MPs in Warwickshire should be fighting for local funding through Councils to transform mental health support - Cllr Jerry Roodhouse

Following the Prime Minister's speech on 9 January 2017 where Theresa May unveiled plans to transform mental health support, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse has written to the local papers stating that MPs in Warwickshire should be fighting for local funding to come through Councils and not lost in Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Dear Editor,

I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister mentioned mental health in her speech it at least gives recognition that this issue needs to be addressed. I also welcome the fact that some funding was being made available. However, this will not even scratch the surface or start to address the real problems that are growing. For instance, 1 in 4 of us will suffer from a mental health issue, we also know that more people now die from suicide in Warwickshire than from road deaths and self harm has increased.

Before Christmas I along with Norman Lamb MP, a campaigner for improving mental health services, were fortunate to spend time with some clients of Coventry & Warwickshire MIND we discussed at first hand the challenges they face from day to day the transition into adult services the barriers of diagnose and support. I have also met with families that have suffered the waiting times of Child & Adolescent Mental health services (CAHMS) which in turn add pressures to families.

Whilst speeches are welcome and warm words are said what is really needed is a better way of dealing with these matters. I am fully committed as are Liberal Democrats to find that better way and the Government could make a start by trusting Local Government and the Voluntary Sector organisations such as Coventry & Warwickshire MIND do valuable work and are very cost effective put the two together and you will get funding directly to where it is needed not swallowed away into a Clinical Commissioning Group CCG. My challenge to our Members of Parliament that are there to represent us is to fight for the funding needed and put it through local councils.

Yours sincerely,

Jerry Roodhouse

Leader Liberal Democrats Group