The Royal College of Occupational Therapists and Its Specialist Section for mental health is aware of the growing concerns about the use of Serenity Integrated Mentoring for people who are experiencing high degrees of mental distress and are in crisis.
Across the UK, occupational therapists work with people in these situations which have complex antecedents and require compassionate, coordinated responses that genuinely support people in deep distress and help them rebuild their lives in the long-term. Our understanding of what mental health is and how best to humanely respond is constantly evolving and must always happen with the full involvement of people with lived experience in design, implementation, and evaluation.
The concerns raised by the #StopSIM Coalition are significant and should be addressed, as part of our perseverance and commitment to improve caring and safe responses to people in extreme distress.