I work hard within our local community,
often as a volunteer, in addition to my involvement as District and
Town Councillor, Governor of two schools, and Governors of a hospital
Foundation Trust.
The imminent funding cuts across the
NHS are causing me great concern over our future development and
growth as a society. In fact, I believe it to be highly detrimental
and destructive, with long term repercussions, which have yet to be
acknowledged openly.
In one area of my community
involvement, as a volunteer with a national help line, I estimate
that around 80% of genuine callers have mental health issues.
These can range from short term issues
caused by a sudden crisis, such as bereavement, health issues, loss
of job or financial difficulties, right across the spectrum to long
term ongoing problems involving deep seated mental anguish; in my
view almost always as a result of abuse, violence or abandonment of
some kind early in their lives.
When speaking of abuse we tend to think
of women but the effect on men seems to be almost on a par, although
they are often less keen to discuss it.
In almost every case, when contacting
the help line they are fully aware of what is going on, how they are
feeling and the effect their mental state is having on not only their
own ability to function normally, but also the impact on those
closest to them.
They feel vulnerable, unworthy, and in
a state of despair where they see no way out of their situation. Many
of these people often call the help line daily, sometime several
times a day, and say that this is their only lifeline, albeit a
temporary way of coping raher than providing a permanent solution to
their problem.
The reason I raise this is that,
particularly with long term sufferers, the overwhelming cry for help
is that they cannot access the professional services that can help
them to cope and move forward with their lives. Time after time I
hear of people who have been waiting, not just weeks, but months, for
someone, anyone, to provide the professional support they so
desperately need. The lack of provision within the mental health
sector is a complete disgrace and the thought that funding is to be
further reduced fills me with horror.
This short sighted approach does not
take into account the long term problems we are storing up,
particularly when, with the current economic situation, we are
certain to see a sharp increase in those unable to cope.
Just consider the impact of not
addressing this as a matter of urgency:
How much does it cost -
- every time some tries to commit suicide, self-harms, takes an overdose?
- every time someone has to be off work due to depression and may never return?
- when families breakdown as a result of mental illness?
- when in a state of despair someone lashes out in violence due to inner frustration?
- to keep someone on anti-depressants for the rest of their life?
- every time someone feels they have no-one to turn to?
- for each and every member of society who feels they cannot function fully?
In real terms how little would it cost
to try to address issues quickly and efficiently to avoid escalation,
and with it, increased cost?
I’m not talking here of underlying
medical conditions such schizophrenia, but situations which with
proper help and support could be resolved, at least in part.
Whilst this woeful lack of adequate
provision continues we can only expect the number of people who can
contribute to our society to decrease, providing further pressure on
those of us who are in a position to help….. how long before we too
buckle under the pressure….
Welcome to the mad house, it could soon
become the norm.
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