Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Mental health: an 'unfinished revolution' (UK) Story in the Guardian - "Mental health, for so long the Cinderella service, may be about to go to the ball. There are clear signs that policy-makers are finally waking up to the enormous social and economic costs of mental distress, and to how those costs could be tackled. The third-term Labour government looks poised to take the agenda very seriously indeed. Playing fairy godmother in this context is Richard (Lord) Layard, professor at the London School of Economics, who is credited with much of the thinking behind Labour's New Deal and the successful attack on unemployment. The author of a recent acclaimed book on happiness, Layard addressed a pre-election seminar organised by the Downing Street strategy unit, where he presented a paper entitled Mental Health: Britain's Biggest Social Problem?" See also Layard's paper at the web site of the Prime Minister''s Strategy Unit.