We are an alliance of mental health practitioners comprising psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors and researchers. We are concerned about the widespread ideological capture of mental healthcare services in the UK. We believe that this will have disastrous consequences for mental healthcare and for the therapies and psychological treatments available to help vulnerable people with their distress.

We are witnessing the rapid spread of an authoritarian ideology throughout our professions and wider society. Future generations of therapists are learning to view the world through a lens distorted by identity politics. Victimhood and ‘trauma’ narratives dominate conversations about mental health, to the detriment of conversations about coping, resilience, and personal responsibility. Therapeutic skills, scientific enquiry and clinical expertise are being undermined in favour of social justice activism and ‘lived experience’. Increasing numbers of mental health practitioners are either unable or unwilling to cope with the demands of providing mental healthcare for their patients. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies that are completely at odds with therapeutic practice, are leading to division and discrimination.

These worrying developments pose a threat, both to mental health in general, and to the provision of effective therapeutic care in mental health services. We believe that that all patients have the right to receive compassionate and non-discriminatory mental healthcare. This should be evidence-based and provided by mental health professionals with appropriate knowledge and expertise.

If you are a mental health practitioner yourself or a member of the public who shares our concerns, please contact us.

Inform

Raise awareness of the problems arising in mental healthcare:

• widespread adoption of identity politics and social justice activism

• downgrading of professional expertise in favour of ‘lived experience’

• risks to ethical practice, effective therapy, and safeguarding

• dominance of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion practices and their harmful effects

• ways of thinking and behaving that worsen mental health

• pressures to conform from public, funding, regulatory and professional bodies

• Consequences for patients and their healthcare

Research

• Document and publicise effects on mental health of ‘cancel culture’

• Identify and disseminate helpful and effective ways of coping with stress and adversity

• Compare efficacy of ideologically-driven approaches with traditional therapies

• Identify vulnerable populations whose needs are not currently met

Provide alternative viewpoints

• Explain why and how traditional therapies are helpful

• Promote diversity of perspectives and treatments

• Support exploratory rather than ‘affirming’ care

• Challenge preoccupation with ‘mental health awareness’ and trauma narratives

• Encourage healthy ways of thinking, living, and coping with adversity

• Demonstrate the importance of scientific enquiry

Campaign

• Lobby politicians and government

• Apply collective pressure on professional, funding, and regulatory bodies

• Engage with press and media

• Oppose a ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’