Ben Thomas

Action plan flags opportunities to address health inequalities.

We know that health inequalities apply to people with mental health problems who have poorer physical health than the general population.

Reducing health inequalities for older LGBTQ+ people: Members of this community are often ‘invisible’ in service provision, and may fear further discrimination as they age

The recent LGBTQ+ history exhibition Speak Out London, Diversity City presented a fantastic collection of stories, documents and photographs from LGBTQ+ Londoners. It also provided a reminder of how far we have come in reducing stigma, prejudice and discrimination.

Nurses bear the brunt of increased admissions for mental illness

The recent rapid and disturbing increase in admissions for mental illness in inner-city areas, particularly among the younger age groups, has yet again led to a growing professional concern. The Mental Health Task Force (Department of Health, 1994a) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (1994) have drawn attention to the high occupancy levels of admission beds in inner cities. The Audit Commission (1994) also suggests that some of the most deprived inner-city districts appear to need four times the resources for mental health services than do other districts.

Mental health nursing: getting the message across.

If you are ill, you expect to be treated and cared for by skilled professional staff who know what they are doing, i.e. staff who have been trained for the job. In the UK these fundamental principles are becoming increasingly more difficult to achieve. Nowhere is this more evident than in mental health nursing.