Following Andy Burnham’s first speech as Prime Minster on Monday 20 July and the appointment of Yvette Cooper as the new Health Secretary, Centre for Mental Health responds.
Following Andy Burnham’s speech, Andy Bell, chief executive said:
“We warmly welcome the new Prime Minister’s commitment to expand mental health support as part of his drive to ‘bring back hope’. More mental health support is vital to turn around the decline in young people’s mental health over the last decade. Evidence-backed approaches will help more young people enjoy healthier, happier and more productive lives.
“We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to a ‘preventative state’ that invests in success. Plans for a new mental health strategy can embed prevention across government, creating the conditions for us all to have better mental health, with an economy and public services that serve a common purpose to protect people’s wellbeing. Ending rough sleeping as a first step is a welcome start.
“Ensuring mental health support is part of that package will be essential for its success. We have evidence about what works, and we look forward to working with the Government to make a mentally healthier future possible as part of the ten-year plan for Britain.
Welcoming the appointment of Yvette Cooper as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Andy Bell said:
“In the twenty odd years since Yvette Cooper was last a Minister in the department, much has changed, but one area where she will see an urgent need for action is mental health. That is because of a rise in genuine mental distress and ill health, as recently confirmed by the interim report of the independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, which is driving increasing demand.
“The Prime Minister has signalled a clear intent to expand mental health support. It is critical that the new Secretary of State takes the opportunity of the mental health strategy, the publication of the final report of the review and other reports such as the Milburn Review, to address the mental health crisis and provide innovative, open-access, well-funded and joined-up mental health support to people of all ages.”
