Lack of mental health sevices for female prisoners

A joint inspection by probation, prisons and Crown Prosecution Service inspectorates has found that community mental services for female prisoners are extremely poor and in 53% of cases services were unsatisfactory

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World Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health day. Visit the WFMH site

Mental Health Bulletin No. 319

The 319th edition of the mental health and social care bulletin is published today. Crammed with up todate information and research. 8 new publications included

Class A Drug treatment declines

The number of people beginning treatment for dependancy on cocaine and heroin fell substantially from 2008/9 numbers according to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse. The greatest decline was in the under 30's age group. This has been seen as a positive indiction of the way drug dependancy is being dealt with and not a lack of services precluding addicts from gaining help

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Mental Health Bulletin No. 318

The 318 issue of the Mental Health and Social Care Current Awareness Bulletin is out today. It is packed with all the usual topics in both the research and news sections. The website page has been revamped. There are new conferences too.

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A new dedicated clinic for Club Drugs

A new clinic dedicated to combating addiction to "Club" drugs such as ecstasy and ketamine has opened up in West London at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. A similar clinic was opened in 2009 at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM). It is hoped that the new clinic will be instrumental in preventing users of club drugs from progressing onto cocaine and heroin





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More say for the Learning Disabled needed

Mencap has criticised the ability of health professionals to understand, due to a lack of adequate training, the Mental Capacity Act and to then apply it to people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). As a direct result people with PMLD have too little involvement in the decision-making surrounding their care. After a three year collaboration with four other services Mencap have now published a guidance toolkit on their website: Involve Me

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Barriers to ethnic carers uptake of dementia services

A study in International Psychogeriatrics journal investigated why carers of ethnic minority dementia sufferers were significantly later in obtaining medical help compared to non ethnic carers. The authors concluded that traditional beliefs surrounding the duty of the family to look after its members prevented carers from seeking specialist help. The researchers also concluded that interventions were required that would break down the barriers to ethnic carers accessing specialist help.

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"Alarming" NHS child eating disorder statistics

NHS figures just released show a sharp increase in children being treated for eating disorders. In England 2000 children were treated with 197 under the age of 13 being admitted to hospital. The figures from 35 hospitals were procured under the Freedom of Information Act.

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Teenage abstinence or economy of truth?

Figures released by by the NHS Information Centre reveal that there has been a decrease in smoking, drinking and drug taking by teenagers. The data for 2009-2011 was procured from a survey conducted on 7,264 11- 15 year olds from 246 schools


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