Category Archives: Coalition Statements

StopSIM Coalition disbanding statement

Two years after forming, it is with sadness we announce the StopSIM Coalition is disbanding. As a group of mad and disabled activists, this campaign has taken a huge emotional toll on us and significantly damaged our health. Regrettably, it has simply become untenable for us as individuals to continue our activism in this capacity.…More

The impacts of survivor activism

The #STOPSIM Coalition is suspending all activities for a minimum of 4 weeks due to imminent concern over the safety and wellbeing of our team. Over the past fortnight, members of the coalition’s core working group who have not stopped campaigning and working with NHSE for last two years have reached breaking point. We made…More

We call on NHS England to publish the joint StopSIM policy in full immediately

We call on NHS England to publish the joint StopSIM policy in full immediately. 

Over the past 15 months, we have worked with NHS England, as well as a range of other stakeholders, to produce a rigorous and detailed policy that supports many of the concerns highlighted by service users and activists during the StopSIM campaign. The policy clearly defines SIM through identifiable practices that must be eliminated from use. It also includes an acknowledgement from NHS England that their endorsement of SIM has caused harm to patients, an apology for this, and commitments to make changes to prevent this from happening again. While a number of senior NHS England staff have given strong support for the policy and pushed for its publication (alongside national mental health charities, professional bodies and service user organisations), we have been told that NHS England’s Communications office described it as “politically inconvenient”.More

Findings from the Freedom of Information Request to Hampshire Constabulary

On 27th May 2021, information obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made to Hampshire Constabulary was publicised. [1] This information adds further weight to the concerns we highlighted pertaining to Serenity Integrated Mentoring’s (SIM) ‘evidence base’, as outlined in our statement released on 22/04/2021 [2] The FOI indicates that concerns were raised by…More

Response To NHS England’s Statement Dated 11/05/21 In Light Of The StopSIM Coalition’s Concerns Regarding The High Intensity Network (HIN) And Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM)

On 21.4.21 we, the StopSIM Coalition, released our first Statement expressing our concerns about the rapid roll out of SIM across NHS England.  We have since published a series of detailed statements expressing our concerns in relation to data protection, human rights, a lack of patient public involvement and the absence of an ‘evidence base’.…More

Concern Regarding The Lack Of Meaningful Service User / Patient / Carer Involvement In The Development And Implementation Of The High Intensity Network (HIN) And Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) Programme.

Nothing about us, without us!  Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) and similar interventions associated with the High Intensity Network (HIN) are being rapidly rolled out across NHS England. SIM is designed for people who have not committed a crime but are in contact with mental health services, are frequently at high risk of suicide and self-harm…More

Concerns Regarding The Human Rights And Equalities Implications Of The High Intensity Network (HIN) And Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM)

Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) and similar interventions associated with the High Intensity Network (HIN) are being rapidly rolled out across NHS England. SIM is designed for people who have not committed a crime but are in contact with mental health services, are frequently at high risk of suicide and self-harm and deemed “high intensity users”…More

Concerns Regarding Privacy And Data Protection Within The High Intensity Network (HIN) And Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM)

Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) and interventions associated with the High Intensity Network (HIN) are being rolled out at pace and scale across NHS England.  As we outlined in our preliminary coalition consensus statement, dated 21/04/21, SIM’s key intervention components include a co-ordinated withholding of potentially lifesaving treatment by multiple agencies (A&E, mental health, ambulance and police…More

Concerns About The Evidence Base Relating To The High Intensity Network (HIN) And Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM)

Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) and interventions associated with the High Intensity Network (HIN) are being rolled out at pace and scale across NHS England. As we outlined in our preliminary coalition consensus statement[1], dated 21/04/21, SIM’s key intervention components include a co-ordinated withholding of potentially lifesaving treatment by multiple agencies [2] (A&E, mental health, ambulance…More