University of York link in Government funding increase for psychological therapies
Posted on 10 October 2007
Professor Richards, of the University’s Department of Health Sciences, is one of the prime movers in national and international efforts to improve access to treatment for those suffering from common emotional distress such as anxiety and depression.
This is a much needed boost to treatment choices for people with anxiety and depression
Professor David Richards
Professor Richards and his research group, funded by the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health, have provided the most up to date evidence for the new methods which will be implemented nationally as part of the funding increase. These methods have been tested at the Department of Health’s ‘Demonstration Site’ for psychological therapies in Doncaster.
Professor Richards said: "This is a much needed boost to treatment choices for people with anxiety and depression. Long waiting lists will be reduced and people will not just be offered drugs alone. This will give real choice to almost one million people over the next three years".
The University’s pioneering partnership with Doncaster PCT has developed the clinical and educational methods to enable more than 4,000 additional patients to be treated for mental health problems in the last year in Doncaster. The new funding promises to increase this number to almost one million more people treated for depression and anxiety nationally.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Contact: Professor Dave Richards Email: dr17@york.ac.uk; Telephone: 01904 321908; Mobile: 07930 393456
- The Department of Health Sciences at the University of York is a large multi-disciplinary department, offering a broad range of taught and research programmes in the health care field, including nursing. It aims to develop the role of scientific evidence in health and health care through high quality research, teaching and other forms of dissemination.