Dementia will cost less because of research

A new report from the Alzheimer's Research Trust claims that the cost of dementia in England will be reduced in the future due to advances from research which will lower the predicted number of dementia sufferers

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Coalition of charities plan to improve mental health of young people

The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition, is planning new strategies to improve the mental health of young people up to the age of 25. The fifteen charities involved are concerned that the stress affecting young people in the UK is not being adequately addressed

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Confident Communities, Brighter Futures

The Mental Health Division of the Department of Health has published a new report: Confident Communities, Brighter Futures: a framework for developing well being as part of the New Horizon: A Shared Vision for Mental Health strategy. It "sets out the argument and evidence base for prioritising well-being, and provides a systematic approach to selected evidence-based approaches and interventions that have been shown to be effective across the life course, and across key public health domains"
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Better treatment for depression needed say GPs

A survey rolled out by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has found that despite recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 65% of UK general practitioners do not initiate psychologcal therapies for depressed patients within two months. The survey was conducted in conjunction with the mental health charity MIND who are campagning for better therapy services.

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New report on criminal justice & mental health

The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health has published a new report which confirms that mental health services and the criminal justice system have had more collaboration. However those who experience both services have had differing perceptions on the results

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Dementia and stigma

A government survey has highlighted the stigma related to dementia. One in three people omitted to feeling uneasy in the company of a person suffering with dementia. To counteract this a new campaign has been launched involving people with dementia. The aim is to educate people as to how they can relate to and help dementia sufferers.

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Dementia experts to boost research

The Care Services Minister Phil Hope is chairing a group of experts who will be striving to stimulate more research into dementia. It aims to generate more funding and more public support for research. The group is comprised of scientists, researchers, charity leaders and government officials.

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Call for better NHS care for mentally ill offenders

A report by Laing and Buisson analysts states that severely mentally ill prisoners are not getting the NHS care they need despite the savings in reoffending costs this treatment would generate. It is estimated that severely ill offenders make up 1.5% of the 80, 000 prison population. The government has said that measures are in hand to rectify the problem.

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Ofsted report on CAMHS for young people in care

Ofsted have published a report on the inconsistent provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for young people in care. Young people over the age of 16 from twenty seven homes in eight local authorities were assessed and the barriers to accessing services were highlighted.

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Valium as addictive as heroin

Scientists have warned that benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam) that are well known treatments for anxiety are as addictive as Class A drugs such as heroin. The Swiss study in Nature journal said benzodiazepines use the same "reward pathways" in the brain. It is hoped that the findings of this research will lead to the next generation of non-addictive treatments for anxiety.

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