As a new Prime Minister is announced, a manifesto for mental health is essential

The Mental Health Policy Group, a coalition of six national organisations involved in improving the nations mental health has produced a new manifesto for mental health. The manifesto has been released in anticipation of a new Prime Minister being appointed on the 5th of September.

Written by Bryony Porteous-Sebouhian

‘The work of a generation’

A partnership between Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, NHS Confederation Mental Health Network, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, otherwise known as the Mental Health Policy Group (MHPG) has released what they are calling a mental health manifesto for a new Prime Minister.

In a statement by Rethink Mental Illness, on behalf of the MHPG, they commented on the national progress to achieve ‘parity of esteem’, to value mental health equally to physical health in the NHS saying ‘there is no doubt that we have seen significant progress in mental health policy’.

However, Rethink added that the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis has since put ‘unprecedented pressures on the mental health of the nation’ and emphasised that in light of this, an urgent response in the context of the current challenges the UK faces, is desperately needed.

‘At a time when more and more people are speaking out about their mental health and demanding better support, the new Prime Minister must listen.’

The MHPG represents providers of mental health services (both NHS and third sector/charitable organisations), professionals working within services and service users nationwide. The MHPG have been campaigning to improve services through a cross-government approach to early intervention and prevention of mental health problems.

Their manifesto, is an extension of their previous work and sets out five key areas that the next Prime Minister must address ‘in order to improve the lives of people with mental health problems and improve the mental health of the nation.’

The five key areas are:

Prevention and disparities: The MHPG understand that the mental health of the nation exists in a chain that is affected and impacted by all government policies and these affects are likely to be felt more severely from people who experience multiple disparities such as socio-economic, racial, gender, location etc. As such, the MHPG the notion of prevention must inform all aspects of government work and policy, with a call for the next Prime Minister to ‘work with departments across government to develop a clear plan for preventing mental health problems.’

Reform the Mental Health Act: The MHPG acknowledges that being detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA) is ‘one of the most serious and traumatic things that can happen to someone’ and that since the independent ‘Wessley Review’ the government, and new Prime Minister must be committed to pushing for a large majority of the recommendations as put forward in the review. The MHPG is pushing for a timetable detailing the implementation of reforms, a focus on race equality in the new MHA, and an assurance that the NHS, Ministry of Justice and local authorities will be supplied with the necessary workforce and resources needed.

Mental health services including workforce and Children and Young People: In this section, the MHPG is calling for a renewed Covid-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan that expands on the initial NHS Long Term Plan, since demand for services has only increased. The section also addresses inappropriate out of area placements, funding progress, Spending Reviews, investment in mental health research and the vital nature of expert mental health teams in civil service and NHS. For children and young people, the MHPG places its focus on: eating disorder services, in-school/college Mental Health Support Teams, nationwide networks of community-based early support hubs, workforce investment to cut down waiting times.

Cross-government action: The MHPG put a lot of emphasis on the facts that mental health services alone will not be able to tackle the current mental health crisis the UK is in the midst of. This section looks at education and a ‘Whole School/College Approach’, social care with families who are experiencing relationship difficulties, abuse and other adversities, workplace mental health and wellbeing being prioritised, criminal justice system reform with an aim to create safer prisons and divert more people into the community, social housing reform to better meet the needs of people with mental health problems, and finally an improved Individual Placement and Support system to help people with serious mental health issues with their employment as well as a welfare system that is based around and informed on the fact that financial stress causes anxiety and poor mental health.

Mental health social care: The MHPG points out that mental health social care, though important and essential is not fully understood or recognised as part of the wider public mental health approach. The role of mental health social care is especially important when looking at those who are leaving inpatient care, to ensure they stay well. The MHPG in this section, is advocating for long-term and sustainable funding for mental health social care, including the Better Care Fund which supports the integration of social care and mental health, and finally, the greater integration of mental health social care, financial support and mental health services.

This manifesto, formulated by some of the most influential mental health charities and organisations in the UK should and must be taken as an immediate priority by the UK’s next Prime Minister. Since the initial release of the NHS Long Term Plan and the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, the demand for mental health support and services has only increased.

Two approaches that were produced before the current cost of living crisis and the recession that is inevitably on the horizon will not address the needs of our country and will only add to more people needing mental health support, and not being able to access it. Instead, mental health must be seen as a vital part in any solutions the government announces to tackle the cost of living crisis in the coming weeks.