This report, published by The Schizophrenia Commission, proposes priority actions to transform the lives of those affected by schizophrenia and psychosis.
Download:
- The Abandoned Illness report
- The Abandoned Illness executive summary
- The Abandoned Illness economic report
The reports proposes a range of actions including:
- A radical overhaul of poor acute care units including better use of alternatives to admission like recovery houses to manage the transition between hospital and community services
- Greater partnership and shared decision making with service users – valuing their experiences and making their preferences central to a recovery focused approach adopted by all services
- Better prescribing and a right to a second opinion on medication involving, where appropriate, a specialist pharmacist
- Extending general practitioner training in mental illness to improve support for those with psychosis managed by primary care
- Extending the popular Early Intervention for Psychosis services (not cutting or diluting)
- Increasing access to psychological therapies in line with NICE guidelines
- Delivering effective physical health care to people with severe mental illness
- A stronger focus on prevention including clear warnings about the risks of cannabis
- Action to address inequalities and meet the needs of all disadvantaged groups
- A better deal for long-term carers who should be treated as partners
- Greater use of personal budgets, particularly for those with long-term care need
- Psychiatrists must be extremely cautious in making a diagnosis of schizophrenia as it can generate stigma and unwarranted pessimism