Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has this week backed calls for better mental health services across the North East at an event in Parliament organised by mental health charity Mind.

Catherine met with local campaigners and representatives from Tyneside Mind and Middlesbrough Mind, to hear the experiences of people living with mental health problems in the North East.

Catherine said:

“I know that access to mental health services, and ongoing support, is hugely important to many of my constituents.

“Mental health should of course be treated with the same importance as physical health – but the question is how we make that pledge a reality for those who need it.

“All too often, mental health issues are not treated with the urgency they require which is not only hugely damaging to the people affected, it just creates more problems in the long term. It’s time to get serious about this issue and genuinely give mental health the priority it deserves.”

Louise Rubin, Parliamentary Manager at Mind, said:

“Supporting constituents with mental health problems is one of the biggest challenges an MP faces today, so we were really delighted to see Catherine at our event this week.

“Every year, mental health problems will affect one in four people in Newcastle North, which is more people than will develop heart disease or cancer.

“All parties have committed to valuing mental and physical health equally and we’ve now reached a critical stage in determining the future of mental health and wellbeing in our country. Much of the power to make a difference now sits with local decisions makers, so MPs play a vital role in securing good quality support for people in their constituency, as well as promoting mental health at a national level.”

Mind is a mental charity, providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am-6pm, Monday-Friday).