I will make the case for change in how we respond to mental distress and ill health. I will reference our own family experience in helping to shape my perspective. I will pose four key questions abut our approach to mental health: 1) When we know so much about the social causes of ill health, why is that we focus so little on prevention? 2) Do we over-rely on antidepressants? 3) Why is it, when we know that problems of our minds and problems of our bodies are so often inextricably linked, that our health services respond in such a fragmented way? 4) Why do we so often respond to crisis with coercion and institutionalisation? I will address the way people with a learning disability and autistic people are treated and I will explore the disproportionate use of coercion in respect of Black people. My conclusion is that change is urgently needed - but I will then highlight examples of inspiring approaches which demonstrate that change is possible and that we can have a positive impact on people’s lives if we embrace change.