Chloe SmithMP for Norwich North
Chloe Smith
Member of Parliament for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich South, Lisa Townsend, have backed calls for better provision of support for local people in mental health crisis. Mind, the mental health charity, is calling for local services to deliver on their promise to improve the support for people who are suicidal, self-harming or in psychosis.
Last year, national and local governments, and leaders of key services in England, including health, police, and voluntary organisations, signed the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, an agreement that sets national standards for the care of people in mental health crisis. The Concordat aims to make sure that no matter where someone turns, they get the help they need and don’t fall through the cracks between different services. Key organisations in Norwich have since come together to sign their own local declaration agreeing to achieve the Concordat standards and are now preparing a local action plan to deliver them.
Chloe commented:
“I know many constituents who have needed crisis care, and whilst I’ve helped where I can to get them the right care, I am supporting Mind’s campaign to improve crisis care. I’ll be monitoring progress on our local Concordat declaration to make sure that good intentions are made a reality for everyone trying to access crisis care.”
Lisa commented:
"The national Crisis Care Concordat has shown how organisations from across the public service and voluntary sector can work together to provide care when it is most needed. We know that crisis care is at its best when it is responsive to the needs of local people and so I fully back Mind's campaign and look forward to seeing what can be achieved for those experiencing a mental health crisis in Norwich".
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said:
“In a mental health crisis, your mind is at melting point. You may experience extreme anxiety, have suicidal thoughts or even a psychotic episode. It can happen to anyone. When you’re in crisis you need compassion and understanding, no matter who you turn to for help - whether it’s health and ambulance services, the police, social care or voluntary organisations.
“Signing a local Concordat is the first step in improving services but we need to see these good intentions translated into better services for everyone in crisis. We need the next government, and the next set of MPs, to provide clear leadership and resources to make sure the Concordat’s standards are achieved and local action plans delivered so that excellent crisis care is available everywhere.”
More information about the Concordat, including details about Norfolk’s declaration, can be found at http://www.crisiscareconcordat.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/MH-Crisis-Care-Concordat-Declaration-Norfolk-vFinal-July-2014.pdf