Information request asking all Clinical Commissioning Groups to disclose the extent and nature of how they carry out co-production and recommendations for how they can do it better (August 2017).

A Mental Health Act fit for tomorrow: an agenda for reform

Commissioned by the Mental Health Alliance, we conducted the largest survey into the Mental Health Act. The results revealed that Act is no longer fit for purpose and needs to be reformed. The survey included the views of over 8,000 people who use mental health services (June 2017).

A manifesto for better mental health - general election 2017

This manifesto, produced by the Mental Health Policy Group in the run- up to the 2017 general election, sets out four specific areas where significant improvement is needed to improve the mental health of the nation (May 2017).

Speak up for mental illness: our manifesto for general election 2017

This Rethink Mental Illness manifesto was published during the 2017 general election and sets out policies for what the next government should prioritise to improve the lives of everyone severely affected by mental illness (May 2017).

Report from national recovery and outcomes conference 2017

This report summarises our conference attended by people using secure care services, professionals, commissioners and policy makers (July 2017).

Improving lives: the work, health and disability Green Paper - Rethink Mental Illness response

This report is a response to the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper. It argues that the current welfare and employment system does not support people living with mental illness whether they are in work, out of work, or planning to return (February 2017).

Not fit for work: mental health and the work capability assessment

External commissioned qualitative research report on the experiences of people living with mental illness going to through the Work Capability Assessment for Employment and support Allowance, from the initial application form to the appeals process (January 2017).

The MP and staffers’ guide to mental health: what to do and where to go

This booklet, produced in partnership with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Mind as part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health, sets out practical ways for MPs and staffers to support constituents with mental health problems.

What’s reasonable at work?

A guide to rights at work for people living with a mental illness. This guide helps you think about what changes you could request as an employee, and how to go about this.

2016

A place to call home: housing and support for people with mental illness

1 in 5 people with severe mental illness live in supported housing. This report highlights the importance of supported housing and argues against the Governments plans in 2016 to reform housing benefit (July 2016).

Making a difference: smoking cessation in mental health settings

This report looks at the impact of smoking cessation interventions for people living in mental health services provided by five organisations, with recommendations for other providers (July 2016).

Making a difference: facilitating peer support in secure services

This report looks at the impact of introducing formal peer support into four secure mental health units (July 2016).

Making a difference: collaborative care planning in secure services

A study evaluating interventions that improved collaborative care planning within four providers of secure mental health services (July 2016).

The mental health taskforce series

A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health looking at three critical issues: secure mental health services, back-to-work support that people with mental health problems receive and how to realise the ambitions for children and young people with mental health problems.

2015

Take action: your guide to campaigning on mental health

Whether you want to tackle stigma, save a local service or fight for changes to the law - this guide is full of information and tips to help you create and run your own campaigns.

2014

Investing in recovery: making the business case for effective interventions for people with schizophrenia and psychosis

This report provides economic evidence to support the business case for investment in effective, recovery-focused services (May 2014).

Integrated Physical Health Pathway

The Integrated Physical Health Pathway, developed by Rethink Mental Illness, is a resource that supports health professionals to coordinate physical health monitoring for people affected by mental illness and ensure information is communicated effectively between services.

Your physical health when staying in a mental health inpatient unit

Written for people using mental health inpatient services, this leaflet explains why physical health checks might be offered and what their rights are if they would like to refuse.

My physical health check: A physical health check for people using mental health services.

Written for people living with mental illness, this leaflet contains useful information about looking after your physical health and includes an easy read checklist of things to consider and links to other resources.

2013

Lethal discrimination: why people with mental illness are dying needlessly and what needs to change

This report examines how people with mental illness are being let down and recommends cost-effective solutions which could save thousands of lives (September 2013).

Lost generation: why young people with psychosis are being left behind and what needs to change

Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services help young people aged 14-35 to recover from a first episode of psychosis, and to gain a good quality of life. This report examines the impact of previous budget cuts to this service on the young people they support.

2012

The abandoned illness: a report by the schizophrenia commission

This report argues that despite progress being made through schemes like Early Intervention in Psychosis, there are still many challenges faced by people living with schizophrenia (November 2017).

20 years too soon - physical health: the experiences of people affected by mental illness

People with severe mental illness die on average 20 years younger than the general population - this report outlines the different factors that contribute to the premature mortality gap and the improvements that can be made to the physical health of people living with severe mental illness.

Lost in localism

A report looking at how much money their local authorities are spending on mental health, and how this compares to other areas.

2011

Reach Out

This publication was commissioned by the National IAPT Programme to support training courses for practitioners delivering LI interventions. It is therefore recommended for use by
those courses to facilitate consistent and high quality standards across England.

2009

Breaking Prejudice

This reports investigates the stigma faced by people with a mental illness has been described as “the second illness”. This stigma and discrimination can create social isolation, reduce opportunities and make recovery from mental illness more difficult.

2008

Breaking down the wall of discrimination faced by people with mental illness

A report calling for an end to legal discrimination against people with mental illness at work and other settings, drawing on a survey of 1,000 people.

Educating reefer: effective health education and warnings on cannabis

This paper looks at the existing evidence of harm to mental health caused by cannabis and includes a survey of public attitudes and information on the risks of using cannabis.

2006

Side Effects

Our report, based on the real-life experiences of people taking medicines for people severely affected by mental illness, highlights the need for three points of action: including recognition of importance, more investment and more choice.

A Cut too Far

A Rethink Mental Illness report into budget cuts affecting mental health services.

2005

Future Perfect

Mental health service users set out a vision for the 21st century.

2004

Behind Closed Doors

A report looking at the current state and future vision of acute mental health care in the UK.

Living with severe mental health and substance use problems

This report is based upon a series of user-led in-depth interviews with service users and carers managing complex problems related to mental health, substance use and other inter-related issues such as homelessness, unemployment and contact with the criminal justice system.

Lost and Found

This report highlights the needs of a group of people we call the ‘forgotten generation’. These are people with severe mental illness living in the community who have been largely forgotten by mainstream mental health services.