Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 422

You can access all the latest information in Bulletin No. 422 which is not only the final bulletin of 2013 but also my final bulletin as I am retiring. Hopefully this blog will be continued by the new appointee. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all.



Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 421

As hosts of the 2nd only disease specific G8 summit, the first being on HIV, the UK has called upon the world to meet the challenge of dementia; a disease that should no longer just be considered a natural part of getting older. The summit was addressed by both the Prime Minister and the the Health Secretary. All this and more in Bulletin 421

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 420

With the G8 Summit on Dementia taking place here in the UK on the 11th December, the Department of Health has issued a press statement informing the public that they will be able to watch the summit live through the Dementia Challenge site. Much more mental health and social care news and research can be accessed in Bulletin No. 420.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 419

The Department of Health has updated its strategy on dementia with a new report which has investigated dementia care, its support and research in England. Included is an interactive map detailing dementia services throughout England. To read about this report and much more access Bulletin 419.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 418

Although there as been much discussion on how Mental Health needs to be on an equal footing with physical illness, it would appear that in reality  Health and Wellbeing Boards are choosing, if not to ignore it completely, to give it a low priority. This is highlighted in the report from the Centre for Mental Health: A Place for Parity: Health and Wellbeing Boards and Mental Health. You can read much more than this in Bulletin 418

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 417

The 2012 report from Time to Change  shows that attitudes in this country to mental illness are gradually changing. A survey of over 1700 people also showed that the greater change was among women rather than men. Furthermore it seemed that tolerance came with increased age. This article and research all available in Bulletin 417

Mental Health & Social care Bulletin No. 416

The big news this week was the Australian report in the BMJ which commented on the wider diagnostic parameters for ADHD which in the view of the authors is resulting in misdiagnosis and unnecessary prescribing of drugs such as Ritalin, worldwide. However other experts feel that the criteria for prescribing in the UK is too strict. Also figuring in the news is the the release by Public Health England of statistics for alcohol treatment in England from 2012 - 2013. There has been a small increase in instigations of treatment. All this and much more in Bulletin No. 416

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 415

Great Ormond Street Hospital has started trialling the new simple blood test for Down's Syndrome in preparation for it to be rolled out across the NHS. The shadow health secretary has promised mental health counselling on the NHS will be a right for everyone if Labour is returned to power. You can read these news stories and research in Bulletin 415.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 414

There are still problems about the fate of people with learning disabilities post Winterbourne; there are concerns that the funding isn't coming through for community placements. There are also concerns about the fate of older people post the Orchard View care home scandal and the Quality Care commission will be conducting a serious case review on the agencies involved. You can read both these articles and research on all aspects of mental health in Bulletin No. 414.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 413

Bulletin 413 is now available to view