Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health said: “We warmly welcome the BMA’s call for a ‘cradle to grave’ approach to mental health prevention. We know there are opportunities from pregnancy to later life, to promote good mental wellbeing and prevent mental ill health. From supporting maternal mental health and offering evidence based parenting programme, to teaching children and teachers about mental health that could prevent school exclusions, and action to reduce loneliness.
Prevention is an essential component of any good quality mental health system. “Local authorities have a critical role in prevention, from identifying needs and setting strategies to delivering suicide prevention measures and commissioning public health services. They urgently need investment alongside the funding allocated to the NHS to ensure that public mental health is able to fulfil its potential to change lives, boost communities and reduce inequalities.”
