8June 2001
Commenting prior to the expected sentencing, on Friday 8June, of James Lawson the father of Sarah Lawson, who pleaded guilty to themanslaughter of his daughter on the grounds of his diminished responsibility,mental health charity SANE calls for unconditionalcare for people with mental illness.
Following initial publicity surrounding the death of SarahLawson who suffered mental health problems including depression, SANEsnational helpline received hundreds of calls expressing sympathy the Lawsonfamily and disillusion with mental health services. Marjorie Wallace, SANEsChief Executive, said:
We know that the desperation felt by Sarah and her parentsis not unique. It is alarming just how many people are in touch with servicesand yet tell us that they feel alone, with no one to listen to them and nowhere to go, at times of crisis.
We know how difficult it is for doctors and nursing staff,often working under pressure but there must be something wrong with a system inwhich so many feel alienated. We call for unconditional care for people withmental illness, much less rigidity, greater responsiveness, and for familiesand carers to be more involved and informed.
Sarahs suicide note should act as a clarion call to makeus think about how we should help people and their families enduring mentalillness.
ends
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Notes for Editors
1. SANEs helpline SANELINE (0845 767 8000) is the onlynational out-of-hours telephone helpline to give practical information, crisiscare and emotional support to people coping with mental illness.
2. SANELINE handles around 1,000 calls a week, one fifth or 200a week from families and carers, over a quarter of whom are caring for someoneunder 25.
3. An analysis of 13,000 carers who called the helpline betweenApril 1998 and March 2000, revealed that although a large proportion were incontact with health services they were not receiving enough information andwere not aware of where they could find help.
4. Further research shows that: one in three people with mentalillness (35%) has been turned away when seeking help; one in four (25%) hasbeen turned away when seeking hospital admission.
5. Sarah Lawsons suicide note ends My personal thanks to themental health service.
For further information please contact SANEs press officeon 020 7247 6647 or 07718 735 121. More information about SANE can be found atwww.sane.org.uk