At Rethink Mental Illness, we have long campaigned for improved support for people severely affected by mental illness and the rollout of the Community Mental Health Framework (CMHF) is a milestone in achieving this change. Local authority support to keeps people well, prevent crises and help people recover is invaluable for people severely affected by mental illness. The CMHF puts forward a vision for the future of community mental health with clinical and non-clinical support wrapped around people. It recognises that the care people living with mental health problems need cannot be delivered by the NHS alone. 
 

The recent Health and Care Bill White Paper proposes closer working between the NHS and social care. But for the potential of the CMHF to be realised and for greater integration to be achieved, local authority involvement, innovation and expertise will be key. Although the CMHF has started to take shape across the country, we are only at the beginning and the partnerships that will form under the CMHF stand to bring many benefits for local authorities themselves too.
 
Read our latest briefing with practical tools and tips on how local authorities can increase their involvement in the process and the benefits of doing so.

 

Rethink Mental Illness aims to be a constructive partner in this change. If you have any further questions or would benefit from follow-on support and advice from the experts, please contact our Community Mental Health Framework Unit.