Healthcare Commission Survey, UK

Main Category: Mental Health
Article Date: 12 Sep 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Commenting on today's Healthcare Commission survey about mental health, Turning Point's spokesperson on mental health Wendy Mitchell says:

"It's really worrying that there is still not enough support in the community for people who need mental health care. What is of even greater concern is the number of people, who all too often live in our poorest communities, who have undiagnosed and untreated mental health problems, accompanied often by housing difficulties, debt and drug and alcohol misuse. What is needed is for mental health professionals to be able to intervene earlier. At present there is a tremendous backlog of people on NHS waiting lists for mental health care, sometimes for up to two years without any kind of help.

"It's no wonder that those who can afford it go outside the NHS for therapy, but let's consider those that can't. The Government's increased funding to provide 'therapy for all' is to be supported but for it to be really effective, we need to reach the poorest communities so that mental health issues are addressed early and people turn their lives around before they get to crisis. It's time that the nation's wellbeing is given the same investment as services such as cancer care, so that mental health isn't always at the back of the queue when it comes to funding."

Healthcare Commission