Spending cuts undermine vital progress made in mental health, says TUC

10 Oct 2011 10:16 AM

On World Mental Health Day (Monday), the TUC is warning that the government's spending cuts risk reversing vital progress made in the recognition and treatment of mental health issues in the UK.

In August, the union backed anti-cuts campaign website False Economy found that 17 NHS mental health trusts were facing significant staff redundancies. At the same time, many local authorities were reporting actual or planned closures of day centres (Dorset, Leeds, Nottingham, Peterborough, Shropshire and Staffordshire), drop-in centres (Aberdeen) and other mental health projects (Andover, Manchester and Southend).

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The TUC fears that the government's spending cuts are undermining the increasing recognition of the extent of mental ill health problems we have seen in the workplace and beyond in recent years, and the measures that have been taken in response.

'Across the UK, local authority and NHS mental health services are falling victim to budget cuts, and people are losing vital support mechanisms which were helping them stay in or get back into work.

'On top of this, the stress arising for many workers from the massive job cuts in the public sector, and the uncertainty hanging over those who remain, is not conducive to healthy workplaces.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- For more information about False Economy please visit www.falseeconomy.org.uk

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk