§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research projects are being undertaken on ways of reducing the stigma attached to people who are suffering or have suffered from mental illness.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy Department's long-term policy for the provision of services for the mentally ill emphasises the importance of finding ways whereby those who are or have been suffering from mental illness may be more effectively 495W integrated into the Community in future. My Department is sponsoring research on the rehabilitation of the mentally ill and on the provision of community services for them, and further research into these and related topics is given priority in the recent strategy statement of the mental illness sub-group of the Mental Health Research Liaison Group. We hope by these means to contribute a reduction of the social stigma attached to this form of illness.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had concerning the rôle which can be played by volunteers in the care and rehabilitation of people suffering from mental illness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsI have discussed the rôle of volunteers and voluntary organisations in the mental health field both with local authorities and with various voluntary bodies, and fully agree that they have a valuable contribution to make. This contribution is considered in some detail in the White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill" (Cmnd 6233). The consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" has also suggested some areas of work where voluntary effort could be particularly helpful in the care and rehabilitation of mentally ill people.