Woking Liberal Democrats parliamentary candidate Chris Took supports charity’s call for better mental health provision

Woking Liberal Democrats parliamentary candidate Chris Took has backed calls for better provision of support for local people in mental health crisis. Mind, the mental health charity, is calling for local services to deliver on their promise to improve the support for people who are suicidal, self-harming or in psychosis.

Last year, national and local governments, and leaders of key services in England, including health, police, and voluntary organisations, signed the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, an agreement that sets national standards for the care of people in mental health crisis. The Concordat aims to make sure that no matter where someone turns, they get the help they need and don't fall through the cracks between different services.

Chris Took said one in four constituents will experience a mental health problem this year and countless more will be affected through friends, family, work colleagues and other people in their lives.

As I know from personal experience, a growing number of people need to access mental health services - services must be able to respond quickly and appropriately when someone reaches out and asks for help. I received tremendous help and assistance when my wife was taken ill in 2010 - we have to protect these services.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: "In a mental health crisis, your mind is at melting point. You may experience extreme anxiety, have suicidal thoughts or even a psychotic episode. It can happen to anyone. When you're in crisis you need compassion and understanding, no matter where you turn to for help - whether it's health and ambulance services, the police, social care or voluntary organisations.

"Signing a local Concordat is the first step in improving services but we need to see these good intentions translated into better services for everyone in crisis. We need the next government, and the next set of MPs, to provide clear leadership and resources to make sure the Concordat's standards are achieved and local action plans delivered so that excellent crisis care is available everywhere."

More information about the Concordat, including details about Woking's declaration, can be found at www.crisiscareconcordat.co.uk