CALLS for better support provision for residents who are suicidal, self-harming or in psychosis are being backed by a Dudley South parliamentary candidate.

Last year, national and local governments, and leaders of key services in England signed the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, which aims to make sure people who need help do not fall through the cracks between different services.

Vicky Duckworth, Green Party candidate, wants local services to deliver on their promises to improve support.

She said: “One in four constituents will experience a mental health problem this year and countless more will be affected through friends, family, work colleagues and other people in their lives.

“I know first hand how important it is to be able to access mental health services and for services to be able to respond quickly and appropriately when someone reaches out and asks for help.

“Through working with the Save Dove House campaign I also know how important it is to have ongoing support available when it is needed.”

Mental health charity Mind, which was behind the calls for improved provision, wants MPs to make sure the concordat’s standards are achieved.

Paul Farmer, chief executive, said: “Signing a local concordat is the first step in improving services but we need to see these good intentions translated into better services for everyone in crisis.

“We need the next Government, and the next set of MPs, to provide clear leadership and resources to make sure the concordat’s standards are achieved and local action plans delivered so that excellent crisis care is available everywhere.”