Legal News

A mental health service in Exmouth, Devon, has used Men’s Health Week – which ran from 9-15 June – to encourage more men in Devon to come forward and seek help for a mental health condition.

The Devon Community Opportunities helps both men and women suffering from mental health issues, whether mild, moderate or more severe.

People with common mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders and schizophrenia – or other mental health conditions – are encouraged to make use of the service; and especially men, who may be more reluctant to seek help for a mental health condition because of peer pressure, or over fears that mental health treatment might affect their career prospects.

All three main political parties have placed an emphasis on improving mental health treatment across Britain, with more talking therapies for mild to moderate mental health conditions, such as depression – and less focus on institutionalised care in a specialist mental health unit for more severe forms of mental illness.

Devon Community Opportunities service operates similar regional services throughout the UK and the treatment includes helping people with mental health conditions regain their confidence and manage their own condition.

Ally Grove from Rethink Mental Illness said:

“One in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Either you or someone close to you will be affected, so this is an issue that affects us all.

“We find that men can be more reluctant to seek help for their mental health, due to the stigma that still persists.

“During Men’s Health Week, we want to get the message out to all men in Devon that reaching out for support is not a sign of weakness – in fact, it takes a lot of strength.

"There is no need to suffer in silence – there is treatment available and people do recover from mental health problems.
"As well as our local service, there is lots of information on the Rethink Mental Illness website – and we also have a national advice line that people can call if they’re worried about themselves or someone close to them.”

The Exmouth-based service runs a drop-in centre and provides support to anyone aged 16 or over who has a mental health problem – as well as he carers and families of mental health patients.

Rethink also runs several campaigns to raise awareness and champion the rights of mental health patients, including supporting the changes introduced by the Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill 2013, under which mental health patients are no longer disqualified from jury service or from holding company directorships.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors can advise mental health patients on their rights under current mental health law, including access to services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors and in some cases may be able to advise the next of kin or carer or a mental health patient, including advice on initiating treatment reviews, where appropriate.

For expert advice on mental health law, contact the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors’ Helpline on 0203 114 1124.