An independent investigation into the use of restraint on children in secure custody has highlighted how young people with mental health problems may be being failed by the current system.
£3 million extra for Welsh mental health carers
Dr Brian Gibbons, Assembly Minister for Heath and Social Services, pledged an extra £3 million yesterday to help support carers of people with mental health illnesses in Wales.
People with severe mental illness and their carers from across Wales protested against obstruction of public access to Assembly Members and Ministers at the new Senedd building yesterday.
Children’s mental healthcare in Wales has been criticised by Peter Clarke, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, for not having the facilities to treat young people locally.
Early Day Motion gains cross party support
An Early Day Motion was tabled in Westminster this week asking for the Government to reassess the Draft Mental Health Bill.
Anti-depressants still being prescribed to under-18s
In response to a question asked by the Liberal Democrats the Government has published official figures to show the extent of the prescription of anti-depressants in under-18s.
Prime Minister quizzed over mentally disordered offenders
In Prime Minister’s Question Time this week, Tony Blair was put on the spot regarding mentally disordered offenders.
Social services improving – but more progress needed
In his Annual Report, the Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (SSIW) has warned that whilst social services are generally improving, there is much to do in some local authority areas…
Incapacity benefit proposals published today
The UK Government will today pledge to get 1 million people claiming incapacity benefit back into employment in the next decade. Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton will unveil a Green Paper on welfare reform that proposes a new benefits system aimed at getting those who can back to work…
GPs paid to get patients off Incapacity Benefit?
Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton has indicated that under the proposed reform of the Incapacity Benefit system, GPs could get financial incentives to help people off Incapacity Benefit. Employment advisers could be stationed in surgeries to work with GPs, offering people who have a sick note advice on working in another kind of job, and local councils may be offered financial rewards for back-to-work schemes…
Possible diet link to mental health
New reports published by the Mental Health Foundation and Sustain suggest that modern diets may be playing an important role in the rise of mental illness.