David Ruffley MP has today as expressed his concern at the findings of the Mental Heath Foundation report 'Cheers?' which examines the relationship between alcohol and mental health.

The report reveals that nationally the number of hospital admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of 'mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol' has risen by 25 percent since 1995/96.

In order to establish the situation locally David has today written to Mike Stonard, Chief Executive of Suffolk West PCT, Chris Bown, Chief Executive of West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust and Alan Burns, Chief Executive of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA, asking what the number of local admissions has been with a primary or secondary diagnosis of 'mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol' for each of the last ten years.

Key findings from the report include:

• There are significant connections between reported alcohol use and depressive symptoms.

• As many as 65 percent of suicides have been linked to excessive drinking.

• Many GPs believe that alcohol is a cause of mental health problems.

• 77 percent of people surveyed said drinking made them feel relaxed.

• 44 percent said it made them more able to fit in socially.

• Over the past 50 years alcohol consumption has doubled meaning that over 90 percent of adults aged 16- 64 drink at least occasionally.

• Young people in the UK drink more than nearly all the other countries in Europe.

David said:

'This report gives evidence of a clear link between excessive drinking and mental health disorders. It is an alarming fact that, by World Health Organisation standards, 38 percent of men and 16 percent of women can be classed as having an alcohol use disorder.

'Moreover, it is quite worrying that since 1995/96 the number of people admitted to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of 'mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol' has risen by over a quarter.

'To establish the situation locally I have today taken the matter up with the Chief Executive of Suffolk West PCT, Mike Stonard, the Chief Executive of West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust, Chris Bown, and the Chief Executive of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA, Alan Burns, and asked them for their local figures for each of the last ten years.

'I will await their response with interest and will be seeking assurances that everything is being done to prevent and discourage alcohol abuse in our County.'