The government has announced plans to open 159 new mental health facilities, including 100 community mental health centres and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments. The first sites are expected to open from this autumn, with further facilities due to follow from March 2027.
The community centres will offer walk-in support without the need for a referral, bringing together mental health specialists alongside GPs, councils, voluntary organisations and other local services. The aim is to provide help before problems escalate and reduce the number of people reaching crisis point.
Some centres will be purpose-built, while others will be based in existing community locations such as libraries, banks and other high street premises. The facilities are intended to provide a welcoming, non-clinical environment designed to improve access to support.
Alongside the community hubs, 59 new mental health emergency departments will provide same-day specialist care for people experiencing a mental health crisis who do not require treatment in an accident and emergency department. Located alongside existing emergency departments, the units will work with ambulance and police services to assess patients and connect them with appropriate follow-up care, whether through inpatient treatment, support at home or community services.
The rollout will more than double the number of dedicated mental health emergency departments in England, increasing the total from 23 to 82.
The government said demand for mental health services has increased significantly in recent years, particularly among children and young people, with around one in five people experiencing a common mental health condition each year. It said the expansion is intended to shift services towards earlier intervention and prevention, reducing pressure on emergency care.
The programme forms part of the government's forthcoming mental health strategy, which will also consider the roles of schools, employers, local authorities and the voluntary sector. The strategy is expected to be informed by the recommendations of Professor Peter Fonagy's independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.
Dr Nick Broughton, National Priority Programme Director for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodevelopmental Conditions, said: 'Across the country, NHS teams are already working to provide mental health support closer to where people live, alongside specialist care for those who need more urgent help.
'The rollout of more community mental health centres and dedicated mental health emergency departments will build on this work, strengthening both early support in the community and care for people in crisis, while helping services work together more effectively around people's needs.'
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