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Mental Health – Speech – 4 April 2015
Today I delivered the following speech at the North East Mental Health 2015 Campaign meeting.
I am studying Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) – this is something I feel will help so many in Mental Health situations.
NLP is a bit like an ‘owner’s manual’ on how to use your brain!
At school we learned things like history and geography and maths and algebra, but we did not learn much about how to feel good or how to have great relationships.
That’s where NLP comes in.
NLP is a set of insights and skills
You can use the NLP methods to be more in charge of your thoughts and feelings.
…and to run your own life more successfully.
…and to communicate with other people much more effectively.
NLP is an ever-growing collection of information and insights, backed up by a huge range of mental NLP Techniques that can enable you to improve how you think, behave and feel – and assist others do the same.
Becoming skilled in NLP will enable you to:
• do whatever you already do reasonably well, even better
• acquire skills and attitudes to do what you cannot do right now, but would like to be able to do
• to think more clearly
• to communicate more effectively with others
• to manage your thoughts, moods and behaviours more effectively.
NLP is based upon the search for and the study of the factors which account for either success or failure in human performance.
The name Neuro-Linguistic Programming was invented in the early 70’s as an attempt to describe in a comprehensive manner the scope of this extensive body of insights and skills:
• Neuro refers to how the mind and body interact
• Linguistic refers to the insights into a person’s thinking that can be obtained by careful attention to their use of language
• Programming refers, not to the activity of programming, but to the study of the thinking and behavioural patterns which people use in their daily lives.
But – even terms like Certified NLP Practitioner or Certified NLP Master Practitioner are unreliable, since there are no universal standards anymore since the 1990s. I want to see this regulated, so there are guidelines to become qualified and practice NLP, so our Mental Health Services work for the better good. I will continue to support reform and fight in Westminster to get what we need for Mental Health.
So, what is meant by Mental Health?
Good mental health, is about feeling good in your mind, in your life, and being able to cope with problems when they happen, because, we all have problems, at times.
A problem with someone’s mind, can make it difficult to live a normal life. But, people with mental health problems, can live well, if they get the right treatment and support.
Mental Health problems can affect anyone, at any point in their life.
Improving mental health, and mental well-being, needs everyone, to work together.
Care for people with mental health, has got better, but, more help is needed.
If people suffer from mental health problems, it can affect everyone around them. That is why people like teachers, employers, families, friends and neighbours, need to understand mental health more.
Some people, are more likely to have certain kinds of mental health problems than others.
More young people have problems with their behaviour, and the way they feel in their minds.
If people lose their jobs, or have trouble with money, it could lead to problems.
Older people often feel unhappy or suffer from dementia, causing confusion.
In 2011, there was a plan made, to look at how to help people with mental health problems, but now it is getting delivered, giving people help they need.
We must help people, especially when they are children or young people.
Mental health should be treated with the same priority as physical health. But for too long, that was not the case – this Government has legislated for parity of esteem, meaning they’ll be treated with equal priority.
A plan means there has been an increase in spending on the NHS by £12.9 billion. This has meant £400 million has been put into improving access to psychological therapies.
Improving the way we treat mental health means a better future for people suffering these conditions, a better future for their families, and a better future for our country as a whole.
The Government is doing this by introducing the first waiting time standards for mental health so people start treatment sooner. From this month, most patients needing talking therapies for conditions like depression will be guaranteed the treatment they need in as little as six weeks. For many patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis, the NHS will start treatment within two weeks of referral.
The Government is investing £1.25 billion into mental health services, particularly to help 110,000 more children cope with mental health issues.
This will be £250 million of extra funding a year, most of which will be spent on child services.
The Government are spending more to help people with mental health conditions, with funding for mental health estimated to increase by £302 million in this coming year.
The Government is improving access to psychological therapies to help people with depression and anxiety. £450 million has been invested over the course of the Parliament just dissolved, helping 900,000 people from this month.
The number of mental illness beds fell a third under Labour. In 1996/7 there were 37,640 mental illness beds. By 2009/10 this had fallen to 25,503.
The Government has been able to increase funding for mental health and improve the treatment patients get because, the long term economic plan, means there has been an increase in funding for the NHS.
All of us, have a part to play, in promoting the importance of good mental health, and, in challenging negative attitudes in our society.
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Scott Wood – Mental Health Speech