Rethink
Encyclopedia
Rethink Mental Illness is a charity
in England. Its mission statement is "Working together to help everyone affected by severe mental illness
recover a better quality of life." The organisation was founded in 1972 by relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia
, following an article by a journalist whose son had been diagnosed. The operating name of 'Rethink' was adopted in 2002 but the charity remains registered as the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, although it no longer focuses only on schizophrenia. The operating name was expanded in 2011 to be more self-explanatory.
Rethink now has over 8,300 members, who receive a regular magazine called Your Voice. The charity states that it helps 48,000 people every year, and is for carers as well as those with a mental illness. It provides services (mainly community support, including supported housing projects), support groups, and information through a helpline and publications. The Rethink website receives almost 300,000 visitors every year. Rethink carries out some survey research which informs both their own and national mental health policy, and it actively campaigns against stigma and for change through greater awareness and understanding. It is a member organisation of EUFAMI
, the European Federation of Families of People with Mental Illness.
The current chief executive is Paul Jenkins, appointed in 2006 after 20 years experience of management and policy-making in central government and the National Health Service
.
in 1995 when they linked with an early psychosis network in the West Midlands, called IRIS (Initiative to reduce impact of schizophrenia). This then led to the Early Psychosis Declaration by the World Health Organisation and the subsequent formation of early psychosis services as part of mainstream health policy.
Amongst its recent campaigns Rethink has urged the government to look at the mental health risks of cannabis
, rather than "fiddle with its legal status". Cannabis was downgraded from a Class B to a Class C
drug in 2004, making most cases of possession non-arrestable. However, Rethink wants government support for new research into the relationship between severe mental illness and cannabis. They have publicly stated, in response to George Michael's advocacy of the drug, that cannabis is the drug "most likely to cause mental illness".
Rethink was both criticised and congratulated for commissioning a statue of Sir Winston Churchill
in a straitjacket
, which was unveiled in The Forum
building in Norwich
on 11 March 2006. This was part of Rethink's first anti-stigma regional campaign. The statue was intended to show how people in today's society are stigmatised
by mental illness, based on claims that Churchill suffered from depression and perhaps bipolar disorder
. However, the statue was condemned by Churchill's family, and described by Sir Patrick Cormack
as an insult both to the former prime minister
and to people with mental health problems. Although straitjackets have not been used in UK psychiatric hospitals for decades, a sufferer from bipolar disorder identified with "the straitjacket of mental illness" and commended the image. Nevertheless, in response to the complaints, the statue was removed.
Some of Rethink's research that it uses to guide its campaigns, services and service users has been funded in partnership with pharmaceutical companies. The 2011 annual report and financial statements mention Astra Zeneca and Lundbeck
as supporters or partners, and funding from other pharmaceutical companies in previous years is acknowledged on the charity's website. The charity reported total funding of £235,000 from six pharmaceutical companies and further gifts in kind
from three in 2006–2007, and £110,000 in 2008–2009. Rethink informed a government committee
in 2004 that it works in partnership with pharmaceutical companies and industry bodies and that, in addition to donations, it has for many years accepted pharmaceutical sponsorship of its publications, events and local projects. The then chief executive stated that all sources of funding come with bias and strings attached, that pharmaceutical funding is only a small minority of overall income, and that government funding is the top source of undue and improper influence on organisations. Rethink publishes its policy on sponsorship which states that pharaceutical sponsorship should not exceed 1% of turnover; in the accounts cited above, it was well below this level.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in England. Its mission statement is "Working together to help everyone affected by severe mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
recover a better quality of life." The organisation was founded in 1972 by relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, following an article by a journalist whose son had been diagnosed. The operating name of 'Rethink' was adopted in 2002 but the charity remains registered as the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, although it no longer focuses only on schizophrenia. The operating name was expanded in 2011 to be more self-explanatory.
Rethink now has over 8,300 members, who receive a regular magazine called Your Voice. The charity states that it helps 48,000 people every year, and is for carers as well as those with a mental illness. It provides services (mainly community support, including supported housing projects), support groups, and information through a helpline and publications. The Rethink website receives almost 300,000 visitors every year. Rethink carries out some survey research which informs both their own and national mental health policy, and it actively campaigns against stigma and for change through greater awareness and understanding. It is a member organisation of EUFAMI
EUFAMI
EUFAMI, the European Federation of Families of People with Mental Illness, is an international non-profit organisation registered in Belgium that primarily advocates on behalf of carers. It was founded in 1992 after a meeting where members from all over Europe "shared their experiences of...
, the European Federation of Families of People with Mental Illness.
The current chief executive is Paul Jenkins, appointed in 2006 after 20 years experience of management and policy-making in central government and the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
.
Campaigns
Rethink Mental Illness was instrumental in promoting the new early psychosis paradigmEarly intervention in psychosis
Early intervention in psychosis is a clinical approach to those experiencing symptoms of psychosis for the first time. It forms part of a new prevention paradigm for psychiatry and is leading to reform of mental health services, especially in the United Kingdom....
in 1995 when they linked with an early psychosis network in the West Midlands, called IRIS (Initiative to reduce impact of schizophrenia). This then led to the Early Psychosis Declaration by the World Health Organisation and the subsequent formation of early psychosis services as part of mainstream health policy.
Amongst its recent campaigns Rethink has urged the government to look at the mental health risks of cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, rather than "fiddle with its legal status". Cannabis was downgraded from a Class B to a Class C
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is an Act of Parliament which represents UK action in line with treaty commitments under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic...
drug in 2004, making most cases of possession non-arrestable. However, Rethink wants government support for new research into the relationship between severe mental illness and cannabis. They have publicly stated, in response to George Michael's advocacy of the drug, that cannabis is the drug "most likely to cause mental illness".
