Chris Bennett: Taking mental health challenges seriously

Anxiety, stress and mental wellbeing are high up the public agenda at the moment but should optometry be giving or receiving help on the issue?

Everyone from the young royals to the Prime Minister has flagged it as an overlooked issue that needs to be taken seriously and properly funded.

Deaths related to anxiety have risen by half in the past three years to over 3,000. It is an issue governments have provided funding for but it suffers a lack of understanding inside the NHS. Former care minister Norman Lamb was recently reported as saying much of the additional £1.4bn given to the NHS for mental health services was diverted to prop up other services.