Mental Health a priority

5.00.00pm GMT Fri 15th Feb 2008

Parliamentary Campaigner Caroline Pidgeon campaigning for Maudsley Hospital

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has unveiled plans to guarantee everyone suffering from mental health problems a first appointment for treatment within 13 weeks of referral.

Mr Clegg launched the plans as the Liberal Democrats revealed new figures showing that the average time for those waiting longest for mental health treatment is over seven months, with some people waiting over three years for treatment such as psychotherapy and counselling. A survey of Mental Health Trusts in England by the Liberal Democrats shows that waiting times vary enormously according to region and type of treatment.

"When it comes to mental health, the Government's record is one of shameful neglect. Mental health services have commanded less favourable coverage, less government attention, and less money. Medical professionals want to prescribe effective, long-term solutions, but in the absence of those solutions it is no wonder record levels of drugs are being prescribed.

I am calling for nothing less than a revolution in how we treat mental illness. I want our health service to guarantee that no one will wait longer than thirteen weeks for their first treatment" said Nick Clegg MP.

"Mental Health Services have for too long been the Cinderella health service. Locally we have seen the recent closure of the 24 hour emergency clinic at the Maudsley, as well as the threatened Felix Post Unit.

We must see real investment in mental health services, especially given that 1 in 4 of our local population will have a mental health concern at some point in their life" added Vauxhall Parliamentary Campaigner Caroline Pidgeon.