Events

In a national series of events, our commission gathered evidence from over 80 experts. Personal testimonies and case presentations helped answer our principal question- what works well and what needs to change? We listened to health practitioners, academics, policy makers and those with lived experience of schizophrenia talk candidly about current practice and support. 2,500 more responded to our survey online.

 

What we heard

Key evidence submitted to the commission included:

• People with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia still die 15-20 years earlier than other citizens

• Schizophrenia and psychosis cost society £11.8 billion a year but this could be less if we invested in prevention and effective care

• Only 1 in 10 of those who could benefit get access to true CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) despite it being recommended by NICE

• Only 8% of people with schizophrenia are in employment, yet many more could and would like to work

• Families who are carers save the public purse £1.24 billion per year but are not receiving support, and are not treated as partners

• 87% of service users report experiences of stigma and discrimination

• Services for people from African-Caribbean and African backgrounds do not meet their needs well. In 2010 men from these communities spent twice as long in hospital as the average