Crisis Care Concordat will improve mental health provision in Cheadle constituency – Mark Hunter MP

Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle constituency, has backed calls for better provision of support for local people in mental health crisis. Mind, the mental health charity, is calling for local services to deliver on their promise to improve the support for people who are suicidal, self-harming or in psychosis.

In 2014 national and local governments joined with leaders of key services in England (including health, police, and voluntary organisations) to sign the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, an agreement that sets national standards for the care of people in mental health crisis. The Concordat aims to make sure that no matter where someone turns, they will get the help they need and are never able to fall through the cracks between different services.

Key organisations in Cheadle constituency have already come together to sign their own local declaration agreeing to achieve the Concordat standards and are now preparing a local action plan to deliver them.

Mark Hunter MP said:

"One in four constituents will experience a mental health problem this year and countless more will be affected through friends, family, work colleagues and other people in their lives. I am supporting Mind's campaign to improve crisis care and will be monitoring progress on our local Concordat declaration to make sure that good intentions are made a reality for everyone trying to access crisis care.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said:

"In a mental health crisis, your mind is at melting point. You may experience extreme anxiety, have suicidal thoughts or even a psychotic episode. It can happen to anyone. When you're in crisis you need compassion and understanding, no matter who you turn to for help - whether it's health and ambulance services, the police, social care or voluntary organisations.

"Signing a local Concordat is the first step in improving services but we need to see good intentions translated into better services for everyone in crisis. We need the next government, and the next set of MPs, to provide clear leadership and resources to make sure the Concordat's standards are achieved and local action plans delivered so that excellent crisis care is available everywhere."

More information about the Concordat can be found at www.crisiscareconcordat.co.uk