Letter: Priorities for the nation's health

Sir: The recognition by the Government of the importance of mental health to the country as a whole, as shown by the inclusion of mental illness as one of the five priorities in The Health of the Nation, is very welcome news.

The Mental Health Foundation has been arguing for many years that mental illness is far more prevalent, damaging and under- resourced than has ever been acknowledged officially. We are delighted that this has now been recognised but we do have two general areas of concern with the White Paper as it stands.

It is obviously disappointing that, because of the late inclusion of this area, the White Paper does not, except for suicide, have the detailed targets to focus on that it does in the other four key areas. We must therefore ensure that the necessary data is collated and the measurable targets established as a matter of urgency. If this is not done quickly, and progress cannot be measured, the momentum will be lost and mental illness may well slip off the Government's agenda once again.

The Health of the Nation rightly lays great store on the importance at local level of co-operation between health authorities, GPs, social services and the voluntary sector in providing comprehensive services in the community to tackle mental illness. It is generally silent, though, on the importance of such co-operation at central government level, yet without inter-departmental co-operation between, for example, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, little can be achieved locally in such important areas as the provision of supported housing, the foundation of community care.

The White Paper has done much to focus interest and attention on a vital area. There is, in the mental health field, the expertise, goodwill and energy to respond to the challenges. It is vital that the Government now harnesses this by providing real resources and opportunities and by setting an example of constructive inter- agency liaison and action.

Yours faithfully,

JUNE McKERROW

Director

The Mental Health Foundation

London, W1