What policy and research areas does the Policy Unit cover?

Overview

The Policy Unit's area of work was set up to be public mental health policy - that is relating to mental health services; public mental health and other services that affect people with mental health problems; and the role of psychiatrists within those fields. Our work is reactive and proactive; to develop the College view in relation to government policies and also to research and write reports/other papers in order to help Government (and governmental bodies) other external organizations and the public to understand College views and, hopefully to persuade them to adopt such policies themselves.

We are very aware that mental health still fails to be put high enough on the Government and NHS health and social care agenda, both in terms of service provision and in public health. We have a role to work to improve that together with colleges and other charities and professional organizations.

Policy can be taken to cover different kinds of work throughout the College including how psychiatrists should work with patients. As such, it can cover work done in College's Research Unit (CRU) and in professional standards and it might fall within the remit of policy committees in the College for that reason.

Specific Areas of Work

The areas that are within our general remit for proactive public policy work include all those presented to us by members, including Chairs of Faculties and the Divisions and anything which the Policy Committees and the Westminster Committee decide we should do.

Our programme of work has been partly set by the Fair Deal campaign and its eight areas of work. It also includes College Reports and Position Statements.