Summary
A document released by the Department for Health emphasises the need to focus on mental health at a young age.
The 'No Health Without Mental Health' strategy outlines how early intervention and prevention will help tackle the underlying causes of mental ill-health.
The report sets out how the Government will work with the NHS, local government and the third sector to help people recover and challenge stigma.
Central to these plans is an additional investment of around £400 million to improve access to modern, evidence-based psychological therapies over the next four years.
This strategy commits to beginning to expand provision of psychological therapies for:
- children and young people;
- older people;
- people with long-term physical health problems;
- those with medically unexplained symptoms; and
- those with serious mental illness.
This will help to reduce the problem of ill-health in the UK and ensure that evidence-based therapies are available to these key groups. Patients will be able to request a referral via their GP or contact the provider directly for a self-referral appointment.
Extending psychological therapies to all those with mental health problems will result in one million people recovering from their condition by 2014 and 75,000 people getting their lives back on track by returning to work, education, training or volunteering. It will also create over £700 million of savings to the public sector in health care, tax and welfare gains.
The Government's priorities are summarised in six main objectives - agreed with partner organisations in the mental health sector - to make clear to individuals, families and communities how the Government's plans will make a positive difference to them.
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