At its heart was an amendment which made explicit on the face of the bill that both mental and physical health should enjoy parity within the health system.

It was an important step, a moment that Peers recognised that mental ill health should no longer be treated as the hidden problem it once was, but be right at the heart of the health promotion agenda. Yet despite this, coverage on the amendment focussed not on the issue at stake, but about the political ramifications it had for the government.

When 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health problem, ranging from stress, anxiety and depression through to full blown psychophrenia mental ill health will at some point touch us all, be it suffering ourselves or having a friend or family member who suffers.

To read the full article please go to the link below

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/02/it%E2%80%99s-time-to-take-mental-ill-health-seriously/

More focus will be placed on dealing with mental health problems at an early stage under government plans.

The new mental health strategy for England promises an extra £400m for therapies, such as counselling, to increase access to them by 60% by 2015.

Ministers said this would help address mental health issues with the same intensity as physical health.

But campaigners warned the wider cuts being made across the public sector risked undermining the drive.

The strategy covers services for all age groups, but there is a particular focus on children – 10% of whom develop a mental health problem at some point.

Criticism

It is widely acknowledged that there have been significant improvements in adult services over the past decade, particularly in relation to the support available in the community.

In contrast, the network of child and adolescent mental health services – funded jointly by the NHS and local government – have been criticised for having long waiting lists and patchy provision of services.

The problems have led to children being treated by adult services in some places. The transition from child to adult care during the teenage years is also considered inadequate.

The main aim of the strategy is to increase access to psychological therapies from the 2m using it currently to 3.2m by 2015.

Ensuring there is early intervention in place is seen as essential to stopping long-term mental health problems developing as research suggests about half of adults with lifetime mental health problems first experienced difficulties in childhood.

The strategy has also called for a cross-government and society approach to mental health, pointing out mental health is not just a matter for the NHS.

The push will be overseen by the cabinet’s public health committee – a cross-government group – to help ensure this happens.

‘Lagged behind’

Lucie Russell, of the charity Young Minds, said it was refreshing to see children’s services being included in the strategy.

But she warned the cuts which were being seen “left, right and centre” in sure start centres, school-based counselling support and voluntary sector projects threatened to undermine the plans.

“Turning the strategy from rhetoric to reality will be challenging in the context of deep cuts to children’s services which will threaten its success.”

Andy Bell, co-chairman of the Future Vision Coalition, an umbrella group of mental health charities, agreed the economic situation was worrying.

And shadow care minister Emily Thornberry said she was concerned there was not a “clearly worked out path” to achieve what was being set out.

But Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he hoped the plans would help address mental health issues with the “same urgency” that physical health has seen in recent years.

“For too long we have treated mental health as something almost to be ashamed of while physical health problems are treated very differently. We need to treat them in the same way.”

He added: “Crucially it means we can get these talking therapies to children before their problems become problems of a lifetime.”

Professor Dinesh Bhugra, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “There is still a long way to go for mental health patients to receive a satisfactory standard of care and treatment throughout England, and the challenge set out in this strategy needs to be taken up.”

Every patient will have their own recovery star which will be reviewed monthly and re-written every 3 months. Every patient will have a baseline risk assessment in place which will be reviewed same as recovery star plans. We will also be adapting the Relational Security Explorer to ensure high quality care is being delivered in a safe and therapeutic environment.

We will be providing each patient with a named nurse, regular 1:1 named nurse sessions and offering occupational therapies. If you would like further information please contact Leo Kirk on 01204 364666 or email leo.kirk@perpetualcare.co.uk

In view of Perpetual’s core activities operating residential children’s homes and providing foster care for looked after children, the group has chosen to support the Imagine fundraising appeal for Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which aims to improve the quality of life for children in hospital. With its headquarters in Bolton, it is also raising money for a deserving local cause, Bolton Hospice, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients facing problems associated with life-threatening disease. “We are delighted to be working with Perpetual Care, especially as both organisations focus on the health and welfare of children,” says Irene Axon, Community Fundraising Manager for Imagine. “We hope their various fundraising initiatives are successful and that people across the region will support them generously.” Her views are echoed by Debra Graham, Chief Fundraiser for Bolton Hospice: “We’re very happy that a local care organisation is choosing to support us and wish them luck in their fundraising activities.

Every £1 they raise, is one less £1 for us to worry about.” Explaining his motivation to test himself to the limit in Namibia, Tahir says, “Last year, I took part in the 26 mile NSPCC Hike Against Cruelty To Kids, with virtually no training at all, and, although I was dog tired and my feet were covered in blisters, I was pleased that I had really pushed myself and wanted to do the same again and raise more money for charity. When we all decided to make this our year of fund raising, I looked around for another personal challenge.” Tahir has decided to attempt a really testing physical challenge, in what is billed as one of the toughest races in the world, the Racing The Planet : Namibia 2009 event. Described by the organisers as ‘life enhancing for all, life changing for many’, it takes place in one of the least densely populated countries in the world, in a desert region with ankle-twisting boulders, stones and soft sand, where temperatures reach 40ºC, and one of its gruelling stages is 80km long.

During the seven day, 250km (150 mile) footrace, competitors must carry their own supplies, traversing mountain ranges and the second largest canyon in the world, each filled with potential dangers. “I always like to aim high, but I have never attempted anything like this before and must admit I’m feeling apprehensive,” says Tahir. “I’ve started training three or four times a week. Although running 10km around Bolton is probably not the same as tackling one of the world’s most inhospitable deserts!” To sponsor Tahir Khan’s desert run or pledge support to either of the nominated charities, please contact Perpetual Care on 01204 364 666 or email tahir@perpetualcare.co.uk. Donations can also be made via the Justgiving online charities site, at www.justgiving.com/tk1boltonhospice and www.justgiving.com/tk1imagine