Farron Backs Equality For Mental Health

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today joined with stars like footballer Ian Wright, actor Sir Ian McKellen and comedian Matt Lucas to improve local mental health services.

More than 200 leaders from politics, business, the arts, sport and faith groups have signed an open letter calling on the Government to end the "historic injustice suffered by those who have mental ill health". The open letter highlights 10 major concerns, including lack of access to treatment, long waiting times and a 20 year gap in life expectancy between those with mental health problems and the rest of the population.

Mental health services suffer from underfunding and lag behind in comparison to treatment for physical health problems, yet one in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year.

In 2014, Tim Farron commissioned a report into mental health services in the local area, which found that there was a stigma around talking about young people's mental health and that it didn't receive the same treatment or funding as taking care of physical health. However, despite some improvements, problems still remain.

Tim Farron commented: "It is time to end the stigma surrounding mental health in this country.

"Mental health deserves parity with physical health and I am doing all I can to make sure that happens.

"I have had enough of warm words; it is now time for action. We need the government to step up to the plate and provide the funding that is desperately needed in Cumbria."