The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg and Andrew Lansley and Paul Burstow from the Department of Health today announced plans today, to inject £400 million to improve access to modern, evidence-based psychological therapies over the next four years.
For the first time, the Government is showing a real commitment to placing as much importance on the nation's mental health, as well as its physical well-being. It's estimated one in four people experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. For too long there has been little or no alternative therapies for those with mental health problems and doctors have had to rely on prescribing pills to try and help. This much needed funding should provide real therapies for those that need help, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counselling for Depression, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. This is really encouraging news for those with ADD/ADHD as these and other therapies have been sparse or non existent in the past. Read the full press release is below.
Simon Hensby - ADDers.org
Department of Health (National)
£400 million to extend access to psychological therapies
New plans to transform the mental health and well-being of the nation and ensure - for the first time - that mental health is given the same importance as the nation's physical health, were announced today by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg and Andrew Lansley and Paul Burstow from the Department of Health.
The No health without mental health Strategy outlines how a new emphasis on early intervention and prevention will help tackle the underlying causes of mental ill-health. It sets out how the Government will work with the NHS, local government and the third sector to help people recover and challenge stigma.
Central to these plans is an additional investment of around £400 million to improve access to modern, evidence-based psychological therapies over the next four years.
This will extend the current programme available to offer personalised support to 3.2 million people across the country, making available a choice of psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counselling for Depression, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy and ensuring access for anyone who needs it.
At least one in four people experience a mental health problem at some point in their life and mental ill-health represents up to 23% of the total burden of ill health in the UK - the largest single cause of illness.
Half of those with mental health problems first experience symptoms before the age of 14 and three-quarters before their mid twenties. Depression is also the most common mental health problem in people aged over 65, with 13-16% having sufficiently severe depression to require treatment.
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:
"The evidence is clear: mental health needs to be addressed with the same urgency as physical health. We need to end the stigma attached to mental illness, to set an example by talking about the issue openly and candidly and ensure everyone can access the support and information they need.
"The strategy today shows how we will put people at the heart of everything we do, from a new focus on early intervention to increased funding for psychological therapy, so that everyone has a fair opportunity to get their lives back on track."
Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow said:
"For too long mental health has been the poor relation in the NHS. Yet we know that good mental health and resilience are fundamental to our physical health, our relationships, our education, our work and to achieving our potential.
"What this strategy does is ensure that modern, evidence-based therapies are available for all who need them. Working with others, the Government is determined to promote good mental health and wellbeing and challenge the stigma and discrimination that still affects so many people with mental health problems today.
"With one in four of us likely to suffer from a mental health problem at some point in our lives, it's not a question of them and us. Good mental health is everyone's business."
Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley said:
"There is no good health without good mental health. Too often in the past, mental health issues have been marginalised. This cross-government strategy will finally place good mental health at the heart of everything we do.
"The six key aims of this strategy make clear our commitment to improving public health and wellbeing through improving mental health.
"For the first time, people of all ages with mental health problems will be able to receive personalised care to reflect their own needs.
"The NHS will also no longer focus its attention on treatment alone - but will move towards early intervention and prevention to deliver outcomes for patients which are amongst the best in the world."
This strategy commits to beginning to expand provision of psychological therapies to children and young people, older people, people with long-term physical health problems, those with medically unexplained symptoms and those with serious mental illness. This will help to reduce the burden of ill-health in the UK and ensure that evidence-based therapies are available to these key groups.
Patients will be able to request a referral via their GP or contact the provider directly for a self-referral consultation.
Extending psychological therapies to all those with mental health problems will result in one million people recovering from their condition by 2014 and 75,000 people getting their lives back on track by returning to work, education, training or volunteering. It will also create over £700 million of savings to the public sector in healthcare, tax and welfare gains.
The Government's priorities are summarised in six main objectives - agreed with partner organisations in the mental health sector - to make clear to individuals, families and communities how the Government's plans will make a positive difference to them. This Strategy will ensure that by 2014:
Sarah Brennan, Chair of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition and Chief Executive of YoungMinds said:
"We commend the Government for putting children and young people at the heart of its mental health strategy for the first time. Thus emphasising the vital importance of giving all young people a good start in life and the effect of this on long term mental health.
"Effective implementation of this strategy however will be challenging in the tough economic climate. We look forward to working with government to make the strategy a reality, resulting in a transformation in the lives of children and young people in Britain today."
Future Vision Coalition co-chair Dr Andrew McCulloch said:
"The Government has today made a much needed commitment both to promote good mental health for all and to improve support for those who experience mental ill health.
"People of all ages with mental health problems are too often excluded from the opportunities in life that others enjoy. The strategy shows that all government departments need to work together to improve the mental health of the whole population and to secure better, quicker and more responsive services for those who need them."
In addition, the Government will:
The No health without mental health strategy, a cross-Government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages, is the second of a number of outcomes strategies published following on from the White Paper, Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS.
Outcomes strategies will play a crucial role in translating the underpinning principles of the Coalition Government's reforms of the health and care services into the steps needed to drive improved health outcomes; putting patients and the public first, empowering professionals and strengthening local accountability.