Liz McInnes MP has 'serious concerns' about the appointment of a Minister for Suicide Prevention

Liz McInnes MP

Liz McInnes, MP for Heywood and Middleton, says she has "serious concerns" regarding the Government appointing a Minister for Suicide Prevention.

Ms McInnes said: “I think it is damning that we need one, and I have serious concerns about the substance of this appointment. 

"Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price MP will take on the new role, and I wish her luck, but just last month I raised a case with her which involved a Middleton resident who had to wait 11 months for a counselling appointment following their self-referral for anxiety and depression. Jackie Doyle-Price’s response to this was simply to trot out the same old tired lines about how seriously the government take the issue of mental health. For far too many people, including my constituent who waited almost a year for a counselling appointment, the reality is sadly very different.

"Suicide is an extremely complex issue and we have to be careful how we talk about it and how we identify the causes. However, there are concrete steps the government can take which would help to improve mental health and well-being for millions of vulnerable people. 

"They can start by properly funding and resourcing mental health services. The government could and should also halt the roll-out of Universal Credit, which is pushing thousands of people into hardship and poverty. Also, they could urgently review the welfare sanctions regime which needlessly and cruelly punishes people and can severely damage mental health and well-being.

"Simply appointing a minister and paying lip-service to the crisis is not enough. It has to be followed with action.”