Response
24th July 2009
New Horizons consultation
Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response, says of the New Horizons consultation:
"New Horizons, the Department of Health’s new consultation on mental health, is a bold and positive step towards reform of mental health services in the UK. Its collaborative approach is particularly welcome: by involving people with mental health needs, the NHS and service providers from the start, the consultation is far more likely to lead to a successful new strategy that reflects and addresses the reality of living with mental health needs in the UK.
"We believe that the paper's focus on commissioning and developing innovative services that are tailored to the individual is entirely correct, such as computer training or reading groups for the over 50s. Our own experience is that good training, which helps a person feel valued and look to the future, can be an essential part of helping people experiencing mental health distress to get better and to recover if possible. Similarly, projects which help people who have experienced mental health problems reflect on their experiences and use them creatively, can help them take control of their lives. The best of these services are flexible and tailored so that they work to the pace of the individual.
"The priority the paper gives to tackling stigma is also very significant: despite the fact that one in six of us experiences a mental health problem at any time, there is still too little understanding of what living with a mental health need is really like, such as in some areas of the media. This can damage people’s confidence, increasing their feelings of isolation, and make a difficult situation very much worse.
"Finally, the paper is right to recognise that services must deliver value for money, particularly in these difficult economic times. Providers of mental health services need to be better at demonstrating why they are a good investment, but those that do so must be funded properly as good mental health services save the taxpayer money.
"For example, good employment schemes help people back into work, particularly important economically as mental health is one of the major causes of long-term sickness absence. Early intervention is vital, as statistics show that once someone has been on incapacity benefit for two years, they are more likely to die or retire than they are to ever work again. Similarly, positive interventions that give people the support they need are absolutely vital in preventing problems from escalating into long term mental and physical health issues which are not only expensive to manage but also incredibly damaging to individuals and those around them.
"Now it's vital that these excellent objectives are put into action. We look forward to playing an active role in this positive and forward-thinking consultation, and ensuring that improved mental health becomes a reality by 2020."
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For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or emailsarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Notes to editors
United Response is a top 100 charity operating in England and Wales, providing a range of support and services for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs or physical disabilities. We employ over 2,000 people across the organisation and have won many awards for our pioneering work since being founded in 1973.
Our mission is to enable people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities to take control of their lives.
Our vision is a society where disabled people are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
The services we provide depend on each person we work with. We can provide 24-hour support for people with profound physical needs, or just a few hours for those who need less support to live their lives. We can job coach someone into meaningful paid employment. We can provide outreach support for someone with a mental health need or help people who find it difficult to communicate by making information more accessible. The key to our success is that we work with each person to do the things they want to do, supporting them to communicate what they want and tell us how we are doing.
In support of our vision, we also campaign to improve the lives of people with disabilities in society. This may mean lobbying decision makers such as MPs to ensure that people’s voices are heard or it might mean working directly with disabled people so that they can be more directly engaged in the democratic process. We also work with employers to ensure that more people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities get a fair opportunity to work.
In 2008 alone, we were shortlisted as best employer in the Third Sector Excellence Awards and highly commended for our Annual Report. We also won a highly prestigious National Training Award for the investment we make in our staff.