Centre for Mental Health

Centre launches briefing sheets for community groups and general practice

13 July 2011

Following the publication of the Government’s mental health strategy, No Health without Mental Health in February 2011,  Centre for Mental Health has today launched two briefings in conjunction with the Mental Health Strategic Partnership, aimed at general practice and community organisations.  

The Mental Health Strategic Partnership, led by the Mental Health Providers Forum, brings together eight national mental health voluntary sector organisations to work with the Department of Health to support effective communication about mental health policy and practice in England. The partnership comprises of the Afyia Trust; Mental Health Foundation; Mental Health Helplines Partnership;  Mind; National Survivors User Network; Centre for Mental Health and Rethink Mental Illness.   

The two briefings, No Health without Mental Health: a guide for general practice and No Health without Mental Health: a guide for community organisations, explain in practical terms the ways in which general practitioners, community groups and voluntary organisations can improve life chances for people with mental health conditions.  

No Health without Mental Health: a guide for general practice outlines the steps that primary care staff can take to ensure that mental health problems are identified early, and that people suffering from mental health problems are given support to stay in work. The briefing also underlines the importance of treating the physical as well as mental health of people with a mental illness.

Sean Duggan, Chief Executive at the Centre for Mental Health said: “Mental health problems account for 23% of the burden of illness in the UK; that’s almost one general practice consultation in four.  The sooner a mental health difficulty is spotted the better and GPs are uniquely placed to spot the signs of distress and to identify people with the risk factors for poor mental health. Patients suffering from depression, schizophrenia, dementia and many other mental health problems respond well to treatment if the illnesses are identified in their early stages. We know that early identification can make a huge difference to the lives of people with mental health problems as well as providing a substantial cost saving for the NHS." 

Commenting on the release of the briefing, Dr John Hague, NHS East of England GP Clinical Lead said:   "GP's come into contact every day with many patients with mental health problems. This briefing paper serves as a clear aide-memoir of the direction of the new mental health strategy, and the services that these patients can expect to have provided, with some brief best practice principles for every day practice.  GP's who are involved in commissioning are well placed to ensure that services live up to the principles of the strategy, and to hold them to account if they do not."  

No Health without Mental Health: a guide for community organisations explains how community groups and voluntary organisations can work together with services to promote good mental health and tackle the inequalities in mental health service provision faced by marginalised and vulnerable groups.  

Dr Ian McPherson, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Providers Forum said: “People with mental health problems often lose out when services are cutting budgets and, within mental health, there are also significant inequalities that stand in the way of achieving the strategy’s objectives.”  

“Community and voluntary groups are most keenly aware of these issues affecting people with mental health problems; working directly with or emerging from the very groups who are most disadvantaged and therefore at greater risk of mental health problems. These voluntary organisations will be fundamental to the strategy’s success.”