This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/08/a-radical-shift-in-thinking-on-mental-health-issues
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| A radical shift in thinking on mental health issues | A radical shift in thinking on mental health issues |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Bipolar disorder is a major global healthcare crisis, causing untold levels of distress and costing lives daily. For too long this crisis has gone unacknowledged. Lack of progress in understanding and addressing bipolar disorder means that too many people worldwide are left in a painfully dark limbo, in search of a meaningful diagnosis and for effective treatments that work for them. Hope for prevention remains a distant dream. | Bipolar disorder is a major global healthcare crisis, causing untold levels of distress and costing lives daily. For too long this crisis has gone unacknowledged. Lack of progress in understanding and addressing bipolar disorder means that too many people worldwide are left in a painfully dark limbo, in search of a meaningful diagnosis and for effective treatments that work for them. Hope for prevention remains a distant dream. |
| This has drastic consequences – rates of suicide are up to 20 to 30 times higher in people with bipolar disorder than the general public. And life expectancy is as much as 15 years less – largely due to poor clinical management of physical health. | This has drastic consequences – rates of suicide are up to 20 to 30 times higher in people with bipolar disorder than the general public. And life expectancy is as much as 15 years less – largely due to poor clinical management of physical health. |
| As organisations and individuals committed to bipolar research, we are calling time on this. | As organisations and individuals committed to bipolar research, we are calling time on this. |
| For the first time in two decades, leading UK research funders are bringing together international experts to provide leadership to bipolar disorder research. This is taking place alongside the largest UK survey to understand patient priorities. Together, these offer us a chance to truly build momentum for advances. | For the first time in two decades, leading UK research funders are bringing together international experts to provide leadership to bipolar disorder research. This is taking place alongside the largest UK survey to understand patient priorities. Together, these offer us a chance to truly build momentum for advances. |
| We need a radical shift in our understanding, to put bipolar and other chronic mental health conditions on a par with conditions like cancer and heart disease – where science has been put to work to transform care, improve treatments and save lives. | We need a radical shift in our understanding, to put bipolar and other chronic mental health conditions on a par with conditions like cancer and heart disease – where science has been put to work to transform care, improve treatments and save lives. |
| We can achieve this. But to drive the levels of research investment necessary, we also need the support of governments, politicians, and the public to enhance understanding, raise awareness and bring greater funding. | We can achieve this. But to drive the levels of research investment necessary, we also need the support of governments, politicians, and the public to enhance understanding, raise awareness and bring greater funding. |
| With research comes knowledge. And with knowledge comes hope. Now is the time to demand better for everyone living with bipolar disorder.Cynthia Joyce Chief executive, MQ: Transforming Mental HealthJohn Isaac Head of neuroscience and mental health, Wellcome TrustSuzanne Hudson Chief executive, Bipolar UKProfessor Simon Wessely President, Royal College of PsychiatristsProfessor John Geddes Department of Psychiatry, University of OxfordIan Goodyer Professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, University of CambridgeDavid Miklowitz Professor of psychiatry, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human BehaviorProfessor Allan Young Chair of mood disorders, King’s College LondonMark S Bauer Professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical SchoolMichael Bauer Professor of psychiatry, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, GermanyGerome Breen Reader, MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonDr Rachel Churchill Reader in psychiatric epidemiology, University of BristolEllen Frank Distinguished emeritus professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicineMary Fristad Professor and vice-chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ohio State UniversityGuy Goodwin Professor of psychiatry, University of OxfordPaul Harrison Professor of psychiatry, University OxfordDr Joseph Hayes MRC fellow and psychiatrist, University College LondonLisa Jones Professor of psychological medicine, University of WorcesterProfessor Steven H Jones Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, DHR, faculty of health and medicine, Lancaster UniversitySidney Kennedy Professor of psychiatry, University of TorontoProfessor Lars Vedel Kessing Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of CopenhagenDavid Kupfer Distinguished emeritus professor of psychiatry, University of PittsburghAnne Lingford-Hughes Professor of addiction biology, Imperial College LondonMikael Landén Professor of psychiatry, University of GothenburgCharles Large Chief executive officer, Autifony TherapeuticsTerry Lyons Professor of mathematics, University of OxfordMark Matthews Research associate, Information Science, Cornell UniversityHannah McMahon Research assistant and study coordinatorRichard Morriss Professor of psychiatry and community mental health, University of NottinghamAndrew Alan Nierenberg Director, bipolar clinic and research programme, Massachusetts general hospitalAnna Christina Nobre Chair in translational cognitive neuroscience, University of OxfordDr Oliver Robinson Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College LondonDr Kate Saunders Department of psychiatry, University of OxfordMatthias Schwannauer Professor of clinical psychology, University of EdinburghMartina Di Simplico Career development fellow, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, CambridgeDaniel J Smith Professor of psychiatry, University of GlasgowDr Argyris Stringaris Head of the Mood and Development Lab, Kings College LondonTrisha Suppes Professor, Department of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, Stanford University School of MedicineDr Elizabeth Tunbridge Department of psychiatry, University of OxfordEduard Vieta Professor of psychiatry, University of BarcelonaEric Youngstrom Professor of psychology and neuroscience, and psychiatry, University of North Carolina | |
