Lib Dems launch cross party campaign to tackle mental health inequality

A cross party campaign calling on the Government to address inequalities in mental healthcare has been launched by Lib Dem Health Spokesperson Norman Lamb.

It comes shortly after a really hard-hitting panorama episode, which focused on the stretched mental health services in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.

It was clear from the programme that, despite the best efforts of dedicated and talented NHS staff, people with mental health conditions are regularly let down by the lack of resources available to treat them.

When in Government, Norman Lamb and the Lib Dems lead the charge for improvements and equality in mental health care. The changes made included introducing the first waiting time standards for mental healthcare and securing additional funding for services for young people.

But as the Panorama episode shows, the fight for true equality for people with mental ill health is far from over. That's why I've happily joined the new campaign - which is also backed by more than 200 leading figures from politics, business, the arts, sport, the military and faith groups.

The campaign's letter to Government highlights on-going challenges in mental healthcare. For instance, many people who experience mental ill health do not access treatment at all, and too many people experiencing a mental health crisis find themselves taken to a police cell, rather than to hospital.

In short - those who suffer mental ill health still face a historic injustice and stigma. The campaign calls on the Government to continue working to ending the injustice, by improving funding for, awareness of and treatment of mental health conditions - and to make the commitment in the upcoming spending review.

Sign the Lib Dem petition here: http://www.libdems.org.uk/equality-for-mental-health

Read the full letter and join the cross party campaign here:www.equality4mentalhealth.uk