Policy watch
| Published date | 24 February 2012 |
| Pages | 4-7 |
| Date | 24 February 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211205847 |
| Author | Simon Lawton‐Smith |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Policy watch
Simon Lawton-Smith
Abstract
Purpose – This paper seeks to review recent and forthcoming developments in mental health policy
across the UK.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper summarises and comments on recent policy documents
and initiatives.
Findings – The paper suggests how changes to policy might impact on mental health services.
Originality/value – The paper updates knowledge of recent and forthcoming mental health policy.
Keywords Mental health policy,Mental health strategy, Wellbeing, Government policy,United Kingdom
Paper type Conceptual paper
The autumn tends historically to be a quietish time for national policy makers, with Parliaments
and Assemblies across the UK in recess some of the time, and party conferences –
once the battleground of real debate about policy – seldom coming up with anything radical
at all.
Last October and November,however, saw something of a spurt in activity, and I am going to
focus particularly on two publications, around measuring wellbeing, and where England
spends our mental health money.
Measuring wellbeing across the UK
Readers may recall that I have previously written of the Office for National Statistics (ONS)’
work on wellbeing in the whole population. The idea is to measure the UK’s progress, and
broaden our view of what is important to people’s wellbeing, over and above just looking at
our economic performance (via GDP). This measurement will then be used to make
wellbeing a key driver of future national and local policy. As an ONS spokesperson has put it:
‘‘We want to consult with the public, organisations and businesses across the UK, as well as
central and local government, to ask what matters most in people’s lives and what is
important for measuring the nation’s wellbeing’’.
October saw the launch of a consultation based on the results from the ONS initial debate
exercise, published at the end of July (Office for National Statistics, 2011). This found that
the things that matter to people most are our health, relationships, work and the environment.
These were also the themes that the majority of respondents agreed should be reflected in
any measure of national wellbeing, with the addition of education and training (perhaps not
surprising at a time of recession when so many are unemployed, or feel their jobs are at risk).
On the question of income, respondents cited the importance of having an adequate income
or wealth to cover basic needs. So financial security was one key to wellbeing, though not,
it appears, fabulous riches.
PAGE 4
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MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 16 NO. 1 2012, pp. 4-7, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/20428301211205847
Simon Lawton-Smith is
Head of Policy at the Mental
Health Foundation,
London, UK.
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