York and District Mind

"Medicines used to treat mental health problems can have appalling side effects that can ruin lives. Taking part in this survey will help make sure that key decision-makers get to hear what it is really like, particularly for people from minority ethnic communities whose experiences are currently underreported."

Alison Cobb, Mind

Mind today re-launches its highly successful Yellow Card scheme to report the side effects of psychiatric drugs.

The scheme aims to complement the system run by the Committee for Safety on Medicines (CSM) by providing a more accurate patient-led picture of the side effects of drugs. Findings from the new survey will be used to influence prescribing practice and give better information and choice to patients.

Following on from the first Yellow Card report in 1998 the new scheme will particularly target more diverse communities to explore why people from black and ethnic communities receive higher doses of psychiatric drugs and to gauge levels of adverse effects.

Currently, patients have no way of directly reporting bad side effects to the CSM - it can only be done through a doctor or pharmacist. Mind believes that patients should have this right and is running the Yellow Card scheme as an alternative.

The ‘Yellow Card’ is a leaflet asking people about their experiences of side effects from psychiatric drugs. It also asks people what information they receive when prescribed psychiatric drugs, whether they are given a choice over treatments, and what individuals find helpful if they are trying to stop or reduce the dose.

Previously Yellow Card found that:

• 80% of people had not been given enough information when the drug was prescribed
• 75%said they were not warned of the side effects
• 44% of people said they were taking a combination of psychiatric drugs

Running between March and May 2001 the cards will be distributed widely across Mind’s networks. Some issues will be explored in more depth with follow-up interviews and discussion groups.

The scheme will report in Autumn 2001 when Mind will publish its own guidelines for doctors highlighting the information and support patients want, based on the survey’s conclusions. Mind will also use the findings of the report to inform the CSM and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) directly of peoples’ experiences and to campaign for safer prescribing, information and choice in the context of discussions about a new Mental Health Act.

For yellow cards and further information on the scheme contact Alison Cobb, Policy Officer, Mind, 15-19 Broadway, London E154 4BQ.
Tel 020 8215 2267. Email a.cobb@mind.org.uk