News

Soham murders derail mental health protest

Mental health charity Mind has criticised the decision by campaigners to call off a demonstration against the Government’s mental health reforms in the wake of the murder of the two Soham schoolgirls.

The Mental Health Alliance, which brings together more than 50 groups opposing the draft Mental Health Bill, voted to cancel the planned September march on Downing Street through fear that protestors might be at risk from the anger generated by the murders.

Mental Health Alliance chair Paul Farmer said: ‘Fears were expressed that the Alliance could not guarantee the health and safety of march participants in the atmosphere of misunderstanding of people with mental health problems in the wake of events in Soham.’

Cancellation was opposed by Mind, which wanted to go ahead with the march and confront public or media opposition based on misleading stereotypes of mental illness. After ‘vigorous debate’ a majority of campaigning groups voted to cancel.

But some 500 protesters went ahead with the September 14 march through London, which included activists from Mind, the No Force campaign, and mental health workers.

A spokesperson for Mind said: ‘We were very disappointed with the decision the alliance came to.’ Rather than pander to the fears faced by people with mental health problems, Mind wanted to tackle the arguments head-on, she added.

‘I think we felt we could answer the arguments that might come forward as a result of the march and didn’t feel the concerns about safety were likely to become a reality,’ she said.

Campaigners fear that the draft bill will erode rights of people with mental health problems and increase numbers of detained patients.

Mind argues that the bill’s proposal to allow compulsory medication in the community, with no requirement this should be therapeutic for patients, will lead to compulsory treatment spiraling. It argues that concerns about public safety should not be tackled in a bill about mental health.

The march was timed to coincide with the end of the Government’s consultation period over the draft bill. The Mind spokesperson said: ‘It was the last united opportunity for people who are service users and working in mental health to voice their concerns very publicly.’

The Alliance plans a lobby of Parliament in October.

Campaign details on the Alliance website:www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk