Your chance to get MPs to take next steps on kidney disease and mental health – Kidney Research UK

Our case for mental health support

Here we will set out our case for mental health support for kidney patients to be properly resourced so that the renal multidisciplinary team involved in a patient’s care includes a qualified mental health practitioner.

Alison Railton, our head of policy and external affairs, explains: “This coming meeting gives us the chance to look MPs in the eye and explain the unique emotional pressures kidney disease causes, the serious consequences of these pressures, and the urgent need to reform mental health support.

“All Party Parliamentary Groups are informal cross-party groups, where MPs can learn more about specific topics through invited speakers – by growing MPs’ understanding, we are more likely to inspire change in NHS practice.

“We know this topic is so close to kidney patients’ hearts. The survey we ran in 2021 showed that two thirds (67%) of kidney patients experienced symptoms of depression while living with kidney disease, with 27% of those surveyed saying they have considered self-harm or suicide as a result of their kidney disease.

“We need you, our supporters, to persuade your MPs to attend.”