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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Older people ARE suffering as mental health service funding is raided - Councillor
August 15, 2007 8:36 PM
Commenting on the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life, supported by Age Concern, released last Monday former Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate for Gower and Dunvant Councillor Nick Tregoning said:
"With the number of older people set to grow in the coming years, the demand for mental health care will continue to rise."
"The challenge of providing services to our ageing population is the greatest challenge facing the NHS in the 21st century. The Inquiry suggests that up to one in four people over 65 and two in five people over 85 - are suffering depression or serious symptoms of depression and one in five people over 80 suffers dementia. There are also higher rates of suicide in people over the age of 75.
"Many older people are afraid to ask for help. Sadly, the findings of the UK Inquiry show that the right help isn't always there for them when they do.
"We must stop allowing mental health budgets to be sidelined by other priorities - all clamouring to get a piece of limited resources. It is surely one of the hallmarks of a civilised society that it protects and cares for the needy and vulnerable.
"Mental health is the Cinderella of our health services, yet it is clear that many of us - some estimates suggest a figure of 1 in 5 - will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives."
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