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Mental health 'not just a medical problem'

20/06/2008

Mental health should no longer be seen as simply a medical problem for the Department of Health and instead as the business of the whole of government and society, campaigners claim today.

A new coalition of seven leading health organisations wants the government to establish a Cabinet-level champion for mental well-being.

They argue that this position is necessary as the impacts of mental health are far wider than a health issue.

A report from the coalition also calls for services to be united in supporting the recovery of a good quality of life and the achievement of goals and ambitions for people who need help with a mental health problem.

It argues that individuals with mental health needs, carers and their families should be given self-determination over the process and direction of recovery.

Commenting on the paper, Steve Shrubb, director of the Mental Health Network which is one of coalition members, said: "Mental health impacts on a number of different government departments from the Department of Work and Pensions to the Home Office.

"We need to build on the work of the previous [national service framework] to make services co-ordinated across government.

"While we all come from different parts of the mental health world, we agree that this will require a Cabinet level champion to help set out the strategic vision of what services should look like to help make sure that, on the ground, services are joined up and work as effectively as possible."

Mind chief executive Paul Jenkins added: "There is a need for a new conversation on mental health that recognises the rights of people with mental health problems to recover a quality of life which they are empowered to control.

"The vision paper sets out a coherent direction for what mental health services should look like in the future and recognises that this conversation must involve everyone from service users through to employers and government."