Government's Social Care Green Paper Overlooks Mental Health, UK

Main Category: Mental Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 17 Nov 2009 - 19:00 PST

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On the day that the consultation period for the Government's Green Paper on adult social care closes, mental health charity Mind has expressed its concerns that the Paper does not address the needs of adults with mental health problems, instead skewing the debate towards older people. Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:

"Social care services are used by people of all ages with a wide range of needs, and we are concerned that the social care Green Paper is an Older People's paper, which is largely silent on how to meet the needs of people with mental health problems. Quality care services can help people with mental distress manage their day to day lives, keep people well and prevent crises, but too often these needs are denied. Just like the National Health Service, any new 'national care service' must reflect the needs of all of its clients. Providing good care makes economic sense, as well as being a moral imperative.

"The Government is proposing that social care will be partly funded from the patient's pocket. We need to hear from the Minister that the government is prepared to create a funding system that works for younger people with care needs, who haven't had their whole working lives to save for their care.

"We know that the lack of clarity in this Green Paper has caused uncertainty for people with mental health problems who want to think about their future. It's vital that the Government's response is clear on what people can expect from a new National Care Service."

Read Mind's full response

Source
MIND