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Please find below some recent, mental health related, news stories that may be of general interest. If you know of a recent story we should include in this section please email the Cygnet Webmaster.

National Audit of Psychological Therapies for Anxiety and Depression

Posted: February 25 2010

The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) has funded a national audit of psychological therapies for people suffering from anxiety and depression in England and Wales. The audit, beginning in May 2010, will evaluate access, appropriateness, acceptability and outcomes of psychological treatment for anxiety and depression.

Meeting the physical needs of those with mental health needs and learning disabilities

Posted: February 25 2010

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is to begin a review into how the physical health needs of those with mental health needs and learning disabilities are met. The review will look at how physical healthcare is provided for people with a learning disability and people who use mental health services.

New mental health website aims to dispel psychosis myths

Posted: February 25 2010

The Institute of Psychiatry, South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust and Rethink have launched a new website, funded by the Wellcome Trust, for family and friends and carers of people with psychosis.

Visit the new website>>

Mental Health Foundation calls for more to be done to look after the mental health of military veterans

Posted: January 29 2010

The Mental Health Foundation has warned that not enough is being done to stop Afghanistan war veterans falling into problems with alcohol, crime or committing suicide. Amongst other things the Foundation says that there are two times more veterans in prison than soldiers serving in Afghanistan. It also says that over of those veterans in prison are suffering from depression or PTSD.

Charity celebrates victory for job applicants with mental health problems

Posted: January 29 2010

Mental health charity Rethink are celebrating the government's decision on the 18 January to ban employers from asking job applicants about their medical history prior to inviting them for interview. The charity has campaigned hard on achieving the amendment to the Equality Bill.

Dementia services not getting priority

Posted: January 14 2010

BBC News reports that the National Audit Office has said that dementia services are not getting the priority that was promised. THE NAO has urged the Department of Health to demonstrate that the dementia strategy it published last year, is not just words.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

NHS launch stress hotline

Posted: December 30 2009

The NHS has launched a new helpline for people who are struggling with stress. The service is currently available only in England and its launch is partly due to concerns over the problems people are facing due to the current economic problems.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

New Horizons launched

Posted: December 11 2009

New Horizons - the cross-government programme of action has been launched to improve the mental well-being of people in England and drive up the quality of mental health care.

For more information please visit the New Horizons website>>

Governement launches action plan on offender health

Posted: November 20 2009

Care Services Minister Phil Hope has launched an action plan aimed at improving the health of offenders in prison and in the community. The plan is a response to Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health and learning disabilities in the criminal justice system.

Research links ketamine use with memory problems

Posted: November 18 2009

BBC News reports that research carried out by the University College of London suggests that frequent use of ketamine, a drug popular with clubbers, can lead to memory problems. The researchers found that frequent users performed badly in tests that involved recalling names and conversations.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Consultation launched to include new rights into the NHS Constitution

Posted: November 18 2009

A consultation on proposals to include new rights into the NHS Constitution was launched on 10 November. New rights that have been proposed include a right to access services within maximum waiting times or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer a range of alternative providers, and a right to an NHS Health Check every five years for those aged 40-74.

View the consultation on the Department of Health website>>

Government to take action on anti-psychotic drugs and dementia

Posted: November 18 2009

A tough new action plan to tackle the over-prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs to people with dementia has been announced by Care Services Minister Phil Hope. This follows a damning report that showed that too many people with dementia are, contrary to NICE guidance, being routinely prescribed with anti-psychotic drugs to treat aggression and agitation.

Prozac rise 'down to serial use'

Posted: October 23 2009

The BBC reports that a study, undertaken by researchers at the University of Southampton, has found that while the number of people diagnosed with depression has fallen in the last decade the number of prescriptions for anti-depressants such as Prozac has almost doubled in the same period of time.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Flagship mental health scheme faces cutbacks

Posted: October 08 2009

A report in The Observer claims that the government's flagship Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is already experiencing funding problems. The report claims that only 400 out of the 3,600 therapists needed to run the programme are fully trained. It also says that much of the programme's budget that has not yet been spent may be deflected elsewhere by NHS Trusts.

Majority of mental health patients do not feel safe

Posted: September 26 2009

A national survey carried out by the Care Quality Commission has found that only 45% of NHS mental health patients always felt safe on their ward, 39% sometimes felt safe and 16% did not feel safe at all.

