In an article published by Community Care on 2 September 2010 (excerpt below), Paul Burstow, Care Services Minister confirms the commencement of work to re-shape mental health strategy
"The Coalition has already signalled its support for IAPT, committing £70m this financial year to establish more centres around the
country. But I know that's only a small part of the solution. Because what we
really need is a wholesale shift in emphasis to give mental health parity with
physical health in the NHS.
Our NHS White Paper - with its plans to replaces
process targets with a new focus on patient outcomes - will help to achieve
this. Over this summer, we are discussing with patients and clinicians which ‘outcome'
measures should be used to judge the Health Service in the future. I passionately
believe a person's general wellbeing and overall mental health should form part
of this assessment. There is no health without good mental health and certainly
no well being.
The fact is we can no longer accept that curing
someone of cancer then leaving them to struggle with depression afterwards is a
true mark of success. The NHS should deal with the full parameters of a
patient's recovery, including helping them return to work and get their life
back after illness. That's what the new outcomes framework should deliver.
We must also draw on a broader canvass in
preventing people from developing mental illness in the first place. The new
Public Health Service and the health improvement role of local Government will
help, but this stretches far beyond just health. In fact, it covers all aspects of community life.
First, it involves other public services - from Jobcentre
Plus and housing teams, through to children's services and environmental
planning, we need to ensure the right support is there to help people stay on
track and in control of their lives.
Second, it requires us to empower neighbourhoods,
stimulating those active exchanges between people that can have such a healing
effect on people and places.
And third, it means galvanising charities and
grassroots community groups that can reach out to people on the cusp of
depression and draw them back from the brink.
In the months ahead, Ministers from the Department
of Health and across Government will reshape mental health strategy to set clear
outcomes and offer a roadmap for delivering them.
Of course, all of this has to be achieved in a difficult
financial context. But even in these tough circumstances, we can move forward
in mental health - and, by doing so, we can land a major blow against poverty
and deprivation."