Mental Health Manifesto for a new Prime Minister
31/08/2022
Since the initial commitment to parity of esteem (the need to value mental health equally to physical health) a decade ago, there is no doubt that we have seen significant progress in mental health policy. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis has put unprecedented pressures on the mental health of the nation, requiring an urgent response.
Our country’s progress on mental health is fragile. Taking concerted action to improve the nation’s mental health is the work of a generation. At a time when more and more people are speaking out about their mental health and demanding better support, the new Prime Minister must listen.
The Mental Health Policy Group is an informal coalition of six national organisations working together to improve mental health, comprised of the Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, NHS Confederation Mental Health Network, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Together we represent providers, professionals and the hundreds of thousands of people who use mental health services, and advocate for cross-government approaches to improve services and support early intervention and prevention of mental health problems.
As the UK will shortly have a new Prime Minister, the Mental Health Policy Group has developed a manifesto, setting out five areas that the next Prime Minister must address in order to improve the lives of people with mental health problems and improve the mental health of the nation. By addressing these areas, the new Prime Minister will lead the way towards mental health equality and bring us closer to the ambition of a fair deal for mental health.
The five key areas:
- Prevention and disparities
- Reform of the Mental Health Act
- Cross-Government action
- Mental health social care
To read the full manifesto, please visit our reports and briefings section.
The Mental Health Policy Group (MHPG) is an informal coalition of six national organisations working together to improve mental health through policy influencing activities at national level.
The group is comprised of Centre for Mental Health,Mental Health Foundation, NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists