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'We want friends not medicine'
People with mental health problems want a listening ear
People with mental health problems want someone to listen to their problems, they do not want to be prescribed medicines, a report says.
The Mental Health Foundation surveyed people who use mental health services and found that their overwhelming concern was to have relationships with other people.
The Mental Health Foundation surveyed people who use mental health services and found that their overwhelming concern was to have relationships with other people.
We need to start listening to people about what works for them  |
Ruth Lesirge, Mental Health Foundation
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As well as wanting friends or family to listen to their concerns, they wanted to be able to talk to professionals working in the field.
They complained that no-one had ever asked them what they wanted.
Receiving organised mental health services and drugs was not given as a chief concern.
One patient said: "Nobody has ever asked my opinion on anything like this before - how I feel about anything.
"It's all within the psychiatrist's room, and you have to agree with what he says, and that's it."
Control
The charity, which carried out in-depth interviews with 71 mental health patients, said a new approach to treatment based on patients having control over their own care was needed.
It also recommended that an expert task force of patients should be set up to advise the Chief Medical Officer on how a nationwide programme for self-management of mental health problems could be established.
Ruth Lesirge, director of the Mental Health Foundation, said: "We need to start listening to people about what works for them."
She added: "We must ensure that all mental health services understand and address the need for creative and flexible services which put a high value on human relationships rather than relying solely on medication."
Dr Phil Thomas, a consultant psychiatrist with Bradford Community Mental Health Trust said politicians "would do well to heed" the report's recommendations.
It also recommends that the importance of physical exercise, complementary and alternative therapies and the ability to express spiritual and religious beliefs are recognised.
And the charity wants new legislation to be introduced to tackle discrimination against people with mental health problems.
They complained that no-one had ever asked them what they wanted.
Receiving organised mental health services and drugs was not given as a chief concern.
One patient said: "Nobody has ever asked my opinion on anything like this before - how I feel about anything.
"It's all within the psychiatrist's room, and you have to agree with what he says, and that's it."
Control
The charity, which carried out in-depth interviews with 71 mental health patients, said a new approach to treatment based on patients having control over their own care was needed.
It also recommended that an expert task force of patients should be set up to advise the Chief Medical Officer on how a nationwide programme for self-management of mental health problems could be established.
Ruth Lesirge, director of the Mental Health Foundation, said: "We need to start listening to people about what works for them."
She added: "We must ensure that all mental health services understand and address the need for creative and flexible services which put a high value on human relationships rather than relying solely on medication."
Dr Phil Thomas, a consultant psychiatrist with Bradford Community Mental Health Trust said politicians "would do well to heed" the report's recommendations.
It also recommends that the importance of physical exercise, complementary and alternative therapies and the ability to express spiritual and religious beliefs are recognised.
And the charity wants new legislation to be introduced to tackle discrimination against people with mental health problems.
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