The charity’ s chair, Lord Alex Carlile, looks to the challenges ahead
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‘ OUR WORK IS SADLY MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER’
The charity’ s chair, Lord Alex Carlile, looks to the challenges ahead
ADDACTION’ S 50TH ANNIVERSARY is both a cause for celebration and an opportunity for reflection. Every charity should aspire to build a world in which it is no longer needed, but for Addaction that remains a distant ambition. Much has changed in 50 years, but our work is sadly more necessary than ever.
We can be proud of our successes in the UK treatment system, boasting comprehensive coverage, adherence to the evidence base, basic humanity and pragmatism. We can also take heart from the ever lower rates of heroin use over the past decade. However, in the record numbers of drug-related deaths, the estimated 1.6 million dependent drinkers and the emerging issues in young people’ s mental health needs there lies a warning: the system doesn’ t work for everyone, and our most vulnerable citizens deserve better.
In that sense, it was heartening to hear the prime minister’ s plans to transform mental health support at the annual Charity Commission lecture. This is an issue
doe’ s story
doe’ s life Changed at 15 years old when she
discovered her dad wasn’ t her real father.‘ My mum told me I was actually the product of a rape. I’ d never felt so alone and I started hating myself. If I’ d had someone to talk to back then, I don’ t think my life would have spiralled quite so far out of my control.’
Leaving school with few qualifications, Doe met her partner through drug taking and they got married.‘ We thought babies might make everything better. I did stop using when I was pregnant, but as soon as breast- feeding ended, it all began again. My kids didn’ t have a good start. The house was disgusting, with no lightbulbs and no carpets. We would inject in front of them.’
Doe’ s husband died suddenly at the age of 37.‘ I hated him for dying. I wanted that to happen to me. I was aware how awful life was, but didn’ t know what to do about it.’
One morning, Doe woke at 4am with the shakes.‘ Every little bit of alcohol came back up. My body was rejecting it. I crawled downstairs to get help. I’ ll never forget the look on my daughter’ s face as she watched me being taken to hospital.’
Doe spent six months in rehab before attending Addaction.‘ I was terrified of the world outside. I ran the whole way from the front door of the rehab to the reception at Addaction. I’ m now volunteering five days a week. Just being here for people to talk to, and inspiring them with how things can change. It’ s like I’ ve found my life again.
‘ I’ m so grateful to everyone who has supported me. I didn’ t have the strength to do it for myself, because I didn’ t think I was worth doing it for. I now know I am.’
that unites us across the political spectrum, indicating the widespread recognition that the status quo is no longer acceptable. However, rhetoric is one thing and resources quite another. Following years of underfunding and neglect, it’ s essential that any plans to transform mental health provision are backed up by concrete commitment of resources. Without that, comprehensive change will be a very tall order indeed.
For Addaction’ s part, we’ re looking to the future with a broader offer, supporting people in all of their complexity, and taking action early to tackle harmful behaviours. We believe that our role as a charity can’ t be limited to service delivery but requires us to influence policy to provide easier and more equitable access for all. Were Mollie Craven still with us today, I believe she would be immensely proud of where her letter has taken us. I believe too that she would recognise how much remains to be done.
Clare’ s story *
‘ Before it all happened i was a very independent person. I
relied on nobody at all to help me through situations in life.’
Clare, 50, came to Thinkaction Merton after finding out about the service from a local group.
‘ I know now I was having a breakdown. I had lost my job, and the job centre was making me even more anxious and stressed. Then I lost my home, which pushed me into a depression.’
Clare self-referred to Thinkaction.‘ I had had depression
‘ I know now I was having a breakdown. I had lost my job, and the job centre was making me even more anxious and stressed. Then I lost my home, which pushed me into a depression.’
before, when my daughter left home. And I went through a nightmare with that – we were close and it really hurt. When you’ re in that state, nothing really makes sense.’
Clare spoke to Hannah at Thinkaction for a number of therapy sessions on the phone and found common ground talking about photography – something she had wanted to do, but had never had the opportunity to pursue. After the third or fourth session, Clare realised that she wanted to take it up again and joined a photography club.
‘ We talked about techniques to manage my thoughts. The five minute rule became very handy with getting things done, because I had also developed anxiety as well as depression. By starting tasks in small time chunks it really helped me to be calm and productive. I still use it today.
‘ I’ m one of those people who, before this happened to me, wouldn ' t even ask my friends for help. Now I ' m doing okay. I’ m pushing ahead with the photography. Without Hannah digging in and finding out what I wanted to do, which I couldn ' t see myself, I don’ t know where I would be.’
* Clare’ s name has been changed
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