Legal News

National Mental Health Awareness Week 2014 (12th-18th May) is being marked in Nottinghamshire by the launch of a consultation into tackling poor mental health levels across the county.

Nottinghamshire County Council launched its consultation “No health without mental health, Nottinghamshire’s mental health strategy 2014-17” on Monday (12/05/14) at the start of National Mental Health Awareness Week – and the council is proposing a new “vision” to tackle mental health issues across Nottinghamshire.

The consultation is due to run until 4 July and the general public is being asked to contribute to the consultation process – as well mental health patients and professionals being asked to give their views on mental health care in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire has also signed up to the national Mental Health Challenge for local councils, which offers guidelines and actions which Local Authorities can implement to improve mental health services in their areas.

Chair of the Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board – and Nottinghamshire’s Mental Health Champion – Councillor Joyce Bosnjak told local publisher the Hucknall Dispatch:

“Good mental health has been shown to result in health, social and economic benefits for individuals, communities and society, building resilience to mental health problems – and helping people who suffer with them has to be a priority for all partners that are involved in the Health and Wellbeing Board.

“Mental Health Awareness Week is a good reminder that mental health should be out in the open and talked about as freely as any other illness.

“This consultation is a good opportunity for everyone to engage in this issue and have your say in how we address it across Nottinghamshire.”

It is estimated that more than 86,500 adults across Nottinghamshire are affected by mild to moderate mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety.

More than 3,000 mental health patients in Nottinghamshire have severe mental health issues, however.

Mental health trusts across England and Wales are currently facing budget cuts, with some trusts such as Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust aiming to cut 20% of their annual budget.

This year’s National Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on coping with excessive anxiety, which in some cases can lead to more serious mental health conditions – particularly in the case of anxiety resulting from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or following a life event such as a relationship breakdown, bereavement or redundancy.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist mental health solicitors and can advise mental health patients on issues such as access to mental health services in their area – or 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 of a mental health patient – including advice on initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

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