County Durham advocacy service
c/o28 Albert EmbankmentLondon SE1 7GR View on map
Mon - Fri: 9.00am - 5.00pmSat and Sun: Closed
The Rethink Mental Illness County Durham advocacy service supports people living with a mental health problem and their families and carers to make informed choices about the support, care and treatment they receive.
Living with a mental illness can be a difficult enough. No one deserves to feel alone in a complex mental health system.
Our team of expert and compassionate advocates work with individuals, alongside their families and carers, to let them be as involved as possible in making decisions that affect them.
We help people take control of their own lives, or act on their behalf to represent their views and wishes, and can help people understand their rights and access the services they need.
What advocates can and can't do
An advocate can stand by you, and stand up for you, when important decisions are being made about your care, treatment and the way you live your life. They can help you understand your rights and options, and then support you in expressing your views and wishes to the relevant services. They can also speak up on your behalf if that’s what you want. People often work with an advocate when they’re going through some kind of assessment or review of their care or treatment.
What an advocate can help with
Get information and understand what it means
Explore your options and decide what you want
Contacting people, or contacting them for you
Express your feelings to others, or do this for you
Prepare for meetings, and support you at them
Stand up for your rights to get the services you need.
What an advocate can't do
Provide advice or emotional support
Make decisions for you without your input
Solve someone’s problems for them
Mediation
Provide care or home support
Agree with everything a person says.
Read more about our work
