The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a new report claiming that mental health issues cost the UK around £70 billion every year, or roughly 4.5% of GDP, in lost productivity at work, benefit payments and health care expenditure. Better policies and practices by employers and the health system are needed to help people deal with mental health issues and get back to work, according to the OECD report.
We are seeking volunteers from Wales to join the RCPsych Service Users and Carers Fora in London and the RCPsych in Wales.
Hafal has produced a policy briefing for Assembly Members to consider when they debate the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill this week. The briefing highlights a number of improvements that need to be made to the Bill which was introduced by Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Social Services last January.
Earlier this week the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) warned that there has been a rise in the number of young people with mental health problems since the recession – and that doctors are not being given the right training to identify and treat those problems.
Professor of Primary Medical Care at Liverpool University Chris Dowrick has said that up to half of patients receiving treatment for depression or anxiety have been misdiagnosed.
A new study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has little impact on the symptoms of schizophrenia even though it is recommended as a treatment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
A follow up review of safety issues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) and the Wales Audit Office (WAO) has found that children and young people accessing mental health services in Wales continue to be put at risk.
The UK Government has failed in its attempt to overturn a landmark ruling which found that fit-for-work benefits tests are unfair for people with mental health problems…
Check out the latest edition of our Mental Health Wales journal which includes news of the BACP’s call for greater access to psychological therapies
Calls have been made for a reduction in the number of people in Wales taken into police custody with mental health problems:
