David Rutley

WE recognised World Mental Health Day earlier this month. For too long, there has not been enough focus on tackling mental health challenges, but it is good to see positive progress being made, with mental health rightly receiving greater crossparty support and becoming a stronger priority for the government.

A key challenge is promoting better mental wellbeing among younger people, especially in our age of social media, and this is something I actively support. It was good to visit Poynton High School recently to learn about its participation in the innovative Emotionally Healthy Schools project.

This important partnership is helping local schools enhance pastoral care and improve mental health outcomes.

It is supported by, among others, Cheshire East Council, Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership, our local mental health service provider.

I’m also grateful to local charities, such as Just Drop-In, for their work to ensure younger people get help when they need it.

As the charity’s patron, I was particularly proud when its hardworking volunteers recently received a well-deserved Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for their inspiring work helping local young people feeling isolated or under pressure to find their feet.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership is working to put a greater focus on community mental health services across Cheshire East. While recognising this important objective, I believe it is vital that we keep beds for adults with acute mental health needs here in Macclesfield, and I am pleased to actively support the aims of the local campaign in support of this purpose, organised by the East Cheshire Mental Health Forum.

Having high quality mental health service provision in and around Macclesfield must continue to be a priority, and I will go on speaking up for local residents and communities to that end.