Failings in mental healthcare are violating basic human rights | Rob Behrens

My report shows that too many people in the UK aren’t being treated with the dignity and respect they should expect when in crisis

• Rob Behrens is the parliamentary and health service ombudsman

General attitudes to mental health may have become more enlightened, but serious inadequacies remain in how we care for and treat mental health patients. After my in-depth investigation into mental healthcare provision in the UK, it is clear that damage can be done to individuals when the system fails them. Such failings are commonly blamed on three problems: lack of integration of mental health services with other healthcare provision; underfunding; and lack of skills and staffing capacity.

Related: Damning report finds ‘serious failings’ in NHS mental health services

We should never have to see cases coming to us where care appears to be Dickensian in its lack of compassion

Related: How the Guardian investigated mental health patient deaths

Continue reading... March 21, 2018 at 10:09PM