There’s only a week to go before the election of a new Metro Mayor for Greater Manchester. We’re calling on our members in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan to get involved in discussions as much as possible before the vote on 4 May 2017. It’s really important to get your voice heard and make sure counselling and psychotherapy is represented.

Why focus on Greater Manchester?

Greater Manchester has been given a historic deal by the UK Government to take control of their health and social care budget. This is the only local area to be given this opportunity. The new Metro Mayor will have significant influence over the prioritisation of health and social care delivery in Greater Manchester. This will include the delivery of primary and secondary mental health services.

The candidates

Seven candidates are standing to be elected as Mayor:

  • Sean Anstee – Conservative Party
  • Andy Burnham – Labour Party
  • Jane Brophy – Liberal Democrats
  • Marcus Farmer – Independent
  • Stephen Morris – English Democrats
  • Shneur Odze – UKIP
  • Will Patterson – Green Party

Getting your voice heard

Mayoral candidates will be spending the final week before the election meeting as many voters as possible. They’ll be visiting doorsteps across the city to make their case to win your support. Hustings debates are also taking place, bringing the candidates together to discuss their policies. You’ll be able to attend a Hustings event and may have the opportunity to question candidates directly.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask candidates if you have the opportunity:

  • How would you improve the mental health of Manchester’s population if elected mayor?
  • As a champion for mental health, what will you do to make sure more patients in Manchester can get access to the talking therapies they need but often fail to access?
  • Given that half of all mental health problems begin by the age of 14, what steps would you take to improve early intervention in mental health with young people in Manchester? 

What are the candidates saying?

Not all the candidates have published their Manifestos. Below is a summary of those who have made specific pledges to improve mental health outcomes in Manchester.

Sean Anstee is pledging:

  • To be a mental health champion and ensure there is parity between mental and physical health service. He’ll make sure this is a priority across all the Combined Authority’s areas of responsibility, including housing, community safety and planning.

Andy Burnham is pledging:

  • That children and young people who need mental health support should not be forced to wait long periods to access the help they need when they need it
  • That all young people in the care of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service services across Greater Manchester will have the ability to set their own date of transition
  • To introduce a new social prescribing scheme across Greater Manchester as well as pledging to work with more, voluntary organisations to deliver more counselling

Jane Brophy is pledging:

  • To deliver a seamless Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for young people
  • To fight for more mental health beds in Greater Manchester and make sure young people are always treated close to home
  • To introduce a specialist Rapid Assessment, Intervention and Discharge mental health team at all hospitals to help people in crisis

Thank you for your support. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions at publicaffairs@bacp.org.uk.