MORE people in Bolton have mental health problems than almost anywhere else in the country, the Bolton Evening News can reveal.

Twenty per cent of men and 23 per cent of women -- out of a Bolton population of 267,000 -- experience symptoms associated with mental illness compared with 15 per cent and 19pc in other parts of England.

This means that in Bolton one in every five men and more than one in every five women experiences problems ranging from depression to schizophrenia.

But, despite these worrying statistics, death rates from suicide are lower in Bolton than the national average.

The reason for the high percentage of sufferers is being blamed on the large areas of social deprivation. Central ward -- which covers Bolton town centre and surrounding areas -- is ranked as the country's sixth most deprived while six of the borough's 20 wards are also ranked in the social depravation list.

Poor housing and living conditions, as well as unemployment, lead to a high number of cases of anxiety and depression.

Massive changes are now under way to improve mental health services for the town's thousands of suffers.

A Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Partnership was set up in April to bring all services together under one service and more money is being pumped into care.

The partnership involves Bolton Council, Bolton Hospital NHS Trust and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and is headed by Cllr Cliff Morris and PCT chairman Pam Senior.

Still in its early days, the new way of working will involve millions of pounds worth of services being focused on more support for family doctors -- who deal with most mental health cases.

The most common symptoms, including depression, do not require hospitalisation or long-term care -- but may need more home support. It is only severe cases of mental illness such as schizophrenia or dementia which need specialist or psychiatric care.

Council and PCT Director of Health and Care Mike Cooney said: "It is critical that we get more support out to GPs and will be developing a primary care liaison service over the next three years. This will mean, for example, more community nurses.

"Depression is a terrible condition and can have a big impact on the family and it is important that people get the support that they need."

Executive member for Social Services and Health Cliff Morris said: "We have invested heavily in mental health in the last few years. We believe that the best way to improve services is through partnership."

working between health and social care services."

and will be bringing services closer to local people."

Around £14 million a year is spent on specialist mental health services in Bolton. An extra £3million will be spent on mental health support for doctors over the next three years.

The 1995 Health Survey for England showed that 20 per cent of women and 14 per cent of men may have had a mental illness.