Mental Health Disabilities and Issues - Menu
- Helping everyone affected by severe mental health problems achieve a better quality of life.
Rethink is the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services with over 290 services and 139 support groups. Their services help almost 4,000 people every day
Founded over 30 years ago (originally The National Schizophrenia Fellowship - NSF) to give a voice to people affected by severe mental illness and today, with over 8,300 members, they remain determined that this voice will continue to be heard. They help over 48,000 people every year through their services, support groups and by providing information on mental health problems.
Their aim is to make a practical and positive difference by providing hope and empowerment through effective services, information and support to all those who need them. People who use their services and their carers are at the heart of Rethink's vision and they believe that all those who experience severe mental illness are entitled to be treated with respect and as equal citizens. They carry out research which informs both their own and national mental health policy and actively campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding. Dedicated to creating a world where prejudice and discrimination are eliminated.
A wide range of services include: advocacy, carer support, community support, criminal justice, crisis, employment and training, helpline and advice, housing, nursing and residential care, respite, talking treatments and young people. The support offered spans from acute and long-term care through to practical support and advice.
People who use their services play a central role in determining how they run the services. They provide high quality services that are carefully planned, managed and monitored and support the people who use the services towards achieving their potential.
They rigorously examine their services to find better approaches to their provision, and explore innovative and imaginative strategies for developing and delivering services that build new partnerships and ways of working with people with severe mental illness and other mental health problems.
A group of people with a common purpose
Rethink Groups take many forms depending on the needs of the Group members. Groups can be for Carers only, for people who have lived experience of mental illness or for both.
Activities vary and can include a focus on:
- Self help
- Information
- Peer support
- Campaigning
- Fundraising
Many groups include all of these. Group meetings vary; some weekly, some monthly and others support each other by telephone and internet.
Your Voice is the magazine for people affected by severe mental illness and their carers. It’s full of the latest updates and advice, personal stories and accounts, features by experts, ways to campaign, and more. Available from Rethink’s Mental Health Shop, or free to members.
If you would like to receive Your Voice free every quarter, including the current autumn 2009 edition, please join by calling 0845 456 0455.
Referrals to the Reconnect floating support service can be made on behalf of an individual by a professional involved in their care, for example GPs, Social Services, Community Mental Health Teams etc; or individuals or their carers can contact us directly.
Rethink provides a large number of high quality housing related services for people with severe mental illness. They offer a full range of housing solutions to meet the requirements of individuals who can live independently, but who need some level of support.
Rethink offers a number of specialist services across the country for carers of people with severe mental illness.They also provide more than 138 groups which meet regularly to give carers and people with severe mental illness a support network in their local area.
Rethink is passionate about the delivery of alternative services to adults experiencing mental health crisis. They have comprehensive experience of setting up and running crisis accommodation services.
Rethink has a number of helpline services, which offer practical and emotional support and signposting to those experiencing severe mental illness, their carers and relatives.
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