Policies add to mental problems

THE Prime Minister has missed the point on mental health. The Government lacks a comprehensive strategy to improve mental health services for all of society and Theresa May is blind to the fact that the Conservative government’s own policies have harmed many people’s mental health.

We want society to be more open in talking about how many people experience mental health problems; how we can better help them and help to alleviate the causes.

To hear the Prime Minister saying she will do more is to be welcomed but there are gaping holes in the Government’s strategy. With one in four people having mental health problems the Government shouldn’t only focus on young people. Counselling services must be more widespread and accessible.

There is a long waiting time to access counselling. Once individuals pluck up the courage to seek help, acting quickly to support them is critical. In Wales there are extensive geographical problems involved in some communities accessing counselling services.

The Prime Minister shows no awareness that Conservative policies over the past six years have harmed people. Benefit cuts have caused terrible stress for families and forced people into poverty and to rely on food banks.

In public services the government has proudly made savage cuts to spending, callously disregarding the community support services that are forced to close as a result.

We’ve lost 23,700 jobs in Welsh local government services thanks to the Tories; for the staff who remain there is intolerable pressure to do more with less.

The government should be more honest and committed in its approach to tackling mental health problems.