The question of mental health under
the previous government’s austerity policies has taken a vital new
twist. Please find a new press open letter touching on this in Monday’s
Guardian, here >>
In the accompanying newspaper report, we read that <<…A
[Cons] party source added: “Every suicide is a tragedy, but the latest
available data shows that the rate is now the same as in 2003 and has
been relatively stable during successive governments in the intervening
period.” >>
This rebuttal appears in today’s “i” newspaper – not available online >>
SUICIDAL POLICY
Having announced their £12 billion of welfare cuts nearly two years ago, any responsible government would have long since devised clear plans for implementing them (6 May). The Conservatives are also being equally disingenuous about the impact of their austerity policies on Britain’s suicide rate, having recently publicly denied that there has been any spike in the data. This denial flies in the face of all the empirical evidence. Extensive international epidemiological evidence shows a clear and consistent causal link between austerity policies and suicide rates. With the Conservatives returned to office and these cuts imposed, Britain’s suicide rate would soar to previously unheard-of levels.
Dr Richard House
Chartered Psychologist, Stroud; Alliance for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Could you please circulate this link and letter far and wide to all your contacts ASAP, and ask them all to do the same… – that way, we can maximise the extent to which voters know about this scandalous issue before voting today.
Thanks for your support on this crucial issue.
The Alliance for Counselling and Psychotherapy