MENTAL HEALTH

Peter Viggers, MP for the Gosport constituency, attended a seminar on Mental Health Provision in the House of Commons which was addressed by Professor Louis Appleby, the National Director for Mental Health.

Peter Viggers said after the seminar:

“Two per cent of the population are affected by schizophrenia or suffer mental illness, but about one-sixth of the population is suffering at any time from some form of mental instability, depression or anxiety. This means that in the average Parliamentary constituency there are 1,000 people in care for mental illness, and 10,000 suffering from the broader definition of mental disorder. One in four of the population suffers some form of mental illness during their lives and of course this affects families and friends.

I am delighted that mental health has been defined by the Government as one of its three priority areas (with cancer and heart disease). I am looking forward to the Mental Health Bill which has been promised by this Government, but delayed on a number of occasions.

I intend to be involved in discussion of the Bill, and I hope that we will be able to persuade the Government to provide further resources for mental health treatment which for years has been regarded as the Cinderella of the National Health Service.”