Centre for Mental Health today published twelve steps for the next Government to create better mental health for all and reduce inequalities.
The briefing, 2019 General Election: Mental health priorities for the next Government, calls on all political parties in the 2019 General Election to commit to a national strategy for better mental health and for reforms to education, social security and criminal justice policies.
2019 General Election: Mental health priorities for the next Government calls on all parties to honour the NHS Long Term Plan pledge to increase spending on mental health services but also to invest in public health and to produce a fair and sustainable settlement for social care.
It calls for the next Government to implement in full the recommendations of the independent Mental Health Act Review, including legislation to modernise the Mental Health Act, action to promote race equality and funding to upgrade hospital buildings and ambulances.
2019 General Election: Mental health priorities for the next Government for the next Government also sets out evidence-based proposals for further investment. They include parenting programmes for families with young children, specialist counselling for those who have been through the tragedy of baby loss, and effective help to quit smoking for people with a mental illness.
Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sarah Hughes said: “The next Government has the opportunity to be the first to make mental health a priority in everything it does. From reforming schools and prisons to putting in place a fairer benefits system and creating safe spaces online, the next Government can put the nation’s wellbeing first. Based on the Centre’s research, our twelve steps are all built on evidence and designed to improve mental health for all and tackle some of the biggest inequalities in our society. We hope all political parties in next month’s General Election will make mental health and priority and build a better future for us all.”
