Turning rhetoric into reality

摘要

As we go to press, we are entering the last weeks of political party promises enshrined in manifestos. Often these promise a lot and deliver little that makes a real difference. Some readers may be familiar with the 1994 pledge of then-health secretary Virginia Bottomley, to make mental health a healthcare priority, alongside cancer and heart disease. In the 23 years that have passed, a Labour, Conservative and a coalition government have been in power. However, on objective measures such as the proportion of government spend against the impact of mental health problems, not much has changed. Analysis fails to find much difference between the outcomes achieved by the respective governments, and mental healthcare in the UK remains chronically underfunded and in need of attention. We all scratch our heads, wondering why all the apparently sincere rhetoric does not translate into reality. We have heard politicians of all parties speak with great courage about their own struggles with mental health problems-yet what changes? Having started this editorial on a downbeat note, let's applaud the Princes William and Harry, who have probably done more to shift stigma than all the professionally led campaigns of the past decade. Yes, mental health problems can touch any life, regardless of wealth or occupation. To other matters, this issue is, as usual, testimony to the great work done by mental health nurses. This month we feature clinical articles on both the treatment of insomnia and the use of long-acting antipsychotic injections, with discussion of how such treatments can be used in practice. In addition to these articles, we again include commentaries.