‘New Horizons’ for mental health
A new strategy designed to help people suffering from mental health problems has been launched by the Department of Health. *
The scheme, named ‘New Horizons’, aims to promote good mental health and build on the National Service Framework, which comes to an end this year.
A series of ‘listening’ events will be held to find out what the new strategy should cover. **
One in four people will suffer from a form of mental illness at some point during their lives, and six million people are currently suffering from depression or anxiety.
Phil Hope, Care Services Minister, said: “Mental illness affects us all. Whether it is ourselves, a family member or a friend, lots of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives.
“Over the past 10 years we've made great strides in transforming the way mental health is dealt with. But we need to do more.
“Individuals, employers and all sorts of organisations have a role to play in helping to achieve good mental health for all. So, we're going around the country to hear people's views and hope to publish our new vision later this year. My ambition is to create a strategy that will improve services and promote public mental health and wellbeing for years to come.”
The initiative follows the Mental Health Foundation’s calls for a nationwide campaign to tackle the UK’s ‘culture of fear’. ***
Recent research conducted for the charity found that 77 per cent of adults find the world more frightening today than in 1999, because of issues such as knife crime, MRSA, terrorism and bird flu.
Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said: “The modern world will test our resilience again and again and people need to know how to process their emotions better to prevent harm to their mental and physical health.
“A mental health promotion campaign that shows individuals how to look after their own mental health would be of immense public benefit, and help prevent common mental health problems like anxiety and depression.”
Westfield Health recognises the importance of maintaining good mental health and wellbeing, and offers a wide range of benefits to ensure its policyholders have access to services that can help them through difficult times.
Most Westfield plans include a 24 hour freephone counselling and advice line, which enables policyholders to speak to a trained counsellor, lawyer or medical adviser at any time, day or night.
Some corporate plans also offer up to six face to face counselling sessions, which give policyholders the opportunity to talk through issues in person.
Read more about the Advantage Plan:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/advantage/index.asp
Read more about the Good4you Plan:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/my-westfield/good4you/index.asp
Read more about the Foresight Healthcare Plan:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/foresight/index.asp
Read more about the Chamber Primary Health Plan: http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/chamber/index.asp
* http://news.netdoctor.co.uk/news_detail.php?id=19118489
** http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_097701
*** http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7988310.stm
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