Discrimination on the grounds of mental health is totally unacceptable

Jacqui Smith

The work will be carried out by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE), which was established in July this year.

Among the initiatives to be launched on Wednesday was a national mental health research network to aid large-scale clinical trials.

It is hoped the results from these trials will influence mental health services on a world-wide scale.

Evaluation

A system to evaluate community care teams who work with the most vulnerable patients has also been established, as has a programme to draw together existing good practice.

Announcing the start of the Institute's work, health minister Jacqui Smith said: "The government is committed to providing better services and care for people with mental health problems.

"The National Institute for Mental Health is key to implementing genuinely national mental health policy in England.

"The initiatives announced today will help establish the Institute as a key player in the mental health reform and I look forward to seeing the progress that is made as a result of this work.

But despite the new measures research released on Wednesday suggested mentally ill people were still discriminated against throughout society.

Discrimination

A poll, commissioned by the Department of Health found that attitudes towards mental illness were still very negative.

Most of the 1,727 adults questioned in the survey believed employers would discriminate against an applicant with a mental illness.

Nearly half thought a mentally ill person would be refused a job, while 33% believed mental illness would impede promotion opportunities.

Jacqui Smith, said: "Discrimination on the grounds of mental health is totally unacceptable.

"Unfortunately it is still extremely common and it can stop people leading a full and active life."

A quarter of those surveyed would expect someone with a mental illness to mentally abused, with 16% of respondents thinking mentally ill people were vulnerable to physical attack.

Sue Baker, of Mind, said: "Discrimination infiltrates society at many levels and can be one of the most debilitating aspects of having a mental health problem."