Government urged to prioritise mental health services

Responding to a new Centre for Mental Health report, The economic and social costs of mental ill health, which finds that mental ill health costs society £300bn every year in England, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers said:

"This report is another timely reminder of the huge human and financial cost that arises when mental health is not prioritised.

"More and more people are being seen by mental health services, but there is major mismatch between rising demand for mental health care and the NHS' ability to deliver it.

"With two million people on mental health waiting lists, trust leaders know far too many are still not getting the care and support they need, as soon as they need it. Our survey found over 9 out of 10 mental health trust leaders were worried about capacity to meet demand for services over the next 12 months.  

"We urgently need to tackle the rising tide of mental ill health and the consequences this can have for individuals, their families and wider society.

"Mental health must be a national priority across government, backed by long-term, sustainable levels of investment in mental health and wider public services that play a crucial role in providing the right care and support for individuals as early as possible."