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News from other organisations and
the NHS
Mental health in the news
Spending on mental health services in
England has dropped by £150m, the first fall since 2001. However
this drop comes after a decade of rising investment: in 2001 just
£4.1bn was spent on working-age adults mental health. The
Department of Health report shows the shifting composition of
mental health spending with investment in the three traditional
priority areas – crisis resolution, early intervention and outreach
– falling for the first time by almost £30m.
Investment in mental health: working age adult and
older adult reports
The Department has
published two reports on the investment
in mental health services; the eleventh annual working age
adult report and the older adult mental health. The reports include
detail on levels of investment in mental health services and
therapies, and compare them to previous years.
New mental health strategy for Scotland
A
new strategy designed to improve the mental health
and wellbeing of everyone in Scotland has been launched and sets
out 36 key commitments to be delivered between now and 2015 to
deliver faster access to mental health services for younger people,
faster access to psychological therapies, a reduction in
suicide rates and less stigma and
discrimination.
Department of
Health
Care Quality Commission annual report on safer
management of controlled drugs
The CQC has published their
2011 annual report on the safer management
of controlled drugs. This fifth report makes a number of
recommendations for local action to improve the safer management of
controlled drugs and cites examples of good practice.
Centre for Social Justice: Beyond Violence:
breaking the cycle of abuse
A new report calls for a
fundamental overhaul of government policies to tackle the
substantial harm to children’s wellbeing. The
report from the Centre for Social Justice highlights the
scarring psychological impact of living with domestic abuse, which
it says is just as significant as being physically
abused.
New research from UK GPs reveals economic
climate's negative impact on our health
A new
report found that an overwhelming 76% of GPs
questioned in the survey said they believed the economic downturn
was making people in the UK unhealthier. According to the GPs in
the survey this has lead to an increase in abortions, anxiety and
alcohol abuse, as well as a rise in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
particularly in women. Over three quarters (77%) of the 300 GPs
surveyed felt there has been an increase in new cases of mental
health disorders linked to the stresses of the economic
climate.
Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management extends
membership
The Faculty of Medicine Leadership
and Management has extended its membership to
non-medical full members of UK medical royal colleges and
faculties. They have also introduced a retired category for
doctors. Individuals, who have an interest in medical leadership
but do not qualify for membership, can become Associates. Being a
member or associate can help individuals with an interest in
medical leadership make the most of their leadership and management
responsibilities through networking opportunities, information and
resource sharing facilities, advocacy support and help to find
professional development opportunities.
Update from NICE: 44 new proposed
indicators
NICE has published the first menu
of 44 new proposed
indicators recommended by the Commissioning Outcomes Framework
(COF) Advisory Committee. This menu of indicators will now be
considered by the NHS Commissioning Board for potential inclusion
in the 2013/14 COF and covers areas including aspects of care given
immediately after a stroke, access to mental health services,
etc.
Mental Health Research Network: guide to finding and
reading a research paper
The National Institute for Health
Research Mental Health Research Network have produced
a plain English guide to finding and reading a research paper.
The guide is intended to help service users and the general public
to find and access original mental health research papers.
Events
The
21st European Congress of Psychiatry is taking place
in Nice, France on 6-9 April 2013. The 2013 Congress will bring
psychiatrists and other discipline-related professionals together
to address the complex theme of ‘Europe challenges the burden of
mental disorders’.
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