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Theresa May and her war on mental health
It’s not often I agree with the Tories. Let alone agree with Theresa May.
However, her words over the weekend have been half-right and since we often talk about mental health in this column, I thought it would be a good idea to look at the Prime Minister’s approach to mental health.
1. She has called mental health a “hidden injustice”
Well done, Theresa. You spotted the obvious.
The fact that there aren’t enough beds to go round for mentally ill people (particularly children), the concept that waiting lists to see counsellors will take months and the realisation that people with mental illnesses are treated totally different to those with a broken arm is clearly an injustice.
For a PM to actually admit there’s any kind of “injustice” is a foreign idea. So, she is off to a good start.
2. Every secondary school will be offered mental health training
Another positive from the PM. Mrs May’s doing well.
Since one in three young people are diagnosed with a mental health disorder (that’s roughly ten in every school class), offering mental health training to teachers will surely go a long way.
The issue with this is that the workload of teachers is already mounting. If they fail to spot a student suffering, can they be blamed? The specifics are patchy, but the apparent intention is strong.
3. Money, money, money. Where is it exactly, Theresa?
Now we begin to see the issues.
Mrs May is expected to announce an addition of just £15 million for the mental health budget. Considering the budget was slashed by David Cameron in 2015 by no less than £80 million, it’s not looking good.
Oh, and not to forget that the actual social cost of mental illness is £105 billion, a bit more money might be needed. If they plough it into children’s mental health (which receives a tiny proportion of the mental health budget as a whole), then there will be fewer adults suffering, resulting in more people in employment and smaller welfare costs. After all, that’s all the government really cares about.
Not good money-wise. Empty promises? I think so.
4. She talks about reducing stigma as the main way of helping the mentally ill
Completely misjudged this one.
Theresa May said on Sky‘s new political programme that helping with mental health is not just about funding, but eradicating stigma.
Part of the battle is reducing stigma but how can we do that when there is a mental health crisis with people who should be in hospital spending nights in police cells? If there is not funding equality, there will never be social equality.
So, my verdict? Theresa May makes herself look awfully good and truly liberal with her words. It’s almost enough for me to smile and forget that she spies on us and lies to us.
Unfortunately, empty promises won’t do. We need money and we need it fast. The long-term effects of healing the funding wound will eventually heal the metal wounds.
See you next week.