The strategy aims to drive a fundamental shift towards prevention support those with mental health conditions to live a full life and stay active in education, work, family life and their communities.
Baroness Merron, minister for mental health, said: ‘We want to hear from everyone with a stake in getting this right, including frontline clinicians, service providers and people with lived experience of mental health conditions, so that we can build a system that truly works for everyone.
Reaction
Head of policy and practice at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Joe Brunwin, said: ‘Too many people with poor mental health are getting help far too late. Shifting mental health care towards prevention, early intervention and support that enables people to live well in their communities is the right approach. However, this will only succeed if all Government departments work together, linking health with education, housing and jobs.
‘This strategy must go further in tackling the practical factors shaping mental health, not just symptoms and diagnoses. Occupational therapy expertise needs to be embedded in the final strategy so people receive the right support at the right time.'
Laetitia Beaujard Ramoo, chief executive of Bramacare, said welcomed the plans but expressed concerns about the absence of eating disorders from the announcement.
‘You cannot credibly transform mental health care while one of its deadliest conditions is treated as a niche concern,' Ramoo said.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, chair of the Local Government Association's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: ‘We support this focus on improving mental health care with a national strategy centred on prevention.
‘Councils hold a crucial role in the delivery of local mental health services, working in partnership with the NHS and local voluntary and community services.
‘We look forward to working with Government to ensure this local leadership of councils is reflected in the strategy to ensure people are best supported to live full and healthy lives.'
