Monday, June 14, 2004

£5 million funding boost for mental health research UK
Medical News Today story - "People with mental health problems are set to benefit from a £5million funding boost for mental health research and the creation of the first ever Mental Health Research Network, Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced today. The Network will help to raise the standard of mental health and social care research in England by acting as a central resource for clinicians, researchers, carers and people with mental health problems with an interest in participating in research. The Network will increase the scale, range, and timeliness of mental health research. Current research projects include support for carers, a study of service users views of the current Mental Health Act and an overview of trials of psychological treatments for people with schizophrenia and substance misuse." See also the related web page at the NIMHE site.  
  

Drive to end mental health stigma (UK)
Newsroom item at the 10 Downing Street web site - " The government has set out plans to address all the issues that affect people with mental health problems rather than just focusing on their medical needs. It has also called for a major shift in attitudes towards people with mental health problems. A report published by the Social Exclusion Unit today shows that people with mental health problems are one of the most socially excluded groups. Common problems like depression affect up to one in six adults at any one time and GPs spend a third of their time on mental health issues. The report also sets out plans to help people with mental health problems have the same opportunities as any other citizen." See also the report and the summary by the Social Exclusion Unit (Adobe Acrobat format) and the related BBC story, Bid to end mental health stigma.