Mental Health in Camden

According to the 2010-11 Annual Report of the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust HERE, (my emphasis in bold)

" The incidence of mental ill health is much higher in London and Camden scores highly on the Mental Illness Needs Index.

Mental health need is closely correlated to deprivation , and Camden has high rates of deprivation in wards in the south and middle of the Borough.

Camden has high rates of mental illness associated with homelessness and transience. The three major rail terminals, and two large A&E departments, also attract people into Camden.

Camden has one of the highest rates of registered drug users in the Capital, with two major drug markets.

The Psychiatric Morbidity Survey estimated the prevalence of common mental health disorders in those aged 16 to 74 to be 182 per 1000 population for London. This equates to 37,000 adults in Camden.

In excess of 1400 Camden residents aged 65+ are estimated to suffer from dementia

According to the Mental Health Needs Index (MINI), Camden has one of the highest needs for mental health services in the country (109% above the England average). These figures are changing as demographics change, though Camden remains an area of high mental health need.

The mortality rate for suicide and injury of undetermined intent is 14.4 deaths per 100.000 population, almost twice the London average of 7.9 deaths, and the national average of 8.3 deaths.

The rate for women is almost three times the national average (11.3 compared to 4.2 deaths)2"

Deprivation Index Here

What isn't clear from the above report is the tenure of service users - I think it would be interesting to know whether housing tenure has any baring on incidents of mental illness.

The NHS Foundation Trust is working in partnership with Camden council to provide mental health services to Islington and Camden adult residents and given that the housing part of the council directorate responsible (housing and adult social care) doesn't have a good track record on how they manage mental health of tenants, and some could argue the housing directorate (tenant participation and landlord management) and certain ambitious political fractions add to the incidents of adult mental ill-health in the borough.

In my experience and that of others, 'tenant participation' via the District (housing) Management Committee's (DMC's) , the Camden Association of Street Properties (CASP) and the Camden Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (CFTRA) isn't for faint the hearted.

Because of the harmful and vindictive behaviour (and nature) of certain council tenants, council members and council officers, it is fraught with dangers. This cabal of players whose main aim in life seems to be 'fcuking over' as many people as possible - manipulation, lying and intimidation is the name of their game has given much weight to tenant participation in Camden having a much deserved bad reputation. Nothing changes for the better because the main players are never held to account for their actions, not by the council not by the police. The political will just isn't there.

This type of environment is not healthy - well-being is not promoted. The mindset to change just isn't there and this cannot be a good thing.