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DESPITE the massive breakthroughs in recent years in the public understanding of mental health, a plan for a clinic treating people with common ailments such as depression and stress has brought out all the old fears and prejudices. Understandably, no family really wants to have a secure unit housing convicted criminals or a centre for sex offenders in the middle of their quiet cul-de-sac, while youngsters play on the front lawn.

But unless the counsellor and psychotherapist planning to set up his practice in Otley's Newall Hall is not telling everyone the full range of services he plans to offer, the patients likely to be stepping through the doors are going to be no more of a health and safety risk than the average person walking into their local doctor's surgery with a nasty head cold. Otley councillors - including a respected former town GP - have echoed the concern of their electors, instead suggesting the middle of a town would be the right place.

In planning terms, a town centre would be the better place for what after all is a business: although it must be said that the average person suffering from depression, bereavement, work stress or relationship difficulties would probably feel a lot more comfortable receiving counselling in comfortable domestic surroundings than being herded through the doors of a town centre facility'.

Planning concerns aside, however, the psychotherapist in question says he plans to help people with the sort of everyday mental health-related issues which reportedly affect one in four of us all at some point in our lives. Why, then, do some objectors jump to the automatic conclusion that these people will also be a danger to children if not the rest of society?

The situation brings to mind a similar - and quite heated - debate which flared in Yeadon several years ago when a plan was drawn up to provided supported housing for people with special needs. In that case, the most vehement objectors quickly transformed a project designed to give young adults a chance to live independently in the community into the terrifying vision of a haven for drug addicts and prostitutes being set up in their midst.

3:19pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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