| • The shadow minister for mental health, Luciana Berger, warns that we are not doing enough to ensure people are supported earlier and before a crisis emerges (Report, 4 November). Her comments come at a time when, despite the increased focus on mental health, public health budgets are under threat. We believe that cuts to public health budgets are likely to place increased demand on already stretched services. We need to create real opportunities for early intervention for those at highest risk of developing mental health problems. In the coming years we shouldn’t be cutting public health budgets on the basis that this will help to support economic recovery. Instead we need to understand that our citizens are society’s greatest asset in working towards recovery. Ensuring that they have the resilience and health needed for this challenge should therefore be our immediate priority.Isabella GoldieDirector of development and delivery, Mental Health Foundation | • The shadow minister for mental health, Luciana Berger, warns that we are not doing enough to ensure people are supported earlier and before a crisis emerges (Report, 4 November). Her comments come at a time when, despite the increased focus on mental health, public health budgets are under threat. We believe that cuts to public health budgets are likely to place increased demand on already stretched services. We need to create real opportunities for early intervention for those at highest risk of developing mental health problems. In the coming years we shouldn’t be cutting public health budgets on the basis that this will help to support economic recovery. Instead we need to understand that our citizens are society’s greatest asset in working towards recovery. Ensuring that they have the resilience and health needed for this challenge should therefore be our immediate priority.Isabella GoldieDirector of development and delivery, Mental Health Foundation |
| • It is heartening to see political figures and celebrities raising key concerns about the state of mental health services (Report, 2 November). The appointment of a shadow minister for mental health also suggests that, finally, the crisis is being taken more seriously. The hundreds of signatories to the Mental Health Charter, launched a year ago by the Social Work Action Network (Swan), also share the core concerns listed in the open letter, eg lack of access, long waiting times, inadequate crisis care. | • It is heartening to see political figures and celebrities raising key concerns about the state of mental health services (Report, 2 November). The appointment of a shadow minister for mental health also suggests that, finally, the crisis is being taken more seriously. The hundreds of signatories to the Mental Health Charter, launched a year ago by the Social Work Action Network (Swan), also share the core concerns listed in the open letter, eg lack of access, long waiting times, inadequate crisis care. |
| An additional key question, though, is what sort of mental health services do we want access to? Rather than more of the same, we seek a wider choice of therapies than the current dominant model of short-term, cognitive behavioural counselling. There is a need for inpatient treatment when in crisis, as well as user-led community services that can keep individuals out of crisis. And we also need to recognise the wider context. Mental distress increases through the increasing despondency and inequalities of austerity-led economic policies. We need a national campaign both about the kind services we need and the pressures causing so many to become mentally distressed.Jeremy WeinsteinSwan Mental Health Charter | |
| • As a coalition whose members support children and young people with mental health problems, we were struck by the launch of the campaign calling for an increase in funding for mental health services in England. | • As a coalition whose members support children and young people with mental health problems, we were struck by the launch of the campaign calling for an increase in funding for mental health services in England. |
| We in Scotland have been campaigning for some time to ensure the levels of investment match those of physical health, achieving “parity of esteem”. Half of all diagnosable mental health conditions start before the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 21. Early intervention is therefore crucial, with the health, economic and social costs of mental health problems well-established. | |
| However, despite the welcome attention paid by the Scottish government to this matter, we know that NHS Scotland spends just 8.6% of its total funding treating mental health problems; in England and Wales the figure is 11.9%. When it comes to child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs), only 0.45% of NHS Scotland expenditure is spent on addressing this, amounting to 5.56% of the total mental health budget. | However, despite the welcome attention paid by the Scottish government to this matter, we know that NHS Scotland spends just 8.6% of its total funding treating mental health problems; in England and Wales the figure is 11.9%. When it comes to child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs), only 0.45% of NHS Scotland expenditure is spent on addressing this, amounting to 5.56% of the total mental health budget. |
| Staffing levels have not kept pace with demand, a number of health boards are failing to meet their targets for Camhs treatment, and we are also witnessing more children and young people being sent to non-specialist adult and paediatric wards for treatment. | Staffing levels have not kept pace with demand, a number of health boards are failing to meet their targets for Camhs treatment, and we are also witnessing more children and young people being sent to non-specialist adult and paediatric wards for treatment. |
| Early intervention and preventive measures are required to ensure that we can address these problems at the right time, rather than wait until people require more intensive – and expensive – treatment further down the line.Sophie Pilgrim Director, Kindred Scotland Tom McGhee Managing director, Spark of Genius Duncan Dunlop Chief executive, Who Cares? Scotland Stuart Jacob Director, Falkland House School Niall Kelly Managing director, Young Foundations | |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |