​Today, I proudly led Labour's opposition debate on mental health and put forward our plan to transform mental health services across the country. It includes more staff, specialists in schools, hubs in communities, treatment within a month. 

​Today, I called on the Health Secretary to get his act together on our failing mental health services. 

Across mental health services, children are being failed, police are spending hours waiting with children in crisis in A&E, staff are overworked are under-resourced. It's time for the Health Secretary to get a grip or get out of the way.

Some businesses take their workplace mental health responsibilities very seriously. It was extremely insightful to talk to leaders of Talon, JCDecaux, Clear Channel Outdoor, Ocean Outdoor today, about what they’re doing to support employees’ mental health.

​Today, I wrote to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, regarding my growing concerns about the limited powers of the ongoing inquiry into the deaths of up to 2,000 patients in mental health hospitals in Essex Partnership University Trust over the past 20 years.

The inquiry has only received the co-operation of less than 30% of named staff, who are essential witnesses in the deaths that are being investigated, leaving families in limbo and further compounding their grief.

I have called on the Health Secretary to give the inquiry the full statutory powers required to ensure families get answers and that lessons can be learned for the future. Read my full letter here:

As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close, I’ve been highlighting Labour’s bold plan for improving services across England, with prevention and early intervention at its heart.

On my visit to Maudsley Hospital, I spoke to the incredible Aji Lewis, who has tirelessly campaigned for Seni's Law to transform patient safety across the country. 

I spoke at a Parliamentary reception for Mental Health Foundation and joined Baton of Hope in Parliament, for a meeting with the Speaker to discuss their work on suicide prevention.

And finally, speaking to students South Thames College, I spoke about my role as Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health, holding the Government to account for failure in Mental Health services across England.

Patients experiencing a mental health crisis often find themselves stuck in A&E. 

The Health Secretary should be ashamed.

Today, I asked the Health Secretary when will he finally get his act together and back Labour's plans to recruit thousands of additional staff to bring down waiting times?

See my question here

It was fantastic to be out in the gorgeous Peak District to support my friend and High Peak's next Labour MP, Jon Pearce. We first visited the Glossop Arts Project to see the amazing work they do, using art to support young people's mental health - of course, we had to indulge in the offer of a free toastie and cuppa too!

On the doorstep afterwards, we spoke to so many people fed up with the Tories, both locally and in Westminster. There are council elections coming up in May and Labour has every chance to take full control of the council here! The views were incredible, the people lovely, and I can't wait to be back!

​Today marks World Bipolar Day, which raises awareness and reduces the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder. One-in-fifty people in the UK live with bipolar disorder yet many struggle to access the services they need to get a proper diagnosis.

Living with bipolar disorder can have a devastating impact on the people struggling with the illness as well as an impact on their loved ones, which is why it is vital that people are able to get a diagnosis early. 

We need a Government that will get serious on bipolar disorder.

Labour will put prevention and early intervention at the forefront of our approach to mental health. The next Labour Government will recruit 8,500 new staff to ensure mental health treatment within a month for all who need it.

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On Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I spoke a debate in Westminster Hall on challenging the stereotypes and assumptions around eating disorders. 

​Across the UK, there are as many as 1.25 million people living with an eating disorder.

Eating disorders have considerably high mortality rates, with anorexia claiming the most lives of any mental illness. Yet, with timely and appropriate treatment, people can go on to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

We need a Government that will get serious on mental health and eating disorders.

Labour will put prevention and early intervention at the forefront of our approach to mental health. We will place a mental health specialist in every school and place an open access hub for young people in every single community.

Our latest research, shows that in 2021/22, the total number of days lost to poor mental health has doubled to more than 730,000 over the last decade. This comes at the same time that there has been a drop in the number of neighbourhood police officers by 6,000 and of Police Community Support Officers by 8,500. 

These absences equate to over 2,000 police officers being off sick each day, last year alone, due to poor mental health.

It is clear that this Conservative Government has presided over 13 years of neglect and staff shortages that have left our public services at breaking point.

The next Labour Government will recruit 8,500 more mental health professionals, ensuring a million more patients get treated each year; and we will rebuild neighbourhood policing, delivering a package of 13,000 extra neighbourhood officers and PCSOs, putting police back on the beat.

Read the full story here