'The themes are painfully familiar': We respond to report on harm within mental health units

The Health Services Safety Investigations Board (HSSIB) has published a report setting out what is putting people at risk of harm within mental health units.

Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

"With this report providing yet more evidence of the inconsistent quality of care in mental health services putting lives at risk, it is clear that we must see concrete, urgent action. This must start with an announcement of more funding for mental health in next week’s budget. We know of many dedicated practitioners trying their hardest to care for people in difficult circumstances, but we also frequently hear from people living with mental illness that time spent on inpatient wards often does not support their recovery and can instead cause their health to deteriorate further. The themes in this report are painfully familiar, with staff struggling to support individuals appropriately as demand and pressure on mental health services mount, exacerbated by workforce issues, inadequate training and unsuitable environments. We agree that the guiding principle for mental health units should be safe and consistent therapeutic care, and we urge the government and other decision-makers to act urgently to make this a reality."

Read the HSSIB report into mental health inpatient settings.