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Mental illness has been shrouded in secrecy for such a long time that sufferers, their families and friends are often left feeling helpless and isolated. Until recently, many have felt that they had nowhere to turn.
SANE was established in 1986 following the overwhelming public response to a series of articles featured in 'The Times' newspaper entitled 'The Forgotten Illness'. Written by journalist Marjorie Wallace, now SANE's Chief Executive, the articles exposed the neglect of people suffering from schizophrenia and other mental illness, the poverty of services and treatments. They exposed the failure of the over-hasty closure of psychiatric hospitals and the underfunded policy of community care. From its initial focus on schizophrenia, SANE developed and is now concerned with all mental illnesses.
SANE has three objectives:
- to raise awareness and combat stigma and ignorance about mental illness, and to campaign for improved mental health services;
- to provide care and support to anyone concerned about mental illness;
- to initiate and fund research into the causes, treatments and potential cures for schizophrenia and depression through its work at the SANE (Prince of Wales) Research Centre in Oxford
The charity's national telephone helpline, SANELINE (0845 767 800), was set up in 1992. SANELINE volunteers currently handle approximately 1000 calls per week from men, women and children suffering from mental illness as well as their families, carers and health professionals.
SANE's vision is to use its proven helpline expertise to reach many more people affected by mental illness, their families and friends. Through the analysis of these calls and regular surveys, SANE is in a prime position to understand both what is most urgently wanted and how services could be made more effective to match users' needs.
The charity has planned and raised £6 million to build a 'flagship' international centre to research the cause or causes of schizophrenia and manic depression, sited in Oxford.
SANE works closely with other mental health charities and external organisations and is an member of the Mental Health Alliance, lobbying government from a common platform for reform of mental health law and services.
Meeting the challenge of mental illness - 15 years on
In 1985 Marjorie Wallace wrote about the tragedy of schizophrenia, 'The Forgotten Illness' in The Times newspaper and returned to the subject of mental illness in 1987 writing in the Sunday Times. The response the newspaper received was immense leading to the founding of SANE.
Schizophrenia, the forgotten illness, affects more than a quarter of a million people in Britain. It is not a 'split mind' as it is commonly and wrongly defined
In the last days of its bicentenary year The Times has this week received some of the most moving responses that we can ever recall
It was a startling idea: to release the mentally ill from asylums and put them back into the mainstream of life, a caring community. It was a plan born out of compassion, optimism and the discovery of new drugs
For more information about SANE's work please go to www.sane.org.uk or contact Margaret Edwards on 020 7375 1002 or medwards@saneline.org
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Copyright ©SANE 2000
Registered company number 2114937
Registered charity number 296572
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