jamesmorrisEight Conservative MPs have come together to support continued action to improve mental health and ensure people with mental health problems have a fair chance in life.

In a collection of essays, entitled Making Up Our Minds, edited by James Morris, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis (pictured left), the MPs write from personal and professional experience about a range of mental health issues and set out their views about what needs to change.

Among the contributions, Charles Walker writes about the impact of prejudice and discrimination and how these can be overcome, Andrea Leadsom discusses the importance of intervening early in life to promote good mental health from the start, and John Glen and Oliver Coleville explore the mental health needs of armed forces personnel and veterans.

“For too long mental health had been seen as a Cinderella service in the NHS – underfunded and not given the same priority as other health conditions,” Morris said. “Yet there is evidence that this might be changing. There is recognition amongst policy-makers that more must be done to address the way we approach mental health.

“During the past 12 months there has been extensive debate and discussion about mental health in Parliament. Speeches by Charles Walker and Kevan Jones about their own experience of mental illness changed the terms of political debate. These essays aim to make a positive contribution to this debate. All of the contributors are Conservative MPs who have taken an active interest in mental health whether due to their own personal experience or engagement with the issue in their constituency.”

The publication has been welcomed by Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health: “The importance of mental health has rarely been so well acknowledged by policymakers. The needs of people living with mental illness have seldom been so keenly debated, for example in relation to health reforms, welfare, employment and education.

“For the first time last year, sitting MPs spoke openly, frankly and movingly about their own experiences of mental distress in the House of Commons. In so doing they have helped to battle the myths and misperceptions that for too long have held back people’s aspirations and hidden their abilities.

“The essays James Morris has collected convey a sense of hope and optimism for what can be achieved but also give us stark reminders of how far we have to go to improve the life chances of people with mental health problems.”