Today’s autumn statement indicates that the Government is not yet delivering on commitments to mental health and prevention, Centre for Mental Health said today.
Responding to the Chancellor’s autumn statement, Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health, said: “Mental health in the UK has been in decline over recent years. Some of today’s announcements offer hope that we may see it turn around during this Parliament, but the short-term outlook remains worrying and leaves a lot to be done to build a mentally healthier nation.”
“We welcome the Government’s promise of much-needed increases in NHS funding. It is imperative that mental health services get their fair share of this essential investment. As the Government-commissioned Darzi report highlighted, the mental health estate has some of the most outdated and unsafe facilities, so it’s crucial that new capital funding is ring-fenced to modernise mental health services.
“While we welcome the pledge to boost hospital appointments and tackle long waiting lists, we’re concerned that the one million people waiting for mental health services have yet again been overlooked. This is a false economy with so many people waiting for urgent treatment to enable them to continue their education and working lives.
“Pledged investment in new mental health crisis centres is welcome, but a fraction of what is needed to update urgent care for people with a mental illness.
“We are delighted that the Chancellor has announced a substantial increase in the minimum wage. Poverty pay leaves people and families at risk of poor mental health. But benefits also need to be uprated so that those who cannot work or who are disabled are not left further behind by a social security system that is currently failing to meet basic needs. Half of people in England with a mental illness are in food poverty. This has to stop.
“Safe and secure housing is one of the foundations of good mental health, so we warmly welcome essential renewed investment in social housing.
“The Budget offers little promise for social care, despite its foundational role in supporting people living with a mental illness. It is impossible to ‘fix the NHS’ without also fixing a social care system on its knees.
“Despite the Government’s commitment to shift ‘from sickness to prevention’, the Budget includes little reference to and no increased funding for public health. The Public Health Grant – cut by 28% in real terms since 2015 – must be urgently restored to protect the public’s mental health. Increasing tobacco taxes is a welcome public health measure, but it must be combined with support for people to quit smoking. And the freezing of fuel duty puts more people at risk from air pollution.
“With mental ill health costing the economy and society over £300 billion every year – double the entire NHS budget – this is an issue we cannot afford to ignore. The Government must take bolder action to build a mentally healthier future for the UK.”
