People across England are set to benefit from faster and better access to mental health support after the NHS recruited 8,500 additional mental health workers since the end of June 2024, meeting a key government workforce target three years ahead of schedule.
The milestone comes as demand for mental health services continues to rise, with around one in five adults in England, an estimated 9.4 million people, now living with a common mental health condition.
Historically, high demand and long waiting times have been major barriers preventing people from receiving timely mental health support.
The additional workforce is expected to enable:
- Shorter waiting times for assessment and treatment
- More care delivered in community settings rather than hospitals
- Earlier intervention, supporting people before they reach crisis point
Health leaders said the expansion will help thousands more people access the right support sooner and closer to where they live.
The new recruits include therapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses and support staff, now working across NHS trusts and community health services nationwide.
They are providing care for children, young people and adults, strengthening services across primary care, community teams, specialist mental health services and crisis support.
Improving mental health care is a central priority in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
This year, NHS spending on mental health is forecast to rise to a record £16.1 billion, representing a real‑terms increase of around £140 million compared with the previous year.
Alongside day‑to‑day funding, the government is investing an additional £473 million in mental health infrastructure by 2030, aimed at:
- Modernising mental health facilities
- Expanding community‑based services
- Increasing crisis care and urgent support capacity
The workforce milestone builds on wider reforms across the mental health system.
The Mental Health Act received Royal Assent at the end of last year, marking a significant step towards ensuring people with severe mental health conditions receive more personalised, rights‑based treatment.
In parallel, an independent review of mental health, ADHD and autism is under way. The review will examine how government, the NHS and wider public services can respond more fairly and effectively to rising demand for support.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:
“This government promised to recruit 8,500 more mental health workers by the end of the Parliament.
“Today I can announce that we have kept our promise, 3 years early.
“We have recruited 8,500 more therapists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses. They are delivering more care, earlier and closer to people’s homes.
“We also promised to put mental health support in every school, and up to 900,000 more children can today access that support compared to this time last year.
“Promises made, promises kept.”
Looking ahead, the forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how the NHS will ensure it has the right people, with the right skills, in the right places to meet future healthcare needs.
Mental health roles are expected to remain a core focus of the plan, reflecting sustained demand and the importance of early, high‑quality support.
By expanding capacity, investing in infrastructure and reforming legislation, the government said it aims to build a system that supports people earlier, improves outcomes and delivers mental health care that is fit for the future.
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