This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8396147.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Depression targeted by government Depression targeted by government
(about 1 hour later)
The government is preparing to announce a major shift in mental health policy in England with a new emphasis on tackling and preventing depression. Schools, employers and GPs all have more of a role to play in mental health care in the UK, ministers say.
The 10-year strategy is expected to call for better identification of those most at risk and wider access to psychological therapies for patients. Investment in recent years has focused on improving treatment, but the new 10-year strategy calls for more emphasis on prevention and early intervention.
Depression or anxiety affect one in six people at any given time, but only a quarter of those is in treatment. In particular, it highlighted the importance of helping people back into work to aid recovery from mental illness and preventing it recurring.
It is not clear what, if any, funding will be available to back the plans. Campaigners said the move represented a "promising start" in changing policy.
We need to be better at preventing depression, better at treating it and better at reducing the impact of depression Professor Louis ApplebyNational Director for Mental Health in England Since 2001, spending on mental health services has increased by nearly 50%.
Professor Louis Appleby, the government's mental health tsar, said depression had a huge impact on society. This has helped improve access to a range of services, such as talking therapies.
He said: "We need to be better at preventing depression, better at treating it and better at reducing the impact of depression." Now that this benchmark has been set, it represents a turning point that no new government can turn back from Paul Farmer, of Mind
Professor Appleby said depression affected physical health, raising the risk of conditions such as stroke, and the likelihood that people would not seek treatment if they became ill. Depression or anxiety affect one in six people at any given time, but research shows only a quarter of those get medical help.
He said it was important to tackle the issue as early as possible, for instance, by providing the right atmosphere for children to thrive and build self esteem at school. The new strategy - set out in a series of reports which were based on recommendations made by a government-appointed panel of experts - focuses mainly on ways the approach to mental health can be broadened.
The World Health Organization warned in September that in 20 years' time more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem. Employment is one of the key priorities, ministers drawn from the Department of Health, Cabinet Office and Department for Work and Pensions said.
The strategy, to be published on Monday, is expected to say that depression is as big a problem as heart disease. Research shows that working is beneficial for people with mental health.
Sources say the ambition of the plans to prevent and treat depression are unprecedented in Europe. One study found for every £1 spent on employment programmes, £1.72 is saved on treatment.
Huge savings? To help improve the low rates of employment among those with problems, the government is planning to appoint mental health co-ordinators to work with Job Centres across the country.
Since 2007, there has been a £170m programme to increase access to a type of treatment called cognitive behaviour therapy, which is designed to help patients to pinpoint - and then change - thoughts and actions that cause emotional problems. Intervening early
It came after the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence said anti-depressants should be reserved for the more severe cases. Dedicated advice lines are also to be set up for small businesses to give their staff direct access to occupational health professionals to help them stay in work.
But the programme has been criticised by some as placing too much emphasis on one type of treatment. Government-backed work placements are also to be piloted to help people return to work.
It is thought the plans to be outlined later will broaden the range of psychological therapies available for GPs to recommend for their patients. But ministers have also called for employers to their bit by making managers more aware about how to handle mental illness.
Much of the focus is expected to be on prevention - identifying those most at risk, particularly in schools. And the government wants to see GPs intervening early.
There will also be more help in the workplace, and support in finding a job. MENTAL HEALTH PLANS Employment - Network of coordinators to work with Job Centres to help mentally ill back into work and dedicated helplines to work with small businessesGPs - To be encouraged to do more to intervene earlySchools - Counselling services to be rolled out to start educating children about the issue
The hope is that a co-ordinated strategy, working across several government departments, could yield huge savings. The strategy argued doctors should be routinely raising the issue of depression and then referring people on to specialist services if need be.
It is likely that critics will be watching closely to make sure the commitment is backed by resources. A specialist training programme is to be designed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to help doctors with this.
Mental health is already the single biggest part of the NHS budget with 13% of all funds going on community, hospital, and drug and alcohol addiction services. Schools were also highlighted. Schools-based counselling services are already being trialled in some places and these are expected to be rolled out nationally next year.
Dr Lynne Friedli, an expert on mental health who has written on the subject for the World Health Organization, said depression was most likely to hit the poorest in society. But the reports also said there should be more integration between councils and the NHS, pointing out people with mental health problems often need help with issues such as housing.
She said the government needed to tackle poverty and reduce inequality. Professor Louis Appleby, the government's mental health tsar, said: "We need to be better at preventing depression, better at treating it and better at reducing the impact of depression."
"If we don't grasp the psychological impact of the big gap between rich and poor we will not have any impact on depression and anxiety." And care services minister Phil Hope said: "If we can get this right, we can improve the lives of many people."
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Dr Andrew McCulloch described the strategy as a "promising start".
Paul Farmer, head of Mind, the mental health charity, added: "Now that this benchmark has been set, it represents a turning point that no new government can turn back from.
"Good mental wellbeing isn't just about treatment, it's also about prevention.
"By focusing on the factors that take their toll on our wellbeing in the first place, we have a chance at achieving better mental health for everyone."