Councils spending just 1% of health budgets on mental health

[firemonkey]

Local authorities in England are spending on average just 1% of their public health budgets on tackling mental health problems, the charity Mind has calculated.

It said the “negligible” amount undermined government commitments to put mental health issues on par with those relating to physical health.

Mind estimates just under £40m will be spent by local authorities in 2015-16, compared with nearly £664m on measures relating to sexual health, £160m on stop smoking measures, £111m on tackling obesity and £96m on promoting physical activity.

Data collected by Mind from local authorities with freedom of information requests suggested some did not intend to spend any money on mental health services, but Mind is not naming them, saying it is launching a public debate on the issue.


http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...-mental-health

[Olly.]

I knew the funding in this country was poor, but I didn't quite realise the full extent of it, that is utterly embarrassing, those other areas are certainly important, but how can anyone justify them getting that much more funding in comparison to mental health?

[firemonkey]

I think it's disgraceful. The mentally ill are being pushed into work and yet many are not getting the support they need.

[Carmine]

Th councils spend a lot of money on refurbishing offices, building luxury homes and overseas aide.