Mental health group handed council grant (From Watford Observer)

As mine and others in the same position as me have had our disability allowance cancelled despite severe mental health problems I think they can be sure they'll be getting some visitors. No doubt the service will be cut-back at some point but once the suicide rate soars I guess the problem will have 'disappeared'.

This Government don't care one JOT about the mentally Ill people and the more that commit suicide the more will be off benefits! they are uncaring scumbags

But is there not a problem in deciding who is genuinely suffering from a mental illness; moreover. who does the deciding how serious or otherwise it is?

Undoubtedly, there are some people who have lost their allowance who are ill, but I would take a bet there are others who use their alleged disability as an excuse to malinger, claim benefits unjustly and commit crimes.

I know little of the system but I presume that before someone has their benefits removed there must be some sort of justification put forward for the decision. Why is why I ask, who does the deciding? Those of us who pay for benefits out of our taxes are surely entitled to know!

Im one of those that agrees that cuts have to be made in public spending.

However I would qualify that by saying that as much as i support a lot of the cuts and changes being made the government does need to be careful as sometimes cutting funds in one area can lead to an increase in demand/need/spending in another and I believe Mental health to be one of those areas.

I'm far from an expert but I would qualify my statement again and actually agree with Roy in part and say that I am aware of cases were people have used mental health incorrectly although not necessarily with the goal of getting benefits.

Roy; I've been a user of the Shrodells Unit for the past 10 years or so following a build up of mental health problems which culminated in a break-down and now suffer on a daily basis. Other than being able to do a weekly shop & attending a weekly group at Shrodells I'm relatively housebound by my problems.

My medical to see if I was able to continue to receive an ESA (Incapacity) benefit was carried out by the private company ATOS.
The questions are loaded to see if you can work not if you have health problems, which I have no problem with.
Problems, however, can arise re. mental health which affect me in anticipation of working or the after effects. I've tried voluntary work to see if I'm capable of working and have deteriated considerably each time. Not one question or 'test' within my medical alluded to this situation.
Like others in the same situation but with differing levels of problems I scored zero at my medical. I'm worse than some but better off than others yet we all scored zero.

With regards to those sponging off the state, I agree that something has to be done but not at the expense of those who genuinely need assistance. I no longer have an income of any sort and am in dire straits. Come the end of this month my internet connection will be gone along with one of my few contacts with the outside world.

If I am a sponge then the mental health professionals at Shrodells have been fooled for the 10 years I've been treated there.

Punish those who are wrong doing, not those who need help.