Cllr Michael Mullaney supports charity’s call for better mental health provision

Hinckley and Bosworth Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Cllr Michael Mullaney has backed calls for better provision of support for local people in mental health crisis. Mind, the mental health charity, is calling for local services to deliver on their promise to improve the support for people who are suicidal, self-harming or in psychosis.

Last year, national and local governments, and leaders of key services in England, including health, police, and voluntary organisations, signed the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, an agreement that sets national standards for the care of people in mental health crisis. The Concordat aims to make sure that no matter where someone turns, they get the help they need and don't fall through the cracks between different services. Key organisations in Leicestershire have since come together to sign their own local declaration agreeing to achieve the Concordat standards and are now preparing a local action plan to deliver them.

Michael Mullaney said "One in four people will experience a mental health problem this year and countless more will be affected through friends, family, work colleagues and other people in their lives.

" A growing number of people are accessing mental health services - services must be able to respond quickly and appropriately when someone reaches out and asks for help.

" I am supporting Mind's campaign to improve crisis care and will be monitoring progress on our local Concordat declaration to make sure that good intentions are made a reality for everyone trying to access crisis care."

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: "In a mental health crisis, your mind is at melting point. You may experience extreme anxiety, have suicidal thoughts or even a psychotic episode. It can happen to anyone. When you're in crisis you need compassion and understanding, no matter who you turn to for help - whether it's health and ambulance services, the police, social care or voluntary organisations.

"Signing a local Concordat is the first step in improving services but we need to see these good intentions translated into better services for everyone in crisis. We need the next government, and the next set of MPs, to provide clear leadership and resources to make sure the Concordat's standards are achieved and local action plans delivered so that excellent crisis care is available everywhere."

More information about the Concordat, including details about Leicestershire's declaration, can be found at www.crisiscareconcordat.co.uk

About Mind:

• Please note that Mind is not an acronym and should be set in title case. www.mind.org.uk

• Mind has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am - 6pm, Monday - Friday)

• Please contact the Mind Media Team for interviews or further information on 02085221743. For out of hours support please call 07850788514 or email the media team onmedia@mind.org.uk.

Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat: the joint statement

We commit to work together to improve the system of care and support so people in crisis because of a mental health condition are kept safe and helped to find the support they need - whatever the circumstances in which they first need help - and from whichever service they turn to first.

We will work together, and with local organisations, to prevent crises happening whenever possible through prevention and early intervention. We will make sure we meet the needs of vulnerable people in urgent situations. We will strive to make sure that all relevant public services support someone who appears to have a mental health problem to move towards Recovery.

Jointly, we hold ourselves accountable for enabling this commitment to be delivered across England.