'New Horizons' mental health strategy consultation

A new national mental health strategy 'New Horizons: Towards a shared vision for mental health' is out for consultation until the 15th October 2009.

This Department of Health (DoH) page summarises the context and vision for the strategy. A further DoH consultation page contains links to the main document, executive summary and an online consultation form.

The consultation is significant for alcohol policy because of the impact of 'Dual Diagnosis' (combined mental health and substance misuse problems) and the mutually supportive outcomes that improving mental health and reducing alcohol harms share. The consultation is therefore a key opportunity to raise the importance of recognising and addressing alcohol issues within mainstream mental health policy.

The five key elements of the proposed mental health strategy:

 

Dual Diagnosis resources

The following resources and documents are also available for addressing Dual Diagnosis issues:

• A Dual Diagnosis toolkit for delivering services
• The 2002 DoH 'Dual Diagnosis good practice guide'
• An Alcohol Concern briefing 'Dual Diagnosis and alcohol'
• A further list of research and resources