6 June 2007
Dear Sir,
Although many may find the idea of the government targeting people’s alcohol consumption at home intrusive (Nanny - put a cork in it..., June 6), measures that raise the level of debate about alcohol consumption in the UK are not necessarily a bad thing.
As the Mental Health Foundation pointed out in its report, Cheers? last year, alcohol consumption has doubled in the last fifty years. Research has found that 12 million people use drink as a form of self-medication, to manage feelings of shyness, anxiety or depression. While the effects of alcohol on the body are often highlighted, it should be remembered that alcohol is often used to mask underlying mental health problems, and that alcohol abuse can lead to deterioration in one’s mental health.
Reports that most primary care trusts allocate no special funding to alcohol addiction highlight the need for increased investment in services for those with a problem. We call on the government to underpin its alcohol strategy with extra funding to help those whose mental health is affected by alcohol.
Andrew McCulloch
Chief Executive
Mental Health Foundation
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