Prospective Lib Dem Candidate for Pendle Stands Up for Mental Health at Party Conference
September 30, 2008 7:38 PM
As the Liberal Democrat's prepare to debate mental health at their party conference, prospective Lib Dem candidate Afzal Anwar took part in a protest held by local mental health charity Rethink to show just how 'mad' mental health policy under Labour has been.
Mr Anwar joined Rethink campaigners dressed up as Alice in Wonderland, the white rabbit and mad hatters, to protest about the inequalities that still exist for people with mental ill health.
People with mental illness die ten years younger because they don't get equal access to physical health care under the current system.
More than half of employers won't give people with a history of mental health problems a chance to get back into work.
The Lib Dems will on Wednesday be voting on a motion calling for equal entitlement to treatment for mental health service-users and an end to mixed-sex mental health wards.
Mr Anwar said:
"It's shocking that people with mental illness are dying 10 years younger than the rest of the population. I am proud to stand with Rethink's campaigners and demand a better deal for mental health. The Liberal Democrats have made it clear that we are the party who are taking mental health seriously after years of shameful neglect".
Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, held the Mad Hatters tea party at the entrance to the Liberal Democrats party conference zone on Sunday 14th September from 11.00am - 12.30pm.
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