A new national campaign, Head On, backed by more than 20 leading mental health organisations, is calling on political leaders to place mental health at the centre of the UK’s renewal, warning that public concern is far outstripping political action.
The campaign launches alongside new polling from the Wellcome Trust and More in Common, which reveals that three quarters of the public (75%) believe the government should do more to improve mental health services.
The Head On campaign warns that the disconnect between public expectations and policy delivery is having serious consequences.
In England, significantly more people are waiting over 18 months for mental health treatment than for physical health care. Behind these figures are individuals and families experiencing prolonged distress, often without support until their mental health deteriorates into crisis.
Campaign leaders argue that these delays are not simply a service issue, but a failure to treat mental health with the same urgency and priority as physical health.
Despite an increasingly polarised political climate, public support for mental health has remained both consistent and unusually united.
Between 2023 and 2026, mental health has emerged as one of the few areas of broad national agreement, cutting across age, region and political affiliation.
The polling shows that Britons are nearly three times more likely to believe those speaking about mental health are motivated by genuine health and wellbeing concerns than to view them as making excuses (63% compared with 22%). In addition, 73% of the public agree that mental health is as important as physical health.
The campaign says this level of consensus provides political leaders with not only a clear mandate, but a responsibility to act.
The Head On campaign argues that improving mental health services must be seen as central to economic and social recovery, not a secondary issue.
Poor mental health affects education, employment, productivity and family life, while early intervention and timely care can reduce long‑term costs and improve outcomes across society.
Campaign organisers say that delaying reform risks higher demand, greater inequality and deeper pressure on already overstretched services.
Head On is funded by Wellcome and led by a coalition of more than 20 UK mental health charities, including Centre for Mental Health, Rethink Mental Illness, Mental Health Innovations and YoungMinds.
While the organisations represent diverse communities and approaches, they are united by a shared belief: the current mental health system is not good enough, and it can be fixed.
The coalition is calling for sustained political leadership, long‑term investment and reforms that make access to care faster, fairer and more consistent across the country.
The campaign is urging politicians of all parties to respond to the clear direction set out by the public, embedding mental health as a core priority in national policy‑making.
Andy Bell, Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, commented:
“Head On brings together over 20 charities who are backed by public opinion in demanding mental health gets the political attention it deserves. We must fund and scale what works – with a focus on driving down mental health waiting lists and prioritising prevention, early intervention and community care. Action can’t wait, and we urgently need a clear, ambitious, strategic vision for our nation’s mental health from the Government.”
Image credit: iStock
