no health without mental health....................
So the long awaited document from the con-dems about mental health has been released, the one which replaces New Horizons.........unfortunately there are no lovely photos like the new horizons one; had that must be to do with the cuts,
one of the things that has bothered me about it is that there maybe no health without good mental health (nice catch line there wonder who came up with that phrase and how much did they get paid for it,probably that 'nice' ex news of the world journo that has just got the sack!) however there cannot be good mental health when there are massive job cuts leaving many people feeling insecure in their employment, rising food, utility and fuel bills, threats of homelessness with people unable to pay rent or mortgages.........i wonder if the people who came up with this has ever cast their eyes over Maslows hierarchy of needs for me that is a basic starting point in my work with young people, if we dont have those layers attended to then the whole therapy thing that the government are investing millions in will not work, how can it be right to ask people to attend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for their low mood / anxiety when the basics are not in place or dig up uncomfortable issues from their past in Cognitive Analytical Therapy then expect them to cope with all the stuff that will bring up and then show them out of the door back into a world where they cannot meet their basic needs.........i think the people in power need spectacles they appear to be very short sighted!
however saying all that i am relieved they recognised in the document the good work Early Intervention in Psychosis Teams do in making more positive outcomes for young people who otherwise could have gone on to a lifetime of depending on services and becoming patients and being defined by their mental illness. although it is very sad to hear that our colleagues in Harrow Early Intervention Team are under threat of closure which leads me on to say that this no health without mental health reads well although how can it be managed in a time of severe cuts to our most vital and well used services
