A former health minister has shared his personal battle with mental health problems in giving his backing to a regional daily’s campaign on the issue.

Norman Lamb MP has revealed his own son’s 12-year battle with obsessive compulsive disorder in an interview with the Eastern Daily Press, while offering his support to the newspaper’s Mental Health Watch drive.

The Liberal Democrat, who represents North Norfolk in Parliament and served as Minister of State for Care and Support during the coalition government, told the EDP he “gave up” on the NHS over long waiting times for psychological treatment.

Mr Lamb said his family had been through “emotional” turmoil, but 27-year-old son Archie was in a “much better place” now.

He told the paper: “That very personal experience has made me very determined to improve things for anyone who suffers from mental health.

“As a family we have been through emotional turmoil and dark times but thankfully Archie is now doing well.”

The EDP campaign was launched last month with the aim of getting better mental health provision for Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues by raising awareness of the problem.

The interview provided a splash for the Archant-owned daily on Friday.

Editor Nigel Pickover said: “This is one of our most vital campaigns yet. An increasing number of people suffer with mental health issues, yet a stigma still exists, awareness remains poor and the support is inadequate in many areas.

“We are determined to do whatever it takes to make a difference for those who suffer.”