Our campaign wins
For 50 years, Rethink Mental Illness has campaigned to improve the quality of life for everyone severely affected by mental illness. Campaigning is all about creating change and we are pleased that over the years, we have achieved some amazing successes alongside our campaigners.
Finally, a new Mental Health Act!
After 40 years of campaigning, the Mental Health Act has finally been reformed for the 21st Century. In December 2025, the Mental Health Bill received Royal Assent - the final step in the parliamentary process, and a landmark moment for mental health rights. We've campaigned for decades alongside people with lived experience to highlight how the Act was outdated, unfair and why change was critically needed. This reform has only been possible because of campaigners who have kept reform on the agenda and will continue to shape what happens next.
Although this is real progress, we still have work to do to build a fair and compassionate mental health system. We will now be working hard to shape the Code of Practice, the guidance that decides how the new Act is applied every day, to ensure it makes a real difference in people's lives. Read more about the new Mental Health Act here.
Good news for unpaid carers!
November 2025 saw a major breakthrough for unpaid carers with the publication of the final review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments. In 2024, the government launched a review into how earnings-related overpayments occurred, how affected carers could be supported, and what needed to change to prevent this from happening again in the future. Now, in a major shift, and after years of unpaid carers having to face large fines while caring for loved ones, the government has committed to reviewing cases dating back to 2015. Wrongly issued debts will be cancelled, reduced, or repaid.
This long-overdue change comes after years of carers challenging an unfair and punitive system. This is an important first step towards rebuilding trust and ensuring carers receive the support they need and deserve.
Protect Mental Health Funding
Our campaign to Protect Mental Health Funding resulted in a campaign win in December 2024 when the government announced the Mental Health Investment Standard (MHIS) will stay. Over 500 Rethink Mental Illness campaigners emailed their MP in just 3 days to make sure that MHIS - which is designed to protect and grow mental health funding across England - remained in place. We’re hugely relieved and grateful that the government listened to calls from across the mental health sector to protect mental health funding. MHIS plays a critical role in supporting the government’s commitment to achieving parity of esteem.
Seni’s Law receives royal assent
After over a year of campaigning, the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill – known as Seni’s Law – received royal assent in November 2018. This win was a huge step towards making mental health hospitals a safer place for patients, as mental health units now must take action to reduce the use of force against their patients. This includes providing better training for staff and making sure the police wear body cameras when they’re called to a mental health unit.