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I attend a mental health day service. I spend the majority of my time 'mixing with the community' which is a real struggle for me. Being able to attend a day centre where there are clear boundaries and sensitivities to my difficulties for a few hours a couple of days in the week is incredibly important to me.

Knowing that it is a closed environment with vetted 'safe' people is also important to me.

Bringing the general public into the space completely breaks that. Especially "schoolchildren could come in there." Schoolchildren are notoriously insensitive to people with mental health issues. I once heard a one of a group of 'volunteer' schoolkids on their way in to help with an art project shout 'hurry up, the mongs are waiting'. (just one example)

There is still a lot of stigma associated with mental health and while mixing the public with patients might help to lessen this, until there is a lot more education about the issue the public isn't ready to be mixed in.

Further to that different conditions have entirely different needs. EG While other bipolar/mental health patients might understand someone's manic high or constant chattering, a patient with asperger's or autism might find it intimidating or incredibly difficult to be around.

The personal budget scheme in Camden is called 'Better care choices' and is an implementation of government policy. This centre is not about providing 'choices' it is about reducing it.