Yesterday Nick Clegg announced the publication of the mental health framework, this paper sets out actions and measures to better manage and monitor health. A follow up to the previous No Health Without Mental Heath we can at last see some real activity in the world of mental health. It's surprisingly simple in its recommendations but nevertheless powerful. The paper recognises the overall lack of consistent measurable mental health management in health and social care and seeks to address the shortfalls across health commissioning, management and delivery.
Whilst it recommends that GP's need more awareness of treatments available and offer choice to patients it goes on recommend greater training in mental health.
The creation of mental health champions at local authority level is a welcome move and puts mental health onto the visible agenda, and together with mental health experts on CCG's and greater involvement of national charities should mean mental health gets a better deal.
It is good to see the recognition of employers in greater education and treatment, it was disappointing to note the presence of occupational health and the absence of EAP's, an area that Dame Carol Black did identify as useful.
Stigma was respectfully addresses with employers too having a role in the reduction of stigma through awareness training. They ate encourage to become mentally healthy workplaces and to join the Time to Change campaign.
The publication of a mental health dashboard will be a challenge but helpful.
This appears to be a big step forward, and the implementation is being closely watched by interest groups.
