Mental health patients 'given choice over care'

The government has announced it is to make sure people affected by mental health issues are given more choices regarding their care.

People who use mental health services are to be given more choice about where and how they get their condition treated in the NHS for the first time.

Care minister Norman Lamb stated people affected by mental health issues will benefit from being handed control over their own care.

"We've made it clear in the past that there can be no health without mental health and that we expect the NHS to place as much emphasis on people's mental health as on their physical health needs," he said.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, the mental health charity, welcomed the announcement.

He explained it is a step forward in giving mental health parity of esteem with physical health in the NHS.

Recent research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania claimed vacant land poses a threat to community, physical and mental health.

Read about support and personalised care at Barchester care homes for anyone with mental health concerns.