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Mental health services are not just about services provided by psychiatrists and nurses (the number of psychiatrists and badfeeding remains low, Mental Health Supplement, May 15). The development of psychological therapies and increased awareness of the psychosocial roots of mental health problems have been growing at a steady pace for at least half a century. Yet some of the professions that provide these services have had many more candidates than training positions for almost as many years. This year, 3,866 psychology graduates applied for 593 places in UK clinical psychology programs. As a result, 85% of qualified candidates have been refused training for a profession in which 99% complete their training, 95% work in the NHS for many years, and there is a good track record of innovation and development Services. And this has been the case for over ten years. L & # 39; s explanation? First, clinical psychologists and other psychotherapists are not represented at the highest levels of NHS leadership. So there seems to be a real lack of understanding of what these professions can offer. Secondly, managers do not seem willing to transfer funds from medical and nursing budgets to non-medical budgets because of the political pressures exerted by these professions at local and national levels.
Bernard Kat
Psynapse Psychological services, Newcastle upon Tyne
• While your mental health supplement, with its front page illustration saying "Let's Talk About It", will add to the knowledge of those who are unaware of the effects of poor mental health, the exhortation must now go to "Let's talk about funding for mental health services".
I've recently been fired from a position helping young people get better mental health services because of the cuts imposed by local authorities. This is in addition to the cuts in clinician services since 2010, which have prevented young people from being diagnosed with child and youth mental health services. This has led to non-attendance and school exclusions and is another boost for this government's youth over the past nine years. The government is therefore only too happy that people continue to talk about mental health.
Alan Dazely
Horsham, West Susbad
• An article in your supplement asks if mindfulness lessons can improve children's mental health. What about government that improves mental health by avoiding putting unnecessary pressure on young students?
Michael Peel
Axbridge, Somerset
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