Sainsbury Centre welcomes announcement of new psychological therapy projects

31 July 2007

The announcement of the eleven 'Pathfinder' sites for the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme is an important step to equal access to health care for people with mental health problems, the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health said today.

Responding to the announcement by the Department of Health, Sainsbury Centre chief executive Angela Greatley said: "We know that timely access to therapies like CBT can help people to keep their lives on track. It can prevent people with depression and anxiety from losing their jobs and their relationships. The Pathfinder sites will help us to know more about how to reach people in all sections of society. We especially welcome the plan to extend the programme to the four prisons in Dorset and to Black and minority ethnic communities in Derby. Both should help to tackle some of the biggest inequalities in access to health care in this country.

"It is vital that investment is made in bringing the benefits of psychological therapy to people nationwide. Too many people still have to wait too long for treatments that can change their lives. Today we are a step nearer to closing that gap. But we will only close it if resources are made available across the country through the NHS to all who need psychological therapies when they need them."

The Sainsbury Centre is part of the We Need to Talk group of charities making the case for expanding access to psychological therapies. For more information about We Need to Talk go to www.weneedtotalk.org.uk.