From “cure” to “no one held back by mental health problems”

As Head of the new Mental Health Priority Area at Wellcome I am in charge of finding best ways of using £200 million over the next five years to help "transform outcomes for those with mental health difficulties: starting with depression and anxiety in youth”. On starting in my new role last month, I sought views on whether using a language of seeking “cure “for depression and anxiety might be a helpful focus.

168 of you responded to a brief survey. It was clear from your votes that “cure” was a problematic term for many, particularly those with lived experience. As part of the survey there was an opportunity to add more detailed comments. 82 people took the time to share their thoughts. Having read all these very insightful comments think it is helpful share these in full, so everyone’s voice is heard. These are linked here.

Four key themes seemed to me to emerge in relation to using the term “cure” in terms of :

1) Fit with experience of mental health difficulties

2) Ambition for the mental health field

3) Stigma in mental health

4) Hope for those with mental health difficulties

The table below is intended a very broad overview. It does not do justice to the range of comments and insights: Please do click through and read the attached comments themselves. I certainly found them rich, moving and thought provoking.

In the light of the feedback and consultations with a range of others, we are using “no one held back by mental health problems” as the current frame the vision for the mental health priority area for the moment- but welcome views! However, this does not preclude us continuing to consider how we might use the ambition of cure as part of this. Our thinking currently is that we are seeking research that can lead to insights with potential of achieving what some might frame as “cure”, alongside an ongoing commitment to find and support ways of helping people achieve their goals in life, whether they consider themselves cured or not.