Published: 08 November 2006
Our Choices in Mental Health
The Department of Health is claiming that people with mental health problems will have more choice over their treatment under new guidance recently published.
The document, 'Our Choices in Mental Health', sets out the national framework that will make more choice available locally to people who use mental health services in England.
More choice in mental health will give people:
· Power to choose their own path through services and keep control over their lives
· Preferences to choose how, when, where and what treatments they receive
· Personalised services organised around their lifestyles
The framework provides advice & information for service users & carers on the kind of choices they should expect to receive in the future and on how practitioners can extend the choices they offer in mental health services.
The document also includes positive practice examples showing how these improvements are already being achieved in many areas.
Our Choices in Mental Health has been written in consultation with service users and carers and is one part of a package of information about choice in mental health.
Other resources launched recently include:
· a checklist to help local communities in extending choice
· a website providing on-line support
Speaking as she launched the document at Newham Psychological Therapies Centre in east London, Rosie Winterton said:
"We want patients to be able to choose how, when and where to access help.
We want them to be able to choose the treatment that best suits their needs and to access the support they need to keep or regain their independence.
The guidance we are publishing today and our wider programme of work to provide greater choice will help to change this situation and really empower service users."
The 2003 national consultation on Choice asked people how services could become more personal.
Our Choices in Mental Health now provides ideas on getting started, practical support and examples of positive practice from across England.
Laurie Bryant, an expert on service improvement and a service user working in National Institute for Mental Health in England said:
'Choice listens to me, involves me, responds to me, values me and supports me on my road to recovery. If we are serious about putting service users at the heart of modern mental health services, providing choice is essential."
Lu Duhig, a carer on the steering group which produced Our Choices in Mental Health said:
“Given that one in four people will experience a mental illness in any one year, giving people real choice in mental health services is a clear priority for us.
We need to help people get the right health, social care or non-statutory, community-based support that they want that will help them manage their own lives and support their recovery.”
Further information:
'Our Choices in Mental Health'
'Choice in Mental Health: NSF review autumn assessment 2005'
DH Mental Health website
Green Paper Independence, Well-being and Choice
Understanding Mental Illness
Related articles:
Getting back on their feet
Healthy Body, Healthier Mind
Therapy not Drugs
Safeguarding Vulnerable People
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