As millions go to the polls on May 7, Centre for Mental Health is calling for on all English council candidates to pledge to support our Mentally Healthier Councils Framework.
As well as elections for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament, across England, 5,014 council seats across 136 local authorities are being contested on May 7.
The public’s mental health is getting worse, and local councils have a big impact on the mental health of the communities and people they serve – through their public health responsibilities and powers across the building blocks of health – including jobs, housing, and our green spaces.
One in five children and one in four adults are living with a mental health problem. People with mental health problems don’t have a fair chance in life. They are less likely to be able to work, have poorer physical health and a shorter life expectancy. Many people are facing long waits for treatment. This is unjust, but can change with the right support.
From housing, Best Start Family Hubs and youth services to libraries and leisure centres, local council services can boost our mental health.
For the 2026 local elections in England, we’re calling on all council candidates to pledge to support our Mentally Healthier Councils Framework. The Framework is a 10-point checklist of approaches to embed mentally healthier policies and initiatives, which align with the key building blocks of mental health.
Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health said: “Local councils can make a big difference to the mental health of the communities they serve. We urge all council candidates to back our manifesto and pledge to take action to improve mental health in their local areas. A mentally healthier future is possible if councils take the steps needed to achieve it.”
If there are elections in your local area on May 7, you can support mental health in your community by asking council candidates to endorse the Framework and promise to deliver on it.
