Cambridge MP swears to take on mental health with MQ research charity

The event comes as new figures from mental health research charity MQ showed that 42 per cent of people in the UK believe that mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are now an inevitable part of life. Eighty-four per cent said that not enough is being done to tackle mental health. Sixty-eight per cent of parents believe that having more education about mental health could prevent future suffering.

Daniel Zeichner said: “Research funding in mental health is now so low that just £8 is spent per person affected by mental health. For far too long, mental health has been a stigmatised issue but the work of charities like MQ shows that we all care.

“The current level of spending on mental health issues is unacceptable. I am proud to support the work of MQ and the ‘We Swear’ campaign to show that we all care about the level of support given to those who suffer from mental ill health.”

Daniel Zeichner’s pledge comes in the wake of a joint-move by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and mental health charity Mind to open a new Cambridge “safe haven”, called the Sanctuary, which provides practical and emotional support as part of the new Urgent and Emergency Care Vanguard programme in the county. It has received 4,000 referrals since opening in September 2016.

Meet Cambridge, the free venue-finding service for meetings and events in Cambridge, also recently announced that Mind in Cambridgeshire will be its dedicated local charity for 2017.

 
About MQ: Transforming Mental Health is the first major mental health research charity. Its aim is create a world where mental illness is understood, effectively treated, and ultimately prevented. This year, the charity is bringing together leading scientists in an innovative world-class consortium to better understand how mental illness develops, identify those who are most at risk, develop effective interventions, and ensure they are implemented. Current research projects are investigating conditions including childhood psychosis, ADHD, depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia.

One in four people in the UK is living with a mental health condition. That’s nearly 15 million people with an illness that affects their wellbeing, their relationships with family and friends, and their ability to work.

Despite 75 per cent of mental illness starting before the age of 18, less than 30 per cent of the total mental health research spend is focused on children and young people. As a result, the majority of mental healthcare resources are not designed or developed for young people, leading to poor treatment outcomes in young people and hindering prevention efforts.
 
Three children in an average class are affected by a diagnosable mental illness. But many are waiting a decade between experiencing their first symptoms and getting help. Only a quarter of young people referred to services receive appropriate care.
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