Norfolk mental health campaigner says societal change is needed to support the most vulnerable
A charity's calling for the potential mental health impacts of all new government policies to be assessed before they're put in place
A mental health campaigner in Norfolk is telling us societal change is needed to support the most vulnerable.
It's as a national charity's calling for the potential mental health impacts of all new government policies to be assessed before they're put in place.
"It can destroy people's lives"
Mark Harrison is from the 'Campaign to save mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk': "In particular groups of society, like young men, we're seeing huge rises in self-harm and suicide and this can have huge impacts on people's lives.
"It can destroy people's lives.
"If you have a member of your family who is in mental distress, who can't get the treatment they need, that can have horrible consequences.
"If you've got hundreds of thousands of people on waiting lists for operations that prevent them from working, that's not their fault.
"The victims are not responsible, it's society that isn't working for people."
What's being called for?
The Centre for Mental Health has said policies across a wide range of issues from housing and the environment to benefits and immigration could benefit from mental health assessments.
The findings of policy tests should be published online to ensure public transparency and this would set a benchmark "against which government departments and their executive agencies can be held accountable for their mental health impact", the centre said.
The report recommended that a cross-government policy test should be brought in which could initially run as a pilot project ahead of legislation being introduced "to embed it into the machinery of government during the next parliament.
"A major and lasting impact on the lives of millions of people"
Andy Bell, chief executive at the Centre for Mental Health, said: "Every government policy affects our mental health, for good or ill.
"A mental health policy test is a simple and effective way of ensuring the greatest benefits and reducing risks. It is uniquely positioned to bring about positive change in everything from education to social security to town planning, by considering how these affect people's wellbeing.
"We urge the Government and all political parties to commit to implementing a robust mental health policy test.
"Alongside a national mental health plan and a Mental Health Commissioner at the heart of government, the policy test could change the way policies get made and have a major and lasting impact on the lives of millions of people nationwide."
What's the Government doing on Mental Health?
In April 2022, the DHSC announced that it was committed to developing a new cross-government, 10-year plan for mental health and wellbeing for England.
The Government say they've invested over £2 billion of extra funding into mental services, every year.
They also claim that an extra £150 million has been put aside to build 150 new facilities to support mental health urgent and emergency care services.