Published on: 7th November 2016
The Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is backing a new national campaign which calls for an increase in funding for mental health services in England.
The Equality for Mental Health campaign has been launched by former mental health minister Norman Lamb, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell and former Labour communications director Alistair Campbell.
Over 200 celebrities have already pledged their support to a letter (equality4mentalhealth.uk), which is pushing for mental health to be treated just as seriously as other illnesses.
Now Dr John Brewin, Chief Executive of the Trust which provides Lincolnshire’s specialist mental health and social care services, has also backed the campaign.
Dr Brewin said he was pleased to see that mental health equality is being pushed back into the limelight once again.
Campaigns like this not only raise the profile of mental health issues, but they help tackle the stigma associated with these conditions, and inform people that there are effective treatments and interventions that can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Although the Government increased overall spending on mental health in 2014/15, the campaign states more can be done to address a continuing inequality in care standards and funding.
Alongside Dr Brewin, high profile names including comedian Ruby Wax, actor Emma Thompson and Comic Relief boss Richard Curtis have also backed the drive.
Richard Curtis said:
I know professionally how deeply necessary more, not less funding is in the area of mental health. As someone who has been through years with someone I love fighting mental illness, I know personally the astonishing bravery that many people with mental illness show every day and the terrifying burden that they carry.
