You won't read this very often on this blog, but I am going to give some credit to the Royal family this morning.
I am a republican at heart. I have no time for the privilege of the Royal family or the deferment given to it. But that said, the younger royals did not have to pick mental ill health as a cause, and they have.
I have the good fortune to have never suffered mental ill health. I have, however, supported several people who have suffered considerably with it. Second hand I know more about it because of the suffering of those that I know than I would wish. Any attention given to this issue is welcome in my opinion.
This Guardian article is good, but most especially watch the videos. If the Royals make a difference here I am happy to acknowledge it. But thanks to all those with the courage to speak. Because that really matters.
As, quite critically, does funding. And austerity is harming that whilst increasing demand. It's one of the many reasons I hate it.
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Credit to you for highlighting it. Where I live I see the provision being reduced. Some of the mental health provision has been given from the NHS to local authorities who are having to make cuts in many areas. As one official said to me, ‘we do a lot of signposting.’ trouble is, the third sector , to which people are signposted, is often losing funding. The local MIND had to shut. Much of the work was done by volunteers but some people need to be employed. The previous mangers spent lots of their time writing bids for money which was often ring fenced or only for a few years with no re-application. I understand the need to ensure money is well spent but these services need secure funding. We need to take it seriously.
The Royal Family is also a useful means of distraction. Bump off the Queen and tell Harry to get on with it and a state funeral, coronation and Royal wedding should keep the masses suitably distracted during Brexit negotiations.
You think this isn’t already in the Tories ‘playbook’? To be honest, I expected a minor royal to get bumped off a couple of days before the first Indyref in Scotland…
Richard, thank you for supporting this. My family has been blighted by mental health problems for years and it is important that this is recogised as a ‘proper’ illness and should be treated as such. I agree that the general economic situation in the UK is certainly not helping. Best wishes.
Thankyou for your kind words and understanding… wish it would rub off on the government !!! I would love to work and up until 4 yrs ago i had a very good job with megga pay but now suffer constant fits …depression and anxiety etc and the government have insured that I now feel more isolated and depressed by taking/snatching my entitlement to help away. I think I might as well give up !!!!do they really think we would try to survive on benefits for fun ??
You have my sympathy
I wonder if they have ever really met anyone really hit by full on mental illness and have any insight into the trauma it causes
Sadly, Tracey, many people who suffer from mental illness do not realise it or are in denial about it. It is hard to treat such people.