Britain 'can improve its mental health'

Wednesday, 22 October 2008 9:00 AM

A government-sponsored thinktank has called on ministers to address the "substantial scope" existing to improve Britons' mental health.

Foresight has spent two years examining mental capital and wellbeing, which it describes as a person's cognitive and emotional resources, their 'emotional intelligence' and thinking and learning capabilities.

Its recommendations cover a wide range of areas which together, it hopes, will allow the government to coordinate action with companies and individuals.

It wants improvements in early detection and intervention to limit the negative impact of learning difficulties, which affect ten per cent of children.

A "presenteeism" culture, in which individuals are at work but not productive, lies alongside the 'well note' backed by health secretary Alan Johnson for wellbeing at work.

And, for Britain's ageing population, addressing dementia is identified as a priority which needs to be addressed through its identification earlier. Better treatment for common mental disorders like depression and other proposals like social networking are also put forward.

Foresight Programme director Professor John Beddington said the report provided "new insights... into the challenges ahead".

"There is good work being done but progress can be made and taxpayers money saved if government departments work together more effectively to tackle these issues," he said.

Prof Beddington said investing in identifying and tackling problems would help combat the increasing demands which can be expected by both "individuals and the state".

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• mental health