Writing for PoliticsHome, former Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb argued that the Government must put its money where its mouth is when it comes to ensuring equality for mental health:

The Spending Review is a critical moment that will shape the Government’s spending for the duration of the Parliament, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has an opportunity to make a bold statement on the importance of tackling mental illness. I will not be humoured by the warm words for mental health and my efforts as a minister – it’s about time that this Government put their money where their mouth is.

And it isn’t simply a case of investing to improve mental health services or leaving them the way they are. Mental health trusts are under severe financial strain, and last week’s report by the King’s Fund was the latest in a long line of warnings of the impact of neglecting mental health. There is no doubt that services will slip backwards if we do not take urgent action to provide stable funding for mental health, on a par with physical health.

One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point during their lifetime, and a far greater number will know somebody who is affected.

He urged everyone to sign the petition at Eauality for Mental Health, the new “cross party, cross society” campaign for better mental health provision in which Norman is playing a leading role.

Norman said of the campaign:

I am delighted that more than 200 figures from across society have signed up to ‘Equality 4 Mental Health’, including leading names from the worlds of the arts, culture, sport, business, and faith communities. Danny Boyle, Emma Thompson, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Kelly Holmes, Alan Rickman, Annie Lennox, Steve Coogan, Dawn French, Louis Theroux, Richard E Grant, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and many others – all speaking out, with one voice, to support the human, moral and economic argument for a fair deal for mental health.

You can read his whole article here.

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