A Manifesto for the Reform of Mental Health and Well-being Services

Abstract

A spectre is haunting our mental health services. Recent scientific advances in understanding human psychology have revealed traditional ‘disease-model’ thinking about mental health to be profoundly flawed, and far-reaching changes are required in how we plan and commission services. Our present approach to helping people in acute emotional distress is severely hampered by old-fashioned and unscientific ideas about the nature and origins of mental health problems, and vulnerable people suffer as a result of inappropriate treatment. Radical remedies are required.

The need for reform in mental health services is acute, severe and unavoidable. This demands nothing less than a manifesto for reform.