ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author discusses some of the long-standing issues in mental health that are in danger of being made worse, especially for people with severe and enduring mental illness (SEMI). He deals with some background on how, historically, people with mental illness have been treated by society. The author talks about the effects of stigma and discrimination on the lives of people with SMI. He considers the relationship between power and treatment of serious mental illness. The author focuses on the public health and primary care agendas for mental health, and how these relate to the individual attending their General Practitioners surgery. He provides a brief discussion of some of the points he have raised, and his thoughts about the future for mental health services. Throughout history people with mental illness have been stigmatized and marginalized by society.
