Most of us know someone who has had a mental health crisis at some time or other. MIND is there when help is most needed. That’s why I’m running for MIND in the Bristol 10k on 9 May. Please sponsor me!
This MIND promotional video is worth a look.
MIND invited the Health Ministers from each of the main political parties to explain what they will to do for mental health, if they are elected. The following is only a summary.
Anne Milton, Conservative Shadow Health Minister
- The NHS is the number one priority.
- Early intervention.
- Increased access to talking therapies and better training for medical staff about mental health problems.
- More involvement for people in their care.
- Single rooms in mental health units for all people with mental health problems.
- More freedom for mental healthcare providers.
- The Conservatives are committed to fostering good mental health for everybody.
Phil Hope, Minister of State, Department of Health
- Ten-year National Service Framework for Mental Health has brought about major improvements to the country’s mental health services.
- Unprecedented investment has made mental health a priority for the NHS.
- Since 2001-02, Labour has increased real terms investment in adult mental health services by 50 per cent – some £2 billion.
- Nine consecutive years of increased spending on mental health services by the NHS.
- 67 per cent more consultant psychiatrists.
- 79 per cent more clinical psychologists.
- 23 per cent more mental health nurses than we had in 1997.
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme: annual funding rising to £173 million in 2010/11 to train 3,600 extra therapists and treat 900,000 more people with a common mental illness.
- Labour’s New Horizons is a blueprint for the future that will not only improve mental health services but help to address the wider causes of mental ill-health and promote mental wellbeing for all.
Greg Mulholland MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister
- Liberal Democrats will increase the provision of therapists in the NHS so that people with depression and anxiety can get access to treatment that works.
- We will provide 900,000 people with access to therapy each year by providing 10,000 therapists. This will help people with depression and anxieties regain control of their lives.
- The cost of not properly treating people with mental health disorders on future generations far outweighs the cost of this investment in increasing the number of therapists.
