MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Early day motion 230, tabled 22 November 2006 by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 52 members.

That this House recognises the acute and worsening shortages in mental health services; notes that nine out of ten doctors are prescribing antidepressants because of a lack of available alternatives, despite National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, recommending psychological therapies for many patients with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia; further notes that the Government does not provide adequate resources to care for patients in the community and that there are more mentally ill people on incapacity benefits than the total number of unemployed people on benefit; and welcomes this year's London School of Economics Depression Report, which says that expanding therapy services could be paid for by the savings this would make to the benefit bill.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 23, Labour 12, Conservative 6, DUP 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1, UUP 1.