One in four Brits has a mental health illness in their lifetime but staff shortages mean just a QUARTER of patients get help
Two adaptations with A-list actors Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Lopez are set to come out next year about the Colombian cartel boss and 'godmother of cocaine' Griselda Blanco.
Jon Axworthy
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Jon Axworthy
ONE in four adults has a mental health illness at some point in their lives, but just a quarter get the help they need, say MPs.
They uncovered severe staff shortages in psychiatric wards and not enough mental health nurses.
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Commons Public Accounts Committee chair, Meg Hillier, stresses how 'crucial' it is for mental health service to get treated the same as public health servicesCredit: PA Archive
And a postcode lottery for services means sufferers struggle to get suitable treatment in many regions, the report found.
Commons Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier said it was “crucial” mental health services got equal priority with physical health services.
The MPs said that, while a Government drive to improve services was “laudable”, it would be hard to achieve due to the funding crisis in the NHS.
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Improvements in the NHS are hard to achieve due to the funding crisisCredit: Getty Images
The report also found mental health services are “complex, variable and difficult to navigate.”
Ms Hillier said: “The Government has committed to making much-needed improvements to mental health services but we are concerned it does not yet have sound foundations to build on.”
The committee based its report on evidence from the Department of Health, the NHS and mental health experts. The illnesses commonly include depression, anxiety and panic disorders.