Urgent action called to protect people from pro eating disorders websites

Posted: September 18 2009

BBC News reports that the Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling for the government's Child Internet Safety Council (UKCCIS) to raise awareness among parents about websites which promote eating disorders. The numbers of so called pro-ana (anorexia) and pro-mia (bulimia) websites have increased dramatically due to the growth in social networking websites.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Support for people with mental health conditions to stay in work

Posted: August 26 2009

The Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, Jim Knight, has announced a number of measures aimed at providing people with mental health problems with extra support to manage their condition and remain in the workplace. Among the other initiatives announced are a national strategy for Mental Health and Employment to be published in the autumn.

Films attack mental health stigma

Posted: August 12 2009

BBC News reports that two films are being launched in cinemas in England and online to challenge the misconception that all sufferers of schizophrenia are violent. The films are released at the same time as a YouGov poll that more than a third of people believed that all sufferers of schizophrenia were indeed violent.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Mental Health killings on the rise

Posted: July 29 2009

BBC News reports on official figures that show that the number of people killed by those with a mental illness increased between 1997 and 2005. The figures were compiled by the National Confidential Inquiry which reported that while 54 people were killed in England and Wales in 1997, this had risen to over 70 in both 2004 and 2005.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

New Horizons – towards a shared vision for mental health

Posted: July 27 2009

As part of the government's New Horizons strategy for tackling mental health a consultation has been launched that aims to build on the work of the National Service Framework by setting out how the Department of Health can work across Government and with all stakeholders to achieve better mental health and wellbeing for all, and ensure people receive high quality, personalised services.

Credit crunch stress helpline launched

Posted: July 20 2009

In response to concerns that the current economic climate could lead to an adverse effect on the nation's mental health the NHS has launched a credit crunch stressline. By ringing 0300 123 2000 callers will get access to trained staff who can provide advice and information on how to access relevant local help services.

Indicators for Quality Improvement

Posted: July 20 2009

For the first, time more than 230 indicators of quality care can be seen on the NHS Information Centre website where each indicator is now supported by national data. The Indicators, which include 12 specifically for the field of mental health, will also be used in the development of NICE quality standards, Quality Observatories and Quality Accounts.

Broadmoor boss quits

Posted: July 20 2009

As reported on the Telegraph website Simon Crawford, chief executive of West London Mental Health NHS Trust, has resigned just days before the publication of a report that is expected to be highly critical of Broadmoor. The report was prompted by the death of Richard Loudwell who was killed in a medium secure ward by fellow patient in 2004.

Report highlights poor care in mental health units

Posted: July 20 2009

As reported in the Observer newspaper the Mental Health Act Commission, in its last major report, has painted a damning picture of mental health care. The report argues that poor training and understaffing is leading to patient deaths.

Howard League Lost Daughters campaign

Posted: July 13 2009

Following the publication of figures detailing the number of women who have died between 1999 and 2008 the Howard League for Penal Reform has launched the Lost Daughters campaign. The aim of the campaign is to put a stop to the increasing number of women being sent to prison or being detained under the Mental Health Act.

Hundreds die in mental hospitals

Posted: July 13 2009

As reported in The Observer, new figures released by the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody show that in the past 10 years 3,540 detained under the Mental Health Act, including high-security psychiatric hospitals, have died.

Scientific breakthrough offers hope of new treatments for schizophrenia

Posted: July 03 2009

In a report in the Independent scientists are claiming to have discovered a remarkable similarity between the genetic faults behind both schizophrenia and manic depression. This could result in a breakthrough that is expected to open the way to new treatments for two of the most common mental illnesses, affecting millions of people.

Teenagers 'lost' in health system

Posted: June 25 2009

BBC News reports that doctors are calling for an urgent review of adolescent healthcare. There is particular concern that 16 to 18-year-olds with both mental and physical illnesses are getting lost in the system.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Mental Health Network awarded £1.2million

Posted: June 25 2009

Following the closure of the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) the Mental Health Network has been awarded a £1.2 million contract by the Department of Health to develop and support the implementation of mental health policy.

End 'sectioned' MP ban - Alastair Campbell

Posted: June 25 2009

Former spin-doctor Alastair Campbell has argued that MPs detained under the Mental Health Act should not automatically lose their seats. He also claimed that many MPs including former members of Tony Blair's government had had mental problems.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Stiff upper lip leads to greater mental health problems for ex-soldiers

Posted: June 25 2009

The Daily Telegraph reports that the British tradition of the 'stiff upper lip' leads to greater mental health problems for ex soldiers because they will not seek help, psychiatrists claim.

