Many mentally ill people rely on relatives for support

Rethink said more than 50,000 people in the UK are not receiving the care and support they need.

Reforms were targeting the young and acutely ill at the expense of people considered medically "stable" but with a poor quality of life, it said.

In many cases, Rethink said, it was left to elderly relatives to look after these mentally ill people.

A report, Lost and Found, called for planning and delivery of local mental health services to include these patients classified as "stable" who were experiencing a low quality of life.

Over 50,000 people are lost in the `forgotten generation' Cliff Prior, Rethink

Rethink said individuals with severe mental illness should all have access to "talking" therapies, the best medications, a choice of health professionals and treatments, decent accommodation and sufficient income.

They should also be entitled to annual physical health checks covering blood pressure, heart condition, weight, detection of diabetes and cancer, and looking for side-effects of medication, said the charity.

Its chief executive Cliff Prior said the situation was a "time bomb".

Mainstream

He said: "Over 50,000 people are lost in the `forgotten generation' of long-term service users who have been left behind by mainstream mental health services.

"These are the people who have lived with a severe mental illness for many years, passing through and surviving a series of early crises, feeling rejected by society and who now live their lives without the all-round help and support that would allow them to raise their quality of life.

"Older relatives often provide substantial emotional as well as practical support with everyday domestic jobs such as shopping, cooking and cleaning."

The charity calculated the 50,000 figure by considering people with a diagnosis of psychosis who are on medication and have had over 11 years of contact with mental health services.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "The reform of mental health services is a Government priority, which is why last year we invested �300m extra to improve services.

"More than 130 crisis resolution teams, over 220 assertive outreach teams, and carer support networks are now in place to help and support the very people that this report focuses on.

"Progress is being made to recruit more staff to increase the breaks available for carers and to strengthen carer support networks."

He said all adults of working age in contact with the secondary mental health care system should have a written care plan, which should be drawn up with the involvement of the patient and, where appropriate, their carer.

Andrew Lansley, Tory health spokesman, said the findings of the report were no surprise.

"We are all too aware that the government is failing to provide adequate mental health care in the community.

"Too many people are only being prescribed anti-depressants and not offered alternative therapies such as self-help and talking therapies.

"And the Government is failing to ensure that drugs prescribed by NICE are reaching patients."

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "It's shocking that so many people with mental health problems are being forgotten about.

"This report paints a damning picture of an under resourced and undervalued service.

"The government's efforts on mental health are all talk and little action and it's those with mental health problems who suffer."