ES Views Letter of the Day: Our mental health must be a priority

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Under stress: Everton’s Aaron Lennon was detained under the Mental Health Act
4 May 2017
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One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem, so it should come as no surprise that professional sportspeople face these issues too.

It has been amazing to see the outpouring of support from all sides for footballer Aaron Lennon, which shows how far we have come in terms of opening up the conversation about mental health, with campaigns such as Time to Change and Heads Together leading the way.

It doesn’t matter who you are — a footballer, a taxi driver, new mum or student — we should all be able to access mental health support when we need it.

As more people feel able to come forward and seek support, it means the scale of unmet need across the country is only just being realised.

The challenge now is in ensuring that services are there for everyone who needs them. Whoever forms our next government must ensure that mental health is a priority.
Paul Farmer, chief executive, Mind

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