WAITING times for mental health practitioners should be cut to a fortnight, according to a North-East charity.

Ahead of Friday’s World Mental Health Day, Darlington Mind has called on the government to improve waiting times for the mentally ill.

The charity has welcomed a pledge by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to treat those with mental health issues as quickly as those with physical ailments.

However, CEO Gary Emerson has urged the government to go further.

He said: “We want to make sure that people’s mental health is given the same priority as their physical health.

“For too long, mental health has been a Cinderella service and yet there is a huge amount of help and support out there to those who need it.

“If you are in distress, suffering from depression or have a serious mental health issue then waiting times of 18 weeks for therapy or support is just too long.

“Everyone should be able to see a counsellor or a mental health practitioner within two weeks.”

In a bid to help people find information around mental health, the charity will distribute leaflets to 26,000 Darlington homes as part of World Mental Health Day.

It will also host a five-a-side football match between service users at Mind and patients at West Park Hospital and will have an information stand on Friday, October 10 at the ASDA superstore on Whinfield Road in Darlington.