People struggling with their mental health will get help earlier and closer to home, with a new NHS mental health emergency department opening at Queen’s Medical Centre under plans announced by the Labour Government today.
One of 159 new facilities opening across England, backed by £343 million, Labour is rolling out the biggest redesign of adult mental health services in a generation.
This includes 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral and without a months-long wait, and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments giving people in crisis specialist care in a place designed for them.
Demand for mental health services has risen sharply, particularly among children and young people, with around one in five people experiencing a common mental health condition each year. Too often, people only receive support once they reach crisis point, leaving families without the help they need and placing greater pressure on NHS services.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E.
“These new centres will be a lifeline for so many. They will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse, and ensuring those in crisis get the right care in the right place.
“On the steps of Downing Street, I said we would build a country that acts sooner when people need help. Today is just the start of making that a reality.”
Today’s announcement support the Labour Government’s mission to shift care from crisis to prevention, helping people get support earlier and closer to home. It forms part of the forthcoming Mental Health Strategy, which will look beyond the NHS to the role of schools, employers, local government and the voluntary sector in supporting good mental health.
The Mental Health Strategy will be informed by the upcoming recommendations from Professor Peter Fonagy’s independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.