Call for more help for mental health services

A CAMPAIGNER from Hinckley is calling for more Government support for mental health services in the borough.

Lib Dem county and borough councillor Michael Mullaney is asking for more investment in services as the Covid-19 lockdown has affected many people’s wellbeing.

An estimated 89.4 per cent of adults reported feeling stressed or worried between April 3 and May 3, the highest figure in the country.

Coun Mullaney said: “The mental health scars of Covid19 will be deep and Hinckley and Bosworth is no exception.

“Across the East Midlands, nearly nine in 10 adults report that their mental health has been adversely impacted.

“We need investment now to ensure that people in Leicestershire can access the support they need, when they need it. This must not be a postcode lottery.

“That’s why the Liberal Democrats are calling on the

Government to act now to ensure people can access vital mental health support, and that local authorities and NHS trusts have the funding they need to deliver that support now and in the long term.

“People across the country, including in Leicestershire, are depending on it.”

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, said: “The vast majority of adults across the UK have experienced a tangible detrimental mental health impact as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

“This includes the tens of thousands of bereaved families whose lives will never be the same again, those in isolation, those in recovery, and those facing new financial strain.

“That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to urgently increase funding for and provision of mental health support.

“We are calling for access to support 24/7 for those working in health and care, many of whom are enduring daily trauma.

“This is alongside our demand for better funded, clearly signposted mental health support for every single community, so that we can reach those who are isolated or in hard-to-reach groups.”