From awareness to action: the fight for better mental health care

Over the last 20 years we have seen positive change in society, with greater awareness and understanding of mental health. But this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme of ‘action’ feels particularly relevant to those of us campaigning for better care for people severely affected by mental illness.

There are nearly two million people waiting for mental health support in England. That means that right now around one in 30 of us across the country are waiting to get the support we need.

Despite the hard work of amazing staff in mental health services, the system simply isn’t able to keep up with demand. This means that many people are left to reach crisis point before they get the treatment and support they need.

At Rethink Mental Illness, we love that more people are talking about their mental health. This awareness week also gives us the opportunity to highlight the need for action.

Change is possible

Significant steps need to be taken to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness.

We need to see:

• Cuts to mental health waiting times
• Investment in mental health staff and improved facilities
• More effective treatments, faster diagnosis and more inclusive mental health research

We’ll never stop fighting for a better quality of life for everyone severely affected by mental illness. Change is possible, but we know we can’t do it without support.

Better care = safer care

Action is more than just a theme for Mental Health Awareness Week: it’s what’s needed to significantly improve the care people receive. We need sustained action and investment for this change to become possible.

Currently, if you or a loved one is admitted to hospital to receive care for their mental health, you should be kept safe. But we know that for many this isn’t the case. We are calling for action to make the care people receive in mental health settings safer.

For decades, families, carers and people with lived experience have raised the alarm. Inquests, investigations and reviews have repeatedly highlighted the same failures, including poor communication with families, unclear and inconsistent risk assessments, and serious gaps in how care is coordinated.

Too often, people in crisis are cared for in stretched and under-resourced environments. Staff often work tirelessly with dedication and compassion, but the system makes it much harder to provide safe, supportive care. Heavy reliance on agency staff disrupts continuity of care and makes it difficult for individuals and families to build the trusting and therapeutic relationships that support recovery. 

Our  Better Care = Safer Care campaign is just one example of the change we need to see to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we hope that people will join us to make change possible.

We know that small actions can create a movement. It’s now time we make change together.

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Amy Gill is the Brand Communications and Marketing Manager at Rethink Mental Illness.