Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 385

In Bulletin No. 385 once again the main news topics are dementia and social care.and learning disabilities. Concern over care caps and the standards in care homes feature. The Alzheimer's Society has declared that too many dementia sufferers are placed in homes at too early a stage and a study has concluded that progress has been made in the reduction of prescribing antipsychotics to dementia sufferers. Another study has found that people who have learning disabilities have a significantly shorter life span and that they are still targets for hate crime.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 384

Dementia takes centre stage again in Bulletin No. 384. The Department of Health has published its nursing vision and strategy: Making a Difference to Dementia and has issued a letter: The Right Care: creating dementia-friendly hospitals. Meanwhile the Care Quality Commission has published a report: Care Update2: Dementia which criticises the care given to dementia sufferers across the nation, saying the country is struggling to deliver effective care.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 383

In the Research section in Bulletin No. 383 there is an article which appears in the BMJ that gives more insight into debunking the myth that mentally ill people are the perpertrators of violence. The research shows that mentally ill people are the likely victims of violence and murder. In the news are statistics that show heroin and crack use is falling and alcohol-realated deaths are holding steady

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 382

Matters concerning alcohol figure in Bulletin No. 382. A coalition of 70 alcohol groups have produced a report which includes a call for a  concensus across the UK for a minimum of 50p price per unit of acohol. The Welsh branches of Alcohol Concern and The Royal College of Psychiatrists have published a report on the links between problem gambling and alcohol. Following on from a report which showed a higher level of alcohol intake by children in Brighton than in other parts of the country, the local authority is considering implementing contracts where parents pledge not give their children alcohol. Also in this bulletin a new section on Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Mental Health & Social Care Current Awareness Bulletin No. 381

In Bulletin No. 381, learning disabilities come to the fore: NICE has set up a consultation  until March 21st on its draft quality standard on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Meanwhile we are all being urged by Mencap to lobby our new Police and Crime Commisssioners to put an end to learning disabilty hate crime. Mencap is also concerned about the effect a reduction in housing options is having on people with learning disabilities.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 380

In Bulletin 380 you can read that the Quality Care Commission (QCC) has just released their report: Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2011/12. This annual report focuses on the delivery of care to people who are covered by the Act, with an emphasis on dignity and involvement. With this in mind the QCC maintained after visiting 1,546 wards that patients were not being involved in the decision making surrounding their care. The Department of Health and mental health organisations have all welcomed the report and agreed with the findings

Mental Health & Social care Bulletin No. 379

Depression and other mental health problems continue to take their toll. The official figures for the rates of suicide in the United Kingdom in 2011 have been published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS figures show that the number of suicides rose last year; 437 more than 2010. There was a particular increase in male suicides with the rate for middle aged men high. The government's pledge of £1.5 million and a new prevention strategy last year have yet to yield results. You can read about this and more in Bulletin 379

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 378

Once again Dementia is at the forefront of the news. In Bulletin No. 378 you can access the Alzheimer's Society's news statement that everyone is discussing; from national to local level. The gap between the number of people being officially diagnosed and the actual number of sufferers is wide throughout the country. Furthermore the Alzheimer's Society's Prevalence and Diagnosis map indicates vast variations throughout the country. The government has indicated that this is an unacceptable situation.

Mental Health & Social Care Current Bulletin No. 377

A new year and the debate on the future of social care provision continues. In Bulletin No. 377 in the publications section there is a report from the London Councils collaboration: A Case for Sustainable Adult Social Care which outlines the way forward when it is predicted there will be a £907 million shortfall for services in London in the years 2017/18. Meanwhile back at Westminster the coalition government has caused consternation due to the perceived lack of clarity in its review on the social cap costs likely to be introduced.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 376

Dementia is in at the forefront again in Bulletin No. 376. Warwickshire Council has a new portal to help dementia sufferers and their carers. A company in Bognor Regis is providing dementia sufferers with practical skills and there is a new study on music therapy for dementia