Advocacy In The UK

Advocacy is one of the most important pieces in the jigsaw of getting control of our own mental (ill) health yet most people don’t really know what it means. In truth I didn’t even know the word existed until it was mentioned when I was placed on a ‘section’ (and even then I didn’t know what it meant). I only found out by chance, a few years after I was first admitted, when I got some information from LAMP about my diagnosis. They included a leaflet on their advocacy service with their mailings (and to be truthful I didn’t read it for quite a while). Basically I had no idea of the real use an advocate could be to me in my dealings with the mental health service until I was ‘well’ enough to find out for myself.

What can an advocate do? Advocates are basically people that know a bit about the mental health services, they may have used them at some point or just have had a lot of dealings with them. Their reason d’etre is to help us get what we want – to back us up when we’re having difficulties with professionals or other agencies. They can do this by coming along to meetings with doctors, psychiatrists, social workers etc, or just talking to us and helping us find out what services are available and what our rights are. They can help us with mental health tribunals and complaints, basically whatever is needed. In a service where most of us have to fight for everything we get, be it the right treatment or to be taken seriously, an extra voice (especially one that comes from a known organisation) is definitely a good thing. They can’t perform miracles (unfortunately) but they can make a real difference to a lot of situations.

If mental health advocacy is so good then why isn’t everyone shouting it from the rooftops? Often the services are there, we’re just not made aware of their existence when we really need them. I will be happier when advocacy is the norm, not the exception. It would be a good thing if advocates had regular visits to mental health wards, talking to the patients instead of hoping they’ll come and see them. This is not to say it should be shoved down peoples throats (I’m not sure how easy it is to swallow a fully grown human!!), just that it’s made more visible and real to the people that need it. Outpatient clinics, health centres and GP surgeries would also benefit from a more assertive approach. Advocates could help improve peoples initial dealings with their doctors which might help prevent some of the crises from happening. If someone had helped me get across to the doctor how much I needed help (and what help I thought I needed) in the early days things might have been much easier for me. Instead I felt unheard and frustrated – and began to lose my confidence in the services and my ever getting better.

I’m aware that this sounds very idealistic. Money needs to be invested and people (including doctors, nurses, social workers and therapists) need to be educated about it all. It’s a big job but it’s already got a firm(ish) footing. The more we use the advocates we’ve got the more likely we are to get more advocates (sounds a bit chicken/egg like, doesn’t it). The more we let each other know what advocacy means AND that it’s available – the more people use it. Oh, and the more people get the help they need (which is a thought that makes me smile lots).

So, lets hear it for ADVOCACY!

Rachel Waddingham (on her very own home-made soap box) © 2003