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What does "one nation" mean for mental health?
Posted Monday 29 October 2012
This morning I went along to the Royal College of Psychiatrists' office to hear Ed Miliband's speech on mental health - and I was rather excited. Partly because I'm a bit of a politics nerd, but more because of what the speech represented.
Ed, the Leader of the Labour party, has a million things in his in-tray.
A challenging economy, rising energy prices, badgers, you name it. And yet he chose to speak to the national media about mental health.
Whether or not you agree with his politics, the very fact that he made this speech is a good thing - it's a sign that the subject we've been campaigning about for so long is moving up the political agenda.
Ed started by saying that mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing Britain - affecting millions of people, old and young, rich and poor, in the north and in the south. He acknowledged the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems, preventing them from seeking help, telling their employers, or reaching out to family and friends. And he urged us to fight against this last form of intolerance just as we have fought against racism, sexism and homophobia.
The speech also touched on the failings of the Work Capability Assessment, the role of employers, and the need for more and better crisis care - all areas you have told us are important and that we campaign on.
He argued that successive governments had prioritised physical health over mental health, and promised that a Labour government would reverse this by rewriting the NHS Constitution to guarantee access to services, integrating physical and mental health services and expanding the use of personal health budgets.
But the language around cuts to mental health services was guarded.
When we asked you what you thought the most pressing issue in mental health was, you told us that it was access to services. And having spoken to many of our local Minds over the last few weeks, it's clear that service providers are being asked to do more with less as local authorities and the NHS try to make savings. I'm not sure what the Labour party would do to stop this.
Nonetheless, for me the speech is another indication of a good year for mental health in Parliament. MPs' understanding of mental health is increasing all the time. The Mental Health Discrimination Bill is making its way through the Commons with support from all sides. And some MPs even feel able to talk about their own mental health problems. Mind will be hoping to harness this increasing understanding when we launch the next phase of our Crisis Care campaign next month.
I know that a lot of people are cynical about politics, and often with good reason: parliament still seems to be dominated by able-bodied, privileged white men; the 'Punch and Judy' atmosphere of Prime Ministers Questions makes politics look silly; and the expenses scandal ruined many people's faith in politicians. I'm not quite so cynical, however, because the majority of the MPs I meet work hard to make life better for their constituents. They're motivated not by power or greed, but by a desire to bring about change.
Whatever your attitude to politics and politicians, the fact remains that the decisions made in Westminster affect all of our lives. That's why it's so important to ensure that politicians are talking about mental health - and if the Leader of the Labour Party is doing so, you can be sure that others are too.
Louise Kirsh, Mind's Parliamentary Manager
8 Comments
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I agree it is good to have a party leader talking about his stance on mental well-being and I hope if they are elected that things will change.
However, I found it disheartening for him to be quoted as saying, "This Century" that things should be changing for the better and that is in theory another 88 years.
We really need to be going down the peer recovery route as other countries are doing. I was referred back to MH services this year after 16 years since my last big 'blip' and the experience has not been good with slow appointments with long delays between each one. I was also concerned about the medicalising of the term "recovery" which alas some MH professionals see that as a, "do it all on your own" method which has not been helpful.
Overcoming stigma still has a long way to go as I have read some of the usual 'pull yourself together' comments from members of the public and some very vile comments indeed on the BBC news site.
However, I hope an election pledge will be given as the coalition has set back attitudes to those with any long-term condition as work-shy so neither will receive my vote. I have raised my concerns with alas my very uncaring local MP who has no idea at all of the difficulties we have to overcome if EM is for helping us they will get my vote. -
The disability laws in this country count for nothing.
They are there for the benefit of politicians paying lip service, they will never publicly help someone in need, they would never put any of their own money up to help someone discriminated against at tribunal...the only thing the politicians believe in is self promotion.
At the end of the day if a company has the power and the money they can pretty much do and get away with as much as they want...simple as that.
You only have to read the public forums to see how much discriminatory treatment is rife throughout the country. There are so many stories about people who are sacked or not given a job in the first place all because they disclose information about themselves with regards to any existing mental health issues.The medical profession do not help us, the politicians do not help us and unfortunately organizations such as MIND have their hands tied so far far far behind their backs that they are limited as to what they really can do beyond offering basic advise we can find online elsewhere...
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Well obviously it is a good thing, a positive step in terms of raising the profile of these issues, of course it all depends on how words translate into real action. My experiences to date with mental health services have been depressingly poor in fact the thought of needing to access them again in the future is frankly pretty terrifying!
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Thumbs up to Ed Miliband here.
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"the majority of MPs I meet work hard to make life better for their constituents". Really? So democracy means even though you know its going to hurt many of your constituents in an unfair way you vote for government policies anyway. You then unquestionably tow the party line even though it goes against what you promised?
I think they must hire Derren Brown to hypnotise all MPs when they walk through parliaments doors after an election (except the few annomolies that dogged in round the back like Dennis Skinner) cause they all seem like automatons to me on the tele.
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where was Ed in speaking out against the WCA, cuts to services and welfare? Would he reverse these policies if he were in power?
Actions, not words.. -
Something needs to be done now. I had a break down in January (not my first) and i have now only just got to the top of the list for CBT for which i have been asking for from the start (nearly a year on).
After 3 months of experimenting with different antidepressants i took myself to A&E through fear i would hurt myself. i was put on a list to see the psychiatrist. Another 3 months on, i got to see him, where he had admitted that the budget for mental health was poor and the less serious cases were always seen first-the serious ones (me) were last. By that time i could have killed myself. I was disgusted. Another thing, is that i am seen fit to work, because it doesn't look like i have anything wrong with me. In some cases a return to work is beneficial, but there needs to be more support for those that cant even face leaving the house.......my breakdown was at work. my employer then 'made me redundant' Plus how do i start getting a job when people are so uneducated about depression/anxiety/panic disorder.
Alcoholics and drug addicts get faster treatment and better support than those with mental health problems (no offense to those sufferers, i have respect how hard it must be to over come an addiction)
American's are so switched on in this department, having a therapist is as normal as having a GP or a Dentist.
So nearly a year on and ive not much improved since my first visit to the GP. Come on government.....less talk....more action!!!!
Rant over! -
There always seems to be a common theme with anyone that says they are going to make a difference in terms of Mental Health: a lot of talking is done but not really any action.
I, and so many others, know and are involved with people who would thrive on better services and it's not as if people are not aware of this, so why hasn't anything been done?
So we may be struggling through difficult economic times and so forth, but when people are so absorbed by mental illness: none of that matters to them.
I just hope that the politicians are aware of how big of an issue mental health actually is, take the time to consider what can be done, put forward an action plan and actually step up to the mark - rather than pretending to understand and just hoping that a few words will make everything better.
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