Our broader work on mental health policy supports our work on criminal justice and employment. The teams work closely together to ensure that there is as much evidence as possible for current policy and that existing practice reflects what is known to be effective.
Our work on policy includes responses to consultations from government and other key stakeholders on important issues for mental health service users. We also use presentations to select committees of MPs or informal briefings for significant policy makers to influence the content, shape and direction of policy at all levels.
We seek to promote policy that leads to the development of good practice in services for people with mental health problems - in the NHS, in health and social care, in the criminal justice system and employment - and support the needs of service users and their carers.
Free copies of briefings and executive summaries of our major reports can be downloaded from our publications section.
Below is an overview of the last 20 years of policy in mental health services. It is a chapter from our Beyond the Water Towers book.
Download the overview of mental health policy PDF (64 KB)