The problem
Deaths in mental health settings often follow clear and repeated failures: an under-resourced mental health system, a lack of early intervention, inappropriate placements, restraint, missed observations, falsifying records and a lack of therapeutic engagement.
Mental health settings, police and prisons and the people in contact with them frequently overlap.
Unlike deaths involving the police or prisons, there is no independent investigation system for deaths in mental health settings. Despite critical inquests and recommendations for change, mistakes are not rectified, and the same issues lead to more preventable deaths.
Our work
INQUEST highlights patterns of preventable deaths and failings, provides evidence to national inquiries, supports families through inquests and investigations, and pushes for independent investigation, accountability and learning. INQUEST are currently core participants at the Lampard Inquiry, the first ever statutory public inquiry into the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex.
Our demands
Today
- The government must implement Seni's Law (The Use of Force in Mental Health Settings Act) in full.
- The government set up an independent investigation body for deaths in mental health settings.
- The government and healthcare providers act on inquest recommendations to prevent further deaths.
- The healthcare system ensures people in mental health crisis are treated with dignity, support and autonomy.
Tomorrow
- The government invests in community services that contribute towards a society where people are less likely to reach crisis.
- The government builds a community-based mental health system grounded on safety, compassion and early intervention, where people’s distress is met with care.
