MPs get mental health clinic after rise in cases of depression and anxiety
Officials have approved £25,000-a-year funding for the specialist treatment centre
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MPs will be able to access a mental health clinic within Parliament which is being set up to deal with the rising number of politicians approaching doctors about depression and anxiety.
Officials have approved £25,000-a-year funding for the specialist treatment centre which will run alongside conventional GP services.
MPs say the stigma still attached to mental illness means it is hard for them to approach their family doctors about such problems.
Doctors in the House of Commons have seen an increase in number of MPs coming to them with mental health difficulties, a sign they are more willing to admit to problems which were previously repressed.
On Monday Parliament gave final approval to the Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill, which scraps a law that says MPs automatically lose their seats if they have been sectioned for more than six months, as well as a rule allowing company directors to be removed because of mental illness.
However, MPs say discrimination against mental illness means it is much harder for them to talk to local GPs about such problems that it would be for physical ailments.
The body which oversees MPs’ working conditions has therefore agreed to fund treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy from specialists at St Thomas’s hospital.
A consultant psychiatrist is available at Westminster to diagnose mental health problems and referral for in-patient treatment will also be available, the Commons Members’ Estimate Committee decided.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments