Rethink Mental Illness, a leading UK mental health charity
stated that thousands of people with mental health problems are ending
up in police cells each year because they can't get the support they
need.
EDINBURGH (Sputnik), Mark Hirst – Lack of resources and police training
to help officers deal with people with mental health conditions in
custody has been branded as "shameful" by Rethink Mental Illness, a
leading UK mental health charity.
"It's shameful that thousands of people with mental health problems,
including children, are ending up in police cells each year because they
can't get the support they need," Brian Semple, a senior spokesman for
the charity told Sputnik Monday.
Semple stressed that the issue arose due to historical lack of funding
for mental health services in the United Kingdom and budget cut in
real-terms each year for the past three years.
"Mental illness accounts for 23% of the total impact of ill health in
the UK, but gets only 13% of the NHS budget. As a result, the mental
health system is desperately overstretched and too often people can't
get the right support," Semple added.
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