Rethink Mental Illness Press Releases

Legacy of Raymond Briggs lives on with new book supporting Rethink Mental Illness

This autumn, we’re thrilled to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of author and illustrator Raymond Briggs through the rerelease of his book The Strange House.   Manderley Press will republish the charming 1960s story, set in and inspired by Wimbledon …

How do I manage thoughts of suicide?

How can I manage thoughts of suicide? These tips are for you if you are having thoughts of suicide and ‘in the moment.’ For more information on longer term care, see our page on Suicidal thoughts - How to cope. Talk to someone you trust: Share your …

“My highs and lows aren’t something I choose” – Shanice’s story

Shanice explores her journey with bipolar disorder, reflecting on difficult first experiences with the condition and how she found self-acceptance. My bipolar type two journey didn’t begin with the correct diagnosis. It first came wrapped in the label of …

Fit note: Amy’s story

Amy shares her thoughts on what it’s like to be out of work whilst living with a mental illness.  What happens when all your worth to society is encapsulated in one thing alone? We hear over and again about work. About ‘hard working people’ and employment …

“Trauma can come in all shapes and sizes” - Julian’s story

The emotional intensity has got worse over the years. I tried everything to keep my distance from football and from Leeds: following scores online instead of watching games, supporting a different team, even trying to engage with other sports more, like …

People more likely to wait longer for mental health treatment

People in England are nearly 12 times more likely to face long waits for mental health treatment than physical treatment. This is unacceptable.  Our exclusive analysis of NHS data with the BBC showed that in May, 14,586 people had waited 18+ months for …

"I spend my time in computer game competitions, gardening and playing football in a group"

In my case, for nine years I have been repeating to myself about ten times every day, that I must hold my breath for 15 - 20 seconds when I start to feel bad, powerless or have an urge to self-harm. It helps me to relieve pressure and feel calmer. The …

“You don’t have to be guided by the voices you hear” – Robert’s story

In my case, for nine years I have been repeating to myself about ten times every day, that I must hold my breath for 15 - 20 seconds when I start to feel bad, powerless or have an urge to self-harm. It helps me to relieve pressure and feel calmer. The …

Rethink shop goes live

“I felt like such a failure” – Emma’s story

Although Emma was excited about her newborn, she developed postnatal depression after a traumatic birth and found her eating disorder symptoms creep back up. With support from a postnatal charity, she is now in a safer place. Thinking becoming a mum would …

What’s going on with the Welfare Bill?

If you’re feeling confused and frustrated by the handling of the government’s Welfare Bill, that’s understandable - because so are we. What with rebel MPs, last minute changes, and postponed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), it’s hard to keep …

What’s going on with the Welfare Bill and how does it affect people living with mental illness?

If you’re feeling confused and frustrated by the handling of the government’s Welfare Bill, that’s understandable - because so are we. What with rebel MPs, last minute changes, and postponed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), it’s hard to keep …

“Life has a way of guiding you”

Alexander reflects on his long journey with mental illness and the hope he found along the way. Dedicated to breaking the unhealthy cycles he experienced as a child, Alexander looks forward to the future with his own family. I’ve lived with long-term …

“No wrong door”: How a train station wellbeing hub is saving lives

“My wish is to help one person who feels that they are struggling,” says Kirsten Rose, service manager for The Hub at Wolverhampton train station. “I want that one person to know that there is light, hope and people who can help.” Since launching the …

Rates of people living with a common mental health condition on the rise in England - something needs to change

More people in England are experiencing a common mental health condition, according to NHS data released today. The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, that looks at the prevalence of both treated and untreated psychiatric disorders in adults (aged over 16 …

We need change and compassion for people living with mental illness - not more division

As the discussion about the government's proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) ramps up, Davinder Kaur, Head of Campaigns at Rethink Mental Illness, writes about the damage that misinformation is having. Last week, an article in the …

BREAKING NEWS: 300,000+ people living with mental illness could lose vital support through PIP cuts

MPs will soon vote on harmful cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) -  a vital disability benefit that helps people severely affected by mental illness cover the extra costs of living with a long-term condition. The government's proposed changes …

“I didn’t realise for a very long time that I’d been a carer”

Looking back, I can see that mental health services struggled to really help my mum as they only had a partial picture. This is so often the case with mental health where you only see the tip of an iceberg. When someone is overwhelmed by their experience, …

Carers Week 2025: Carers putting health and jobs in second place

Today marks the beginning of Carers' Week, an annual campaign led by Carers UK to raise awareness of the challenges faced by carers and to recognise the contribution they make. This year, new research by Carers UK has revealed that many carers are …

“I have learnt to give myself some grace” – Millie’s story

A stock photo has been used on this blog at the request of the author.  Millie experienced depression, self-harm and undiagnosed ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) during her adolescence. After five years, she has finally got her ADHD diagnosis …