Speaking at a conference “Bamford - One Year On” organised by the Law Centre of Northern Ireland to celebrate World Mental Health Day, the Minister said it was important to have campaigns which raised awareness and tackled the stigma around mental health.
He said: “It is not acceptable that we still have large numbers of people with mental illness or a learning disability remaining in hospital because there are not sufficient support mechanisms to allow them to live in the community. The Bamford Review has pointed the way to all of us on how to modernise our mental health and learning disability services and make them fit for purpose for the 21st Century.
“It is widely recognised that mental health has, for too long, been the Cinderella service within health. I therefore fully accept all the recommendations from Bamford and am committed to their full and effective implementation. I will be working with my Executive colleagues to ensure that mental health provision is given the attention and finance that it clearly requires and deserves.
The Minister continued: “Attitudes to mental health and learning disability also have to change in line with services. We have to tackle the ignorance and fears of society to reduce discrimination and stigmatisation in order to allow those users of services to be fully integrated into the community.”
The Minister has also established a Mental Health and Learning Disability Board who will act as champions for people with mental health and learning disabilities and will be one of the driving forces in delivering the Bamford reforms.
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Notes to Editors:
- The Bamford Review is the first comprehensive review of policy, services and law for people with mental health needs or learning disability in Northern Ireland. Named after the late Professor David Bamford, the Review comprises 10 reports, some dealing with broad service areas, such as learning disability and adult mental health, and some with specialised services, for example, for children, for older people, for those who misuse substances and for those in contact with criminal justice system. The reports make over 600 recommendations in all, and, set an agenda for reform over the next 15 years or so.
- The World Federation for Mental Health established World Mental Health Day, which has been celebrated annually on 10 October since 1992. The Mental Health Foundation aims to influence, improve or change policy and legislation that affect people’s mental health and mental well-being, particularly where it is determined by Government. The Day is co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation. The theme for 2007 is 'Mental Health in a Changing World: The Impact of Culture and Diversity'.
