News Release, 6 June 2000
The Mental Health Foundation's award of £574,088 from the National Lottery Charities Board for the charity's Strategies for Living project will help improve services for everybody who experiences a mental health problem.
Ruth Lesirge, director, Mental Health Foundation, said: "In any one year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem such as anorexia, depression, schizophrenia or dementia. We must ensure that services and support are available to people when they need them and are effective and helpful. This means looking at the full range of support like counselling, support groups and aromatherapy for example, and listening to the people who actually use the services. This research will be most effective if it's carried out by people who understand - people with experience of mental health problems or of using mental health services.
"For many years some of the services that people with mental health problems find most helpful (and which may help to prevent them reaching crisis point) have been struggling for funds because they don't have firm evidence to support their work. We know that there are some good services out there and we really need to build on them."
The grant from the National Lottery Charities Board is for a three-year programme in which mental health service users will be trained as professional researchers, looking for example at views on existing services, determining future needs and evaluating innovative approaches. The resulting information will help local authorities, health service providers and Government to plan and develop appropriate, accessible and cost-effective mental health services. It will ensure that people can get the services and support they need, when and how they need it.
It is estimated that around 1,000 service users will be involved in the research projects. The Mental Health Foundation's experience indicates that those involved will benefit through improved self-esteem, learning new skills and potentially moving on to other training or employment.
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For further information and interview requests contact please contact the press office on 020 7803 1105 / 1128 or email the press office
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