People with severe mental health conditions are let down by lack of local rehabilitation services

A lack of national standards for the rehabilitation of people with severe mental health conditions and no agreed definition of appropriate out-of-area treatment is hindering efforts to deliver services, a report has found.1

Some people with severe mental health conditions, such as psychosis, need long term care for both their physical and mental health, says the report by Rethink Mental Illness and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

It is especially important for these patients to have local services because a major focus of their rehabilitative care is on social inclusion and maintaining and building links with family support networks and with services in the community, said Rajesh Mohan, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Mark Winstanley, chief executive of Rethink Mental Illness, …