This year’s World Mental Health Day theme is mental health in an unequal world. Hearing this I am reminded of a text I use to teach many years ago - Animal Farm - in which the pigs reinterpret one of the sacred commandments of communal life on the farm:
‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’
This famous line from George Orwell’s pen could well apply to current mental health provision, the poor relation to other, better funded areas of physical healthcare within the NHS. Indeed, as we approach World Mental Health Day on 10 October more than 50 organisations and thousands of young people are writing to the Chancellor to invest in early mental health support in the upcoming Spending Review.
The figures are alarming. In 2017, one in nine five-to-16 year olds had a mental health problem, in 2020 that figure rose to one in six. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to even greater need and overstretched services cannot cope with demand.
Less than 40% of those under 17 with a mental health condition can access help from the NHS. That’s why many organisations and young people are calling for extra investment into a national network of early support hubs to provide easy-to-access, drop-in care, on a self-referral basis.
Access to care at an early stage of an illness offers real opportunities for recovery. Anyone, young or old, with mental ill-health deserves excellent care and treatment that enables them to develop their potential, live with hope and contribute to their communities with the learning and insights gained from their illness and recovery.
Mental ill-health is very common. It affects one in four people during their lives. And just like physical ill-health many factors can contribute to its genesis. In normal times, if we break a leg, we don’t wait months for an assessment let alone treatment, but this is the reality for many seeking mental health support. For those with means private healthcare may be an option but many, especially in these unstable times, do not have that choice. And sadly, in my experience, I hear all too often how poorer people get prescribed drugs than offered opportunities for talking therapy. I am not opposed, for one moment, to people being prescribed drugs where this is appropriate but access to counselling and psychotherapy remains the province of the affluent and this inequality in mental health care deserves every attention and remedy.
So, I will be adding my signature to the long list of other bodies such as Mind, The Children’s Society, and the Centre for Mental Health to advocate for better access to early intervention for children and young people. Such support would ensure a young person doesn’t have to reach crisis before they get help, and it would reduce pressure on NHS services.
And for those younger clients whose parents or wider family have resources I will continue to play my small part, in private practice, in offering care and evidence-based treatments to help young people recover from mental health difficulties and move forwards with confidence and hope.
‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’
This famous line from George Orwell’s pen could well apply to current mental health provision, the poor relation to other, better funded areas of physical healthcare within the NHS. Indeed, as we approach World Mental Health Day on 10 October more than 50 organisations and thousands of young people are writing to the Chancellor to invest in early mental health support in the upcoming Spending Review.
The figures are alarming. In 2017, one in nine five-to-16 year olds had a mental health problem, in 2020 that figure rose to one in six. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to even greater need and overstretched services cannot cope with demand.
Less than 40% of those under 17 with a mental health condition can access help from the NHS. That’s why many organisations and young people are calling for extra investment into a national network of early support hubs to provide easy-to-access, drop-in care, on a self-referral basis.
Access to care at an early stage of an illness offers real opportunities for recovery. Anyone, young or old, with mental ill-health deserves excellent care and treatment that enables them to develop their potential, live with hope and contribute to their communities with the learning and insights gained from their illness and recovery.
Mental ill-health is very common. It affects one in four people during their lives. And just like physical ill-health many factors can contribute to its genesis. In normal times, if we break a leg, we don’t wait months for an assessment let alone treatment, but this is the reality for many seeking mental health support. For those with means private healthcare may be an option but many, especially in these unstable times, do not have that choice. And sadly, in my experience, I hear all too often how poorer people get prescribed drugs than offered opportunities for talking therapy. I am not opposed, for one moment, to people being prescribed drugs where this is appropriate but access to counselling and psychotherapy remains the province of the affluent and this inequality in mental health care deserves every attention and remedy.
So, I will be adding my signature to the long list of other bodies such as Mind, The Children’s Society, and the Centre for Mental Health to advocate for better access to early intervention for children and young people. Such support would ensure a young person doesn’t have to reach crisis before they get help, and it would reduce pressure on NHS services.
And for those younger clients whose parents or wider family have resources I will continue to play my small part, in private practice, in offering care and evidence-based treatments to help young people recover from mental health difficulties and move forwards with confidence and hope.
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