Recession puts mental health of men at risk

Posted: May 20 2009

One of the UK's leading mental health charities, MIND, has published a report 'Men and mental health: Get it off your chest' that presents clear evidence that the recession is having an adverse affect on men’s mental health. The survey found that 37% of men are feeling worried or low and that middle aged men are 7 times more likely than women to have suicidal thoughts.

30,000 NHS staff to get personal security alarms

Posted: May 12 2009

30,000 lone NHS workers are to receive personal security alarms from 3rd May following a commitment made by Health Secretary Alan Johnson to improve the safety and security of staff. The devices will help locate the user and link to a trained individual who can summon help if needed.

Necessity - not nicety: A new commercial operating model for the NHS and Department of Health

Posted: May 12 2009

A new Commercial Operating Model has been launched, setting out how commercial skills will be organised and applied across NHS organisations – working with a range of partners – and what benefits it will bring.

Government response - Lord Laming’s recommendations

Posted: May 12 2009

On 6 May, the Government released its detailed response to Lord Laming's report on the protection of children. The response sets out the specific actions that the Government will take, in partnership with local agencies and key stakeholders, to address each of Lord Laming’s recommendations.

Children’s mental health - regional seminars

Posted: Apr 24 2009

The National Advisory Council (NAC), in association with DH and DCSF, are hosting free regional seminars. The Council has been set up to ensure that promoting mental health and psychological well-being continues to be a national priority following the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) review.

More information and dates on the National Advisory Council website>>

Prison integrated drug treatment

Posted: Apr 24 2009

The Department of Health have recently announced an investment in prison clinical drug treatment, part of a prison integrated drug treatment system (IDTS). £39.7m has been allocated for 2009/10 up from £23.2m in 2008/09 and there is an indicative allocation of £43m in 2010/11.

New Horizons Strategy Announced

Posted: Apr 21 2009

Care Services Minister, Phil Hope, has announced a new strategy for helping the millions of people who suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives. Called "New Horizons" the strategy will promote good mental health and well-being, whilst improving services for people who have mental health problems. It will build on the National Service Framework for mental health which comes to an end in 2009.

NTA Unit Cost Data 2007/08

Posted: Apr 21 2009

The National Treatment Agency (NTA) are to provide local partnerships with the opportunity to check (and if appropriate) refresh their unit cost data from the 2007/08 exercise.

Care Quality Commission Launches

Posted: Apr 07 2009

The 1st April 2009 was the initial launch date of the Care Quality Commission, the new health and social care regulator for England. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will undertake the work previously carried out by the Healthcare Commission (HCC), Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

Change in arrangements for Channel Islands visitors

Posted: Mar 30 2009

The bilateral healthcare agreement between the UK and the Channel Islands will end on Tuesday 31 March 2009. After this date, Channel Islands visitors to the UK will be liable for the same charges for NHS healthcare as other overseas visitors, unless they are covered by an exemption category.

Mental Health, Resilience and Inequalities

Posted: Mar 30 2009

This report from the Mental Health Foundation brings together latest research to demonstrate that good, positive mental health and emotional well-being leads to healthier lifestyles. Produced in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (Europe) and supported by the National Institute for Mental Health in England, the Child Poverty Action Group and the Faculty of Public Health, the report sets out how current policies and programmes can be improved.

Working with user-led organisations

Posted: Mar 30 2009

The Putting People First: Working together with user – led organisations document outlines the advantages to LAs of working with user-led organisations (ULOs). It builds on Government policy, encouraging local authorities to engage in co-production work with ULOs through personalisation, developing a ULO in every social service area, and improving local communities through capacity building.

Lord Laming’s report on child protection

Posted: Mar 30 2009

On 12 March, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families set out the Government’s immediate response to the report, The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report, giving an undertaking that the Government would produce a detailed action plan in response to Lord Laming’s recommendations by the end of April.

New service for carers on NHS Choices

Posted: Feb 27 2009

Carers Direct is a new service recently launched as part of the government’s New Deal for Carers – a programme to improve support for the UK’s growing number of carers. It provides carers with a single and comprehensive online resource for carer-specific information, including guidance on the different stages of caring, information for claiming benefits, etc.

Health and Social Care Awards 2009

Posted: Feb 27 2009

The Health and Social Care Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in frontline care and share ideas that improve the lives of patients, service users, carers and staff. Run in partnership between the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and the DH, this is the largest peer-to-peer awards scheme of its kind, with 3,000 applications received in 2008. The closing date is 6 March.

