Council takes lead on mental health issues (From Surrey Comet)

Surrey County Council takes lead on mental health issues

7:00am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in Top stories By Laura Proto

Surrey County Council will become one of the first local authorities to sign a pledge tackling mental health issues.

Michael Gosling, cabinet member for adult social care and health, will sign the promise as part of a national programme to encourage people to talk about mental health.

The Time to Change programme, led by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, also aims to end discrimination against those with mental health problems.

The county council will contribute by finding work at the authority for people who have experienced mental health issues and training other organisations.

The pledge comes after the council announced £1.7m was being invested to help people with mental health problems stay in their own homes and communities.

Helping people with mental health problems currently costs the council nearly £15.3m a year, about six per cent of the budget for adult social services.

Mr Gosling said: “Supporting vulnerable people is at the heart of what the council does so we’re pleased to be one of the first councils to be involved in this programme.”

The pledge will be signed on Monday, January 21, at County Hall.