F**king Mental #StopSIM and other coercion in Mental Health Services

It was hard to decide what to call this episode of 'Fucking Mental'. The High Intensity Network's, Serenity Integrated Mentoring scheme was a punitive, coercive, pseudo-behavioural scheme, endorsed by the NHS, primarily to save money by blocking access to essential crisis services for thousands of individuals - usually young women with a label of Borderline Personality Disorder, threatening them with court action and potential imprisonment should they fail to adhere to this 'voluntary' arrangement. 

In this episode, I want to highlight that HIN and SIM aren't anything new. They were part of an existing system of institutional prejudice and coercion against this vulnerable group. Coercion that will continue unabated if the Royal College of Psychiatry's Mental Health Treatment Requirement gets the funding they're calling for.

During the podcast, I talk about suicidal ideation and behaviour - so please be warned if you feel that kind of content might be triggering for you. 

As promised, here are some of the links I used when putting this episode together

A Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Position Statement on customising community sentencing for offenders with mental disorder

RCPsych calls for urgent and transparent investigation into NHS Innovation Accelerator and AHSN following HIN suspension

Thousands of people with a mental disorder sent to prison when they need treatment

I'd be delighted if you'd share this with...well, anyone really.

Remember to get behind the new catchphrase, 'There are no Fucking Services'

Until the next time,

Walk a Mile