A campaigning duo are demanding a drastic overhaul of mental health services after watching their loved ones struggle through treatment.

Alastair Deards, from Allington, and Andrea Attree, from Eccles saw their family members' lives blighted by mental disorders and having to fight for the right treatment when they were at their weakest.

The pair have put together a comprehensive 35 page document filled with recommendations sent to the Department of Health and Social Care with the backing of Maidstone and The Weald MP Helen Grant.

Among the items on their wish list are mental health nurses for every large GP surgery, replacing generalised wards with specialist ones, the specialisation of crisis staff, and further research into electroconvulsive therapy.

However, their most sought after change is the introduction of three-day and night assessments for patients - a scheme which would see four wards added to every hospital and a small army of new staff.

While their demands seem ambitious for a health service already feeling the pinch, Alastair and Andrea say their plan will be self funding.

"life is so valuable and at the moment they aren't valuing it," - Andrea Attree

A government report published in 2017 which highlighted a loss of between £74 billion and £99 billion to the UK economy caused by mental health problems.

If they've done their sums right they say the government could invest huge amounts of cash into their proposals - money saved by the changes they are suggesting.

However Alastair admits that one of their next big steps will be to have their plan properly costed - something he hopes government will be willing to help with.

The bottom line of their masterplan is to drastically cut suicide rates.

"So many deaths are preventable if people are able to get treatment at the point problems begin to show themselves. life is so valuable and at the moment they aren't valuing it," said Andrea, whose daughter is still receiving receiving treatment for mental health problems.

Their campaign has recently been bolstered by a sudden influx of supporters on social media.

A facebook group set up by the duo, Mental Health Change in the UK, has jumped from having under 100 members to 0ver 1,000 in less thank two weeks.

Helen Grant said: "Alastair and Andrea are superb campaigners and it is my privilege to work with them to help improve mental health services in Maidstone and the Weald and across the country. They provide vital support to people in our community and I am proud to have worked with them to help a number of constituents to access the mental health treatment they need.

"It is very encouraging that the Government are investing a much needed extra £2.3 billion in mental health services as part of the long term NHS plan. I am pleased to have been able to arrange for Andrea and Alastair to meet with civil servants in the Department for Health to ensure they have their voices and ideas heard at this critical juncture as the Government decide how best to invest the new funding."

To find out more about their campaign and to have access to the 35 page document visit tinyurl.com/mentalchange

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