Rethink was both criticised and congratulated for commissioning a statue of Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
in a straitjacket
Straitjacket
A straitjacket is a garment shaped like a jacket with overlong sleeves and is typically used to restrain a person who may otherwise cause harm to themselves or others. Once the arms are inserted into the straitjacket's sleeves, they are then crossed across the chest...
, which was unveiled in The Forum
The Forum, Norwich
The Forum is a community building in Norwich, Norfolk. It stands opposite from the St. Peter Mancroft Church. Designed by Michael Hopkins and Partners, the Forum was built as a millennium project for the East of England and finished in October 2001...
building in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
on 11 March 2006. This was part of Rethink's first anti-stigma regional campaign. The statue was intended to show how people in today's society are stigmatised
Social stigma
Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...
by mental illness, based on claims that Churchill suffered from depression and perhaps bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
. However, the statue was condemned by Churchill's family, and described by Sir Patrick Cormack
Patrick Cormack
Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack, FSA DL is a British politician, historian, journalist and author. He was a Conservative Party Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010.-Early life:...
as an insult both to the former prime minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
and to people with mental health problems. Although straitjackets have not been used in UK psychiatric hospitals for decades, a sufferer from bipolar disorder identified with "the straitjacket of mental illness" and commended the image. Nevertheless, in response to the complaints, the statue was removed.
Funding
Rethink Mental Illness has an annual income of over £54 million. According to its annual report and financial statements for 2010–2011, the vast majority of the funding, over £46 million, is from the UK government ("statutory" sources including local governmental health and social care bodies).Some of Rethink's research that it uses to guide its campaigns, services and service users has been funded in partnership with pharmaceutical companies. The 2011 annual report and financial statements mention Astra Zeneca and Lundbeck
Lundbeck
H. Lundbeck A/S is a Danish international pharmaceutical company engaged in the research and development, production, marketing, and sale of drugs for the treatment of disorders in the central nervous system , including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease,...
as supporters or partners, and funding from other pharmaceutical companies in previous years is acknowledged on the charity's website. The charity reported total funding of £235,000 from six pharmaceutical companies and further gifts in kind
Gifts in kind
Gifts in kind is a kind of charitable giving in which, instead of giving money to buy needed goods and services, the goods and services themselves are given. The motivations for GIK vary, but include:...
from three in 2006–2007, and £110,000 in 2008–2009. Rethink informed a government committee
Health Select Committee
The Health Select Committee is one of the Select Committees of the British House of Commons. It oversees the operations of the Department of Health and its associated bodies.-Membership:...
in 2004 that it works in partnership with pharmaceutical companies and industry bodies and that, in addition to donations, it has for many years accepted pharmaceutical sponsorship of its publications, events and local projects. The then chief executive stated that all sources of funding come with bias and strings attached, that pharmaceutical funding is only a small minority of overall income, and that government funding is the top source of undue and improper influence on organisations. Rethink publishes its policy on sponsorship which states that pharaceutical sponsorship should not exceed 1% of turnover; in the accounts cited above, it was well below this level.
See also
- Centre for Mental Health
- Improving Access to Psychological TherapiesImproving Access to Psychological TherapiesImproving Access to Psychological Therapies is a United Kingdom initiative to improve access to psychological therapies. It was a result of the economic evaluationsby Professor Lord Richard Layard and Labour Party policy....
- Mental Health FoundationMental Health FoundationThe Mental Health Foundation was founded in 1949. It is a British charitable organization that provides information, carries out research, and campaigns to improve services for people affected by mental health problems...
- Mental Health Providers' ForumMental Health Providers ForumThe Mental Health Providers' Forum is a charity and the representative body for voluntary sector mental health organisations in England and Wales, working nationally and regionally to influence practice and policy...
- Mind
- NacroNacroNacro is a registered criminal justice charity operating in England and Wales. It is not formally linked with Sacro in Scotland or NIACRO in Northern Ireland.-History:...
- National Mental Health Development UnitNational Mental Health Development UnitThe National Mental Health Development Unit is a governmental organisation in England charged with supporting the implementation of mental health policy...
- Richmond FellowshipRichmond FellowshipRichmond Fellowship is a mental health charity founded in 1959 by Elly Jansen, a Dutch theology student, who bought a house in Richmond, London, and invited patients from the local psychiatric hospital to live with her...
- Revolving Doors AgencyRevolving Doors AgencyThe Revolving Doors Agency , also known as Revolving Doors, is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which works across England and Wales...
- SANESANE (charity)SANE is a mental illness charity in the UK. It provides telephone and email support services and has established a research centre. The opinion of SANE's founder and chief executive, Marjorie Wallace, is often quoted in media reports on mental health issues....
- Stand to Reason (charity)Stand to Reason (charity)Stand to Reason is a UK-based mental health charity which aims to raise the profile of people who are mentally ill, fight prejudice, establish rights and achieve equality.It is run by former corporate financier Jonathan Naess....
- TogetherTogether: Working for Well-beingTogether: Working for Wellbeing is a UK charity working in mental health. Until 2005 it was known as the Mental After Care Association .-Description:...
- Turning PointTurning Point (charity)Turning Point is a social care organisation and registered charity in the United Kingdom. It provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability. Turning Point runs projects in 244...
External links
- Official site
- Time to Change, programme to end mental health discrimination