General Election Special, What each party plans for your Mental Health

So we are 6 days away from one of the most important General Elections in years in the UK and with so much internet garbage, arguments about Brexit and general toxic debate, it can be easy to get lost and struggle to get the right information, therefore hard for many to know who to vote for in this Election, some of you may even think of not bothering to vote which in my opinion is not the right way to go, the more who avoid voting means more chance of your problems never improving, voting may not give instant results, but it sure gives you more chance of getting the change you want.

Now many people will vote based on personal issues and experiences, so due to the importance of Mental Health and my reasons for this blog, i will be going into detail about what the 3 main parties say they will be doing to help improve Mental Health in the UK.

All the information is based on there Manifesto's and not my personal opinions, i want to try and be as honest as possible so you can make your own informed decision, or though i will give my opinion in some cases.

So lets start with the current Governing party the Conservatives lead by Boris Johnson

Conservatives Mental Health plans:

Now there's not much mention of Mental Health in the Conservative manifesto, its only mentioned 3 times to be exact, but here are the specific quotes they make

"Everyone will receive at least £5,000 with further funding in regions or disciplines that are struggling to recruit – such as mental health – and help with their childcare costs"

"We will treat mental health with the same urgency as physical health. We will legislate so that patients suffering from mental health conditions, including anxiety or depression, have greater control over their treatment and receive the dignity and respect they deserve."

That's basically it, so VERY vague indeed when it comes to the Mental Health sector of the NHS

Labour Mental Health plans:

Labours plans are a lot more promising, they have a whole dedicated section to Mental Health in there manifesto unlike the Tories, 16 times Mental Health is mentioned by Labour overall, some of there main statements being

"A Labour government will provide an additional £1.6 billion a year to ensure new standards for mental health are enshrined in the NHS constitution ensuring access to treatments is on a par with that for physical health conditions"

"We will invest £2 billion to modernise hospital facilities and end the use of inappropriate, out-of-area placements."

"We will invest more in eating disorders services and ensure NICE guidelines on eating disorders are implemented."

"We will implement in full the recommendations set out in the independent review of the Mental Health Act"

"We will establish a network of open access mental health hubs to enable more children to access mental health and recruit almost 3,500 qualified counsellors to guarantee every child access to school counsellors."

"Introduce mental health assessments in a maternal health check six weeks after birth."

"We will provide mental health support for staff and create a working environment within the NHS that is safe, flexible and free from harassment, bullying or violence."

There's also a mention of better communication between Police and Mental Health services, as well as better Mental Health support in the work place.

Liberal Democrats Mental Health plans:

Now the Lib Dems Manifesto is quite something, Mental Health is mentioned a amazing 54 times in there Manifesto, here's some of the quotes regarding Mental Health.

"We will transform our mental health service by treating it with the same urgency as physical health."

"Over the next Parliament, a Liberal Democrat government will invest £11 billion in mental health to expand access to therapies and increase the number of psychiatrists and specialist mental health practitioners. We will make mental health services 24-hour, including placing mental health liaison teams in all hospitals so that those facing a mental health crisis are not put in police cells."

"Prioritise government spending on the things that matter most to people’s wellbeing – both now and in the future – including: - Access to high-quality mental health and other health services."

"Mental Health education in Schools"

"Ring-fence funding from the 1p Income Tax rise to provide additional investment in mental health."

Introduce further mental health maximum waiting time standards, starting with children’s services, services for people with eating disorders, and severe and enduring conditions.

Make prescriptions for people with chronic mental health conditions available for free on the NHS

Implement all the recommendations of the Wessely review of the Mental Health Act,

Ensure those admitted to hospital for mental ill-health are able to be treated close to home for all but the most specialist mental health services

Fully introduce Sir Stephen Bubb’s ‘Time For Change’ report recommendations and ensure that Assessment and Treatment Units are closed urgently.

Introduce a target of one hour for handover of people suffering from mental health crisis from police to mental health services and support the police to achieve adequate levels of training in mental health response.

That's just the main proposals by the Lib Dem's, so in writing it all sounds very impressive.

Now some people may say

"The Lib Dem's will never get in so they can promise the world"

Which maybe partly true, but do take into consideration that in your area it may well be very possible to get your local Lib Dem candidate elected, therefore they should support Lib Dem's values regarding Mental Health in Parliament and hold the Government to account.

So on paper

Conservatives don't really care

Labour and Lib Dem's have massive plans to tackle Mental Health, will they stick to them?

Well to that question i would say this, Mental Health is terrible under the Conservatives and they show no passion in changing that, so if you're happy with how things are vote Conservative.

But if you really want any chance of change, you have to take the jump and let Labour or the Lib Dem's have the chance of at least proving themselves at what they have to offer, it sure can't get any worse with them than it currently is under the Tories