Mind: Economic sense to address dementia

A report from the King's Fund predicting a large increase in the cost of mental healthcare shows the economic need to address mental illness, according to Mind.

The charity said the economic case to invest in mental health is "robost".

"We've got the clinical evidence, we've got the economic evidence, have we got the will to make this work?" said Mind chief executive Paul Farmer.

"This is the chance of a generation to put mental health care on a level with physical health - a way to truly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS."

Commenting on the King's Fund call for people with mental health needs to be supported back into work, Mr Farmer said: "If people with mental health problems get the NHS and social care help they need, then they can manage their health while working and living full lives in society."

He added: "We support this call for expansion of evidence-based treatments in primary care for people with depression and anxiety, greater investment in crisis in the community and early intervention for people with more severe mental health problems."