Frontline workers, clinicians and mental health experts are being invited to help shape the future of mental health care in England, as the government today (Friday 15 May) launches a Call for Evidence to inform a once‑in‑a‑generation, cross‑government Mental Health Strategy.
The strategy aims to drive a fundamental shift in how mental health services are designed and delivered — moving away from crisis‑led care towards earlier intervention, prevention and long‑term support. The ambition is to help people with mental health conditions live full and active lives, remaining engaged in education, work, family life and their communities.
Demand for mental health services has risen sharply in recent years, with children and young people particularly affected. Long waiting times remain common, and around one in five people in England is now living with a common mental health condition.
Improving mental health support is a central commitment in the government’s manifesto and its 10 Year Health Plan. Progress has already been made, with the NHS exceeding its target to recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers three years ahead of schedule. NHS mental health spending is forecast to reach a record £16.1 billion this year — a real‑terms increase of approximately £140 million compared with last year.
Alongside this, the government has committed £473 million over the next four years to support Mental Health Emergency Departments, community‑based Mental Health Centres and wider capital investment. This funding will also accelerate the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges, while expanding community provision through Early Support and Young Futures Hubs.
Despite this record investment and workforce growth, the government acknowledges that the current system remains too often reactive, fragmented and inconsistent. Access to support can still depend heavily on postcode, and many people do not receive help until they reach a crisis point.
The new Mental Health Strategy is intended to set a clear new direction for the system – one that responds earlier, intervenes more proportionately and delivers more consistent support nationwide.
Baroness Merron, Minister for Mental Health, said:
“This government believes that mental health should be treated with the same seriousness as physical health, yet too many people across the country are struggling to get the support they need, when they need it.
“Alongside record investment in mental health services and more mental health workers than ever in the NHS, this strategy will give mental health the attention it deserves and set us on a new direction -one that focuses on earlier help, faster access and a whole-system approach.
“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.”
Crucially, the strategy will look beyond traditional clinical settings. It will examine the role of schools, workplaces, the voluntary sector and local government in promoting positive mental health, signalling a shift from a system primarily focused on diagnosis to one centred on understanding what support people need to live well.
The work will also respond to forthcoming recommendations from the independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism, chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy. The review is examining the drivers behind rising demand and how government, the health system and wider public services can respond more fairly and effectively.
Autistic people and people with ADHD face a significantly higher risk of developing mental health conditions. The strategy will reflect the specific mental health needs of these groups. In parallel, the government has confirmed that a dedicated, cross‑government autism strategy will be developed and published in due course, with engagement underway to consider whether this should be extended to cover ADHD.
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