‘Public Health’ at Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life, Page 5

The UK’s Mental Health Foundation, whose initiatives we often publicise here, has been named as one of 8 charities to benefit from the Guardian newspaper’s 2006 Christmas Appeal, which this year focuses on mental health issues across the UK.

Echoing the conclusions of a report from several UK mental health charities, an organisation which trains group psychotherapists has welcomed the report’s call for greater access to psychological therapies in the NHS and says that the NHS is not making full use of practising group psychotherapists.

The NHS is failing millions of people by ignoring clinical guidelines on psychological therapies, a group of charities warns in a report published today. The report argues that evidence-based talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy are as important for the nation’s health as any cancer drug or surgical procedure.

While I was out of the office last week, two notes came through from the Mental Health Foundation — one commenting on the UK government’s scheme to promote mental well-being at work, and one commenting on a television expose on the poor state of some English psychiatric wards.

Patients with mental health problems are being denied a basic level of care, according to the Mental Health Foundation. The claim is included in a highly critical response to a report from the UK’s Healthcare Commission into Community Mental Health Services.