Tuesday 17 February 2015

Mental health update.



I received my Mind supporters magazine in the post today.  I like to keep up with the latest news and developments.  Coming straight from the charity I know I am getting the facts and  I don't really trust newspaper reports to keep me updated.  In today's issue I came across some news and statistics I wanted to share with you.

£4m grant to support emergency service staff

The UK government have given mind £4m.  This is to go towards support for staff working in ambulance, police, fire and search and rescue services.  It will help the work they do to raise awareness and understanding of mental health, tackle the stigma attached to mental health conditions and help provide training for emergency workers.

I think the is a great initiative.  Yes they may have some basic knowledge of mental health conditions and how to deal with a person in distress but it will only be basic.  This way it gives a more in depth look into the conditions and how to treat or help the person in the appropriate manner.

Maximum waiting times announced.

Nick Clegg has pledged that 75% of the people referred for talking treatments will receive treatment within six weeks with a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks.  This is part of a new plan which will see mental and physical health being treated equally by 2020.

It really is about time the government took a serious look at the waiting times for talking therapies and I really hope they implement it.  I have spoke to some people who have been waiting a year or more for treatment.  This change has to happen.

Bringing mental health to the classroom

 Coventry and Warwickshire mind is piloting workshops and training courses in schools.  This is thanks to the Local Mind Grant fund.  Experienced mental health staff and counsellors run courses that range from one-ff sessions to a full six week programme.  They will cover

  • anger awareness
  • confidence and self-esteem
  • anxiety management
  • self-harm
  • bullying
  • stress and mental health awareness
This will help teachers respond to and better deal with children who have mental health conditions.

I love this idea and think every school should put their teachers through workshops like these.  Especially as 1 in 10 children aged 5-16 has a mental health problem. That is around 3 in every classroom.  75% of mental health problems emerge before the age of 25.

What do you think of the latest developments?  Let me know below.


38 comments:

  1. 18 weeks is a long time to wait for a talking therapy. Would have thought 6 weeks would be about the maximum.

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    1. I agree 6 weeks is long enough to wait. I am just glad they are reviewing it.

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  2. I am so pleased that these are the latest developments, my daughter is 2 1/2 and I suffered PND when she was about 3 months old, I'm still waiting for talking therapy

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    1. You are still waiting? That is terrible. Have you been offered other support in the meantime?

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  3. Sounds like there are definite improvements being made. I like the idea of teachers being more aware of mental illnesses.

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    1. Yes I think it is a fantastic idea especially as 1 in 10 children will have a mental health problem.

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  4. I am very lucky that I was seen quickly when I suffered from PND, I know others haven't been so lucky

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    1. I am glad you got seen quickly. I think it really comes down to resources with each health board. It is really sad so many who need help don't get it x

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  5. I was treated so fast and efficiently when I needed it, but know that I am the exception rather than the rule

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    1. I was told I was down for a referral and waited for over 6 weeks and didn't hear anything. Turned out I hadn't been put down so I complained and was referred within 3 weeks which was possibly due to their mix up rather than luck. I am glad you got the treatment you needed and quickly. It really makes a difference.

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  6. I was very lucky to have been seen and treated immediately when I needed help. Many are not that lucky. Mental health services are very stretched and resources are hit and miss. As a whole waiting times are too long but I'm glad changes are being implemented. x

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    1. Sadly they are stretched and ths change needs to be made sooner rather than later. I really hope they carry this out and don't go back on their word x

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  7. It's so needed that there is help out there, I hear every day stories from my teenager of troubles at school and they just don't have the time or the resources to address it.

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    1. School's should train staff, like mentioned, it would help so many children! I look back at my school days and I am glad I didn't need support from my teachers for mental health problems as they wouldn't have had a clue!

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  8. 18 weeks is such a long time, I really don't like what has happened to the local services here - having to re-enter them as I had my CPN taken away as "they only offer 6 weeks support now" is just crazy..

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    1. That is a disgrace! They can't put a time on how much help is needed. They need to look into that. Shocking! Sure 6 weeks is enough for some but not for everyone. Keep fighting to get the support you need x

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  9. I was able to access help but it wasn't the help I needed. I am so sorry you are having troubles with accessing the help you need.

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    1. Oh no I am sorry it wasn't the help you neededI Did you finally get the help you needed? So many people are slipping through the net and sadly the outcome isn't usually good. They need to step up and give more care and quicker

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  10. its very good to hear they are taking it more into schools as i think the more people know this is normal the more the stigma will be gone! fingers crossed they roll it our across the board!

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    1. It is a brilliant idea and I agree hopefully they roll it out.I might write to my local MP and see if he agrees and try and get the word out somehow.

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  11. It will benefit a large number of people if they manage to roll out the classroom awareness across the country.

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    1. It would be a massive benefit. fingers crossed it happens x

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  12. It is a good idea to roll it out into classrooms definitely x

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    1. It certainly is. I think it is something they should have done a long time ago but at least they are doing it now x

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  13. I had to wake a long time for my therapy , it should;t take that long

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    1. Did you get therapy? Some of the waiting times I have heard are shocking. I watched a programme and someone had been waiting 18 months as appointments were so hard to get. It is ridiculous.

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  14. It's so good it's being taken into the classrooms.

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    1. I think so too. It will make a massive difference x

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  15. My teenage daughter waited 12 months for an appointment.....terrible - really, I hope they manage to implement the new guidelines for waiting times very quickly.

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    1. 12 months?! That is ridiculous! Did they give a reason for the wait?

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  16. I like the idea of a pilot program. I hope it will get extended to the rest of the country.

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  17. Being stuck in a hole myself I have to say that there are huge strides still to be taken in the UK.

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    1. Yes there is still a lot that needs to be sorted and the sooner the better!

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  18. I'm amazed at the 18 weeks wait for talking therapy, that's such a long time!

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    1. I agree its a very long time. 6 weeks max it should be x

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  19. When my husband needed help 10 years ago he got it straight away and they were brilliant. I have no idea how stretched our local services are today and I worry that if he needs them again, he won't get the help as quickly which could potentially be devastating for our family.

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    1. I got help straight away when I was first diagnosed and I assumed it would be the same second time round and for me sadly it wasn't but I got help in the end after I constantly annoyed them. I hope your husband gets the help quickly if he ever needs it again x

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