Enhancing the Healing Environment Programme

Posted: Feb 27 2009

Offender Health, Department of Health, have commissioned the King’s Fund to extend their Enhancing the Healing Environment Programme to a group of HM Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions in 2009 with the aim of improving the environment in which healthcare is delivered within the prison service.

New service for carers on NHS Choices

Posted: Feb 27 2009

Stroke post-traumatic stress risk

Posted: Feb 27 2009

BBC News reports that a British study has found that many stroke sufferers are left with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the study a third of the 105 brain haemorrhage survivors tested positive for the disorder. This is a similar level to that found in soldiers returning from active duty in a war zone.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

National Dementia Strategy

Posted: Feb 03 2009

The National Dementia Strategy has been launched and is backed by £150 million over the first two years. It will increase awareness of dementia, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and radically improve the quality of care that people with the condition receive.

'Time to Change', a major new campaign aimed at ending mental health discrimination, is launched

Posted: Jan 26 2009

Part funded by the National Lottery and bring together organisations such as Mind and Rethink, 'Time to Change' is a new campaign aimed at ending the discrimination faced by people who suffer from mental health problems.

For more information on this important initiative please visit the Time To Change website.

More teenagers are receiving drug treatment than ever before

Posted: Jan 23 2009

A new report published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) shows that although addiction to substances is rare among young people, and indeed may be falling, access to services has allowed more young people than ever before to get the support they need.

Valuing People Now

Posted: Jan 23 2009

The Dept of Health report the launch of a new cross-Government three-year strategy, 'Valuing People Now' - a strategy for people with learning disabilities on 19 January 2009. A detailed delivery plan is published alongside the strategy, together with the response to the consultation and further response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights report - A Life Like Any Other. In addition, Valuing People Now responds to the key recommendations of Healthcare for All - the report of the independent inquiry chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael.

Independent Mental Health Advocates

Posted: Jan 20 2009

The Dept of Health report that from April 2009, statutory access to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) will be available to patients subject to certain aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983. IMHAs are an important new safeguard that will help and support patients to understand and exercise their legal rights. Regulations have been made directing PCTs to commission independent mental health advocate (IMHA) services for patients subject to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Common Assessment Framework for Adults

Posted: Jan 20 2009

The Dept of Health launch the Common Assessment Framework for Adults which brings together and builds on the current Single Assessment Process (SAP) and the Care Programme Approach (CPA) in mental health. CAF aims to improve outcomes for all adults with complex, longer-term health and social care needs. Its unified approach will be especially helpful to those who previously had to deal with separate health, social care and other support systems. The proposals will be the subject of a public consultation commencing in January.

Department of Health letter updates progress on developing Payment by Results (PbR) for mental health

Posted: Jan 19 2009

Bob Alexander, Director of NHS Finance and Kathryn Tyson, Director of Mental Health Division DOH release a 'Dear Colleague' letter outlining the development of a Payment by Results (PbR)approach to mental health. The favoured approach is based on a care pathway approach and the plan is for introduction in 2010/11.

Click here to read the letter >>

Transition from POCA and POVA to the Vetting and Barring Scheme

Posted: Jan 19 2009

From 20 January 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will make decisions on referrals to the Protection of Children Act (POCA) and Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) schemes. This is part of the transition arrangements from the current barring schemes to the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust must improve cleanliness and activities for patients

Posted: Jan 16 2009

The Healthcare Commission has called on South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust to improve cleanliness and provide more activities for patients. The Commission recently published the findings of its independent assessment of three wards within the trust. It made seven recommendations to improve the care of patients.

Therapy hope for Eating Disorders

Posted: Dec 22 2008

BBC News reports that a UK research study has shown that more people with eating disorders could benefit from "talking therapies". The study claims that a specially-created form of cognitive behavioural therapy might work in four out of five cases.

Read more on the BBC News website>>

Rethink Politics

Posted: Dec 18 2008

Rethink Politics is a three year project funded by the Electoral Commission aimed at raising awareness, creating understanding and encouraging participation in politics by people who experience or have experienced mental illness. To date over 300 service-users, carers, staff and volunteers have undertaken a Rethink Politics training programme to become ‘Rethink Politics Champions’.

Implementing the amended Mental Health Act 1983

Posted: Dec 18 2008

The bulk of the Mental Health Act 2007, amending the Mental Health Act 1983, came into effect on 3 November 2008. To co-incide with this, the Department of Health has updated their key documents and added a new Frequently Asked Questions section to their website.