Government to Transform Mental Health Care with New Strategy

Frontline workers, clinicians and mental health experts are being invited to share their views on how to transform mental health care for children and adults in England, as the government launches a call for evidence to shape its once-in-a-generation cross-government mental health strategy.

The strategy will drive a fundamental shift towards prevention – treating people earlier and faster, and supporting those with mental health conditions to live a full life and stay active in education, work, family life and their communities.

Demand for mental health services has risen rapidly, particularly among children and young people, who often face long waiting times for the care they need. Around 1 in 5 people are now affected by a common mental health condition.

Improving mental health care is a priority in the government’s manifesto and 10 Year Health Plan and the government has hit its target to hire 8,500 extra mental health workers 3 years ahead of schedule. This year, NHS mental health spending is forecast to reach a record £16.1 billion – a real-terms increase of around £140 million on last year.

On top of this, we are making £473 million available over the next 4 years for mental health emergency departments, community-based mental health centres and wider capital projects, accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges and expanding community‑based support via Early Support and Young Futures Hubs.

But despite record investment and significant workforce growth, the current system remains reactive, fragmented and inconsistent. Support varies based on postcode, and too often people only get help when they reach crisis point. The mental health strategy will address this by setting new direction for the mental health system so that it responds earlier and more proportionately.

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.”

Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said: “This is a big moment for England’s mental health. For many years, we’ve been calling for a radical shift towards a cross-government approach with a focus on prevention, and we look forward to contributing to the plan’s success. 

“Our nation’s mental health has gone downhill over recent decades due to things like the COVID-19 pandemic and the legacy of austerity. But change is possible, and we are pleased that the government is taking action.  

“We will be advocating for the plan to be ambitious, evidence-led and with a real focus on those communities most at risk of poor mental health; and to address the social and economic factors that shape all our mental health.

The strategy will also look beyond clinical settings to consider the role of schools, workplaces, the voluntary sector and local government in promoting positive mental health, moving from a system that first and foremost seeks to diagnose patients, to one that asks what support people need to live better.”

It will also respond to forthcoming recommendations from the independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism, chaired by eminent psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy. The review is examining the drivers of increasing demand and how government, the health system and wider public services can meet that demand more fairly and effectively.

Autistic people and people with ADHD face a much higher risk of developing a mental health condition. The strategy will reflect the mental health needs of these groups, while a dedicated cross-government autism strategy will also be developed and published in due course, and the government will engage with stakeholders to consider extending it to cover ADHD.

The call for evidence opens today and will remain open for 8 weeks, closing on 10 July 2026.