Today’s Spending Review represents another missed opportunity to take urgent action on mental health, Centre for Mental Health said today.
Responding to today’s Spending Review, Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health, said: “Despite bold statements about creating an NHS fit for the future, commitments to mental health in today’s Spending Review were disappointingly lacking.
“While increased funding to ease pressures on the NHS is welcome, the Spending Review offered no assurance of what proportion would be allocated to mental health care. After a reduction in the share of NHS spending for mental health this year, it’s more important than ever that mental health receives a fair share of both revenue and capital funding.
“Reducing hospital waiting lists is an important ambition, but we need to see comparable commitments to addressing the one million people currently waiting for mental health care.
“And while the Government has pledged to employ 8,500 more mental health workers, this compares with an increase of around 40,000 during the last Parliament and represents only a fraction of what is needed to turn the tide. With mental ill-health costing £300 billion every year in England, the Government cannot afford to keep sidelining mental health investment.
“It’s equally important to increase funding for adult social care, which plays an essential role in supporting the mental health of thousands of people, after decades of being underfunded and overlooked.
“We warmly welcome the Government’s commitment to rolling out Mental Health Support Teams in all schools by the end of this Parliament – a manifesto pledge we have repeatedly called for. While these teams represent a vital part of the early mental health offer for children and young people, it’s essential to build on the model to ensure it meets the needs of all young people, particularly those facing inequalities. However, the Spending Review did not provide clarity on the funding allocation for the rollout of Young Futures hubs, another manifesto pledge, which are designed to offer open access early support in the community and complement the support provided in schools and colleges.
“Having safe, secure housing is fundamental for good mental health, so we are pleased to see Government’s commitment to building more affordable homes, particularly those for social renting. However, we’re disappointed that plans to reduce eligibility to vital lifelines such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have not been reconsidered. These cuts could have a devastating impact on the mental health and lives of millions of people across the country, and do nothing to enable them to secure employment.
“Getting the NHS back on its feet will be impossible without sustainably and comprehensively investing in the nation’s mental health.”
