24.07.12
No health
No health without mental health – the Government’s inspiring pledge to finally give mental wellbeing the equal footing with physical health it deserves and desperately needs.
But where has that strategy taken us? Where is the change?
Today, more than a year has passed since that first important announcement. Clegg has launched an ‘implementation framework’, intended to make clear to all organisations involved precisely how they should be working.
The evidence for radically improving mental health provision throughout the NHS is undeniable, yet somehow this has not translated into practice.
And the new framework simply reiterates advice that surely all trusts should know by now. Use talking therapies, measure success by user feedback, intervene early – this is simply common sense, not the stuff transformation is made of.
Obviously something is still blocking progress in improving mental health services, and as such repeating these truisms in an action plan cannot hurt. But it is doubtful whether it will be enough.
It is past time for these changes to be made and yet the Government seems stuck clarifying instructions over and over again. Without significant progress in mental health, the strategy speaks for itself, and we are simply left with ‘no health’.
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]