Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/666/11767
From The Socialist newspaper, 13 April 2011
Hands off our Services
Leeds
Dave Younger, Leeds City Socialist Party
Local mental health service users and mental health workers lobbied Labour-controlled Leeds city council against its plans to close mental health day centres across the city without serious consultation with workers and service users. Angry opposition has forced the council to repeatedly push back planned closure dates.
The chairperson of the city-wide Mental Health Service Users' Involvement Group, Norman Forsythe, said there has already been an increase in reports of attempted suicide and self-harm by service users since the announcement of the council's plans.
These centres are essential to the well-being of very vulnerable people who attend the centres, build up their confidence and learn new skills, which they can use when seeking jobs. Closing the centres, however, would mean their health could deteriorate and they could end up in hospital or living on benefits.
The long-term cost for the local community, both financially and socially, far out-weigh any savings that could be made. The fight to save the day centres continues.
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In The Socialist 13 April 2011:
Anti-cuts campaigning
Vote socialist to fight the cuts
Fight the cuts by supporting TUSC
Fighting the cuts after 26 March demo
Hands off our services - Westminster
Hands off our Services - Leeds
Socialist Party editorial
Socialist Party feature
Con-Dems' economic policy... austerity, austerity, austerity!
Socialist Party workplace news
Jobcentre Plus call centre strike
NUJ conference calls for general strike
Striking against a Coventry academy
International socialist news and analysis
Portugal:'We won't pay their debt!'
'Unions and socialism to blame for deficit' - rants Glenn Beck
Youth Fight for Jobs
Jarrow jobs march gains momentum
Socialist Party news and analysis
Coordinated strike action to defeat the cuts
Banking giants avoid punishment
No to nuclear power - nationalise the environment-unfriendly energy giants
Chauvinist 'thoughts' from David Willetts
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