“A cross-government strategy for mental health is an essential building block for a mentally healthier future and we warmly welcome the Government’s commitment today to creating this,” Centre for Mental Health chief executive Andy Bell said today.
“Over the last two decades we have seen a marked deterioration in mental health in England, especially among younger people. Governments have for too long neglected the nation’s mental health and missed opportunities to turn around rising rates of mental distress and ill health.
“The Government’s pledge to create a new cross government strategy will be a vital building block of turning this around. It must combine effective action at scale to promote and protect our mental health, to tackle the inequalities and injustices people face because of their mental health, and to improve and where necessary transform mental health services.
“To be effective, the strategy must cover the whole of Government: not just health and care services but schools, communities, the economy and the environment. It must be evidence-based, with funding where needed for actions that have been shown to work. And it must be coproduced with people and communities who known first hand what needs to change to improve mental health for all.
“The strategy is a chance to change the way we are governed, by putting our mental health at the heart of policymaking. It could do this by introducing a mental health policy test for future decisions and actions across government.
“Whilst political turbulence and change is being felt in Westminster, the mental health crisis continues, making it critically important that this strategy remains a priority for the Government
“A mentally healthier future is possible. The cross-government strategy could be the starting point to make that a reality.”
Centre for Mental Health is a member of the Future Minds campaign and Head On coalition, representing over 20 leading mental health organisations.
Brian Dow, Chair, Head On, and Haroon Chowdry, Campaign Partner, Future Minds, said:
“This is a hugely important moment. Mental ill health affects millions of people and families across the UK, with as many as one in five young people facing poor mental health. A 10-year, cross-government strategy signals a shift that the mental health sector has been calling for, and rightly recognises that prevention, early intervention and crisis care must be part of a coherent whole.
“75% of mental health problems are established by age 24. This strategy provides an opportunity to establish children and young people’s mental health as a national policy priority, reducing the treatment gap facing children and young people and ultimately bringing down mental health need by supporting children and young people earlier and better.
“Our campaigns exist to raise mental health up the policy agenda, prioritise children’s mental health, and tackle the crisis head on. Together, we welcome this renewed focus from government and the opportunity to shape what that action looks like. To succeed, this must reach beyond the health system, addressing the social and economic conditions that shape mental health and delivering a genuinely joined-up plan across government.”
