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

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 375

This week's bulletin, no 375, is a meagre offering as it's author has suffered from flu all week! So I shall just wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 374

Winterbourne is in the news again, and in the pre Christmas bulletin, no 374,  you can read the government's  final report on the Winterbourne View abuse scandal. Transforming Care: a national response to Winterbourne View Hospital includes a foreward from Norman Lamb the Minister of State for Care and Support which outlines the way forward to better care

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 373

The Autumn Statement has mental health charities and agencies discussing the financial repercussions for people with mental health issues. Bulletin No. 373 has all this and more

Mental Health & Social Care Current Awareness Bulletin No. 372

Bulletin No. 372 has a larger than usual section on dementia which is topical given that this week the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, stated in his blog, according to the Evening Standard, that dementia was one of his four key priorities for the NHS. This follows on from his promise last month of £50 million for specialised care homes and wards for dementia sufferers.