The Royal College of Psychiatrists responds to the first King’s Speech under the new Labour Government. The speech set out the Government’s legislative agenda for the upcoming year.
In particular, the College welcomes the Government’s commitment to achieving parity of esteem for mental and physical health, and a pledge to modernise the Mental Health Act. Additionally, their focus on prevention and mental health support, as well as reducing waiting lists and improving mental health provision for young people is well received.
Responding to today’s King’s Speech, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Lade Smith CBE said:
“The King’s speech under a new Labour Government has today rightly recognised that the NHS is a service for all.
“We are thrilled that Government has acknowledged that mental health is as important as physical health and commend their focus on prevention. Additionally, we are really pleased about the prioritizing of mental health support, reducing waiting lists and improving mental health provision for young people.
“Reform to the Mental Health Act in England and Wales is long overdue. We hope the proposed legislation announced today will provide more choice and autonomy for patients. This will be helped by the use of advance choice documents which not only help to provide a sense of autonomy but can help reduce compulsory detention.
“This proposed legislation could improve care, increase safeguards and provide more opportunities to address racial disparities as well as the structural discrimination that exists within society and gives rise to these disparities.
“This follows efforts already underway in Wales to modernise the legislative framework through the Mental Health Standards of Care (Wales) Bill, which is set to be introduced into the Senedd later this year.
“Detentions under the Mental Health Act continue to occur at an unacceptably increasing rate. In addition to the reform, we must make sure we also tackle the underlying causes of the increase in mental health problems that we have been seeing over the past few years, including insecure housing, unemployment, increasing inequality and adverse childhood experiences. Independent research commissioned by the College has shown that any reform must be accompanied by an expansion of services and growth of the mental health workforce, especially in the community.
“We are especially pleased to see the Government focus on improving mental health provision for young people. We know that around half of all mental illnesses develop by the age of 14 and three-quarters by the age of 24. We hope the Children’s Wellbeing Bill will improve young people's health and identify symptoms earlier, thus reducing the likelihood of them becoming adults with chronic mental health conditions.
“Government made a commitment to reduce violence against women and girls and improve support for victims of crime. Overall, women’s rates of mental ill-health are increasing but the specific needs of this population are not being adequately addressed by current service provision. In a survey of psychiatrists earlier this year it was identified that for both children and young people and adult females, the top three issues driving their poor mental illness and causing significant harm were violence and abuse, relationship issues often caused by coercive behaviour, and home, carer and family pressures.
“We also support plans of an incremental smoking ban, it is vital that smoking cessation programmes are properly resourced and take into account the needs of people with mental illnesses. People with severe mental illness die on average 15 to 20 years earlier than the general population, and the effects of smoking, along with other preventable physical illnesses, are major contributing factors.
“The plan to introduce a draft bill for a ban on conversion practices for LGBTQ+ people is positive. With the appropriate drafting of legislation and implementation guidance, clinicians can still help people fully explore their sexual and gender identity where appropriate. However, conversion practices are known to cause severe physical and psychological suffering and violate the human rights of LGBTQ+ people. The legislation must be introduced to address this as a matter of urgency.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
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