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REPORT WELCOMES BETTER SOCIAL INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
Real progress made in year since radical call to action
Health Minister Rosie Winterton today hailed the progress that has been made one year on from the publication of a radical 'manifesto for action' to improve social inclusion for people with mental health problems.
The Social Exclusion Unit's landmark report Mental Health and Social Exclusion called for action to reduce and remove the barriers to employment, mainstream services and community participation for those with mental health problems. One year on, a new report published today notes key achievements such as:
Changes to the Incapacity Benefit Linking rules so that the return to
work and claiming of benefits is more flexible and supportive for people
with mental health problems
Abolition of benefit downrating from April 2006, which will
significantly improve the quality of life in long-term hospital care.
The Learning and Skills Council have prioritised adult learners with
mental health problems and funding has supported the nine National
Institute for Adult Continuing Education/National Institute for Mental
Health (England) regional networks
Shift, the anti-stigma and discrimination programme, has been
established.
Establishment of an extensive Affiliates Network of organisations with
an interest in social inclusion, with substantial contributions to the
programme from those organisations.
Development of mental health specific documents in relation to housing
management.
Working with the Disability Rights Commission to help to address the
range of issues arising from inclusive practice
Launch of the Social Inclusion website to publicise the progress in the
field to all stakeholders - www.socialinclusion.org.uk
Speaking about the launch of the National Social Inclusion Programme's first annual report, Rosie Winterton said:
"Much has been achieved in this first year. The impetus given by the Social Exclusion Unit and by the work of many individuals long associated with the challenge of reducing exclusion in mental health has now been consolidated into a strong platform for future progress.
"A number of practical tools and actions are being developed and delivered to support the work of people locally in promoting inclusive outcomes for services users within and beyond mental health services. We have also continued to promote the positive links between improving wellbeing and work through the launch of the recent Health Work and Wellbeing Strategy.
"There is of course much to do from here. We must continue to raise the expectations of both services and individuals as to the capabilities and potential of citizens with mental health problems at work, and more widely as citizens. Though real and sustainable change on this scale is not easy, this, as I said at the launch of the Mental Health and Social Exclusion report, is a clear moral imperative."
Notes to editors
1. The National Social Inclusion Programme (NSIP) has been coordinating the delivery of the SEU report's action points and has seen the establishment of a cross government national team with far-reaching partnerships embedded within its work. Increasingly, the social inclusion agenda is a thread that runs through the work of government departments, voluntary sector organisations, statutory bodies and the work of service user groups.
2. The National Social Inclusion Unit's first annual report, published today, can be found at www.nimhe.org.uk and www.socialinclusion.org.uk. The Social Exclusion Unit's report from June last year can be found at www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk. We would be grateful for any feedback on the site
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