Scrapping 10-year mental health plan “a huge step backwards”

The government has scrapped its 10-year cross-Government plan for mental health and wellbeing, replacing it with the Major Conditions Strategy.

More than 28,000 people responded to the government’s call for evidence, sharing their own experiences of living with a mental health condition and advising the government on how they can better support people with mental ill health.

While it is currently unclear how this evidence will be utilised, Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive at Mind, says it “must not be wasted”, and the government must set a “clear ambition to revolutionise our approach to mental health and make it fit for the 21st century”.

“Everyone who’s experienced one of the many conditions now contained within this Strategy, or is at greater risk of experiencing those conditions, deserve a plan which will help reduce the causes of that condition or support its treatment. Unfortunately, while we’re still waiting for details of the Major Conditions Strategy, a plan this general is unlikely to help achieve that,” she added.

Combining the plans could exclude children and young people

Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, says that combining the strategies is a “huge step backwards” that dilutes the focus on mental health.

“The plan should be for the long-term; it was initially planned to run for 10 years. Its focus on chronic conditions must not mean that it excludes children and young people, who are less likely to experience chronic ill-health but who are a prime target for preventative mental health interventions. And it must reflect the views of the thousands of people with mental health problems who generously spent their time and energy feeding into the government’s consultation processes,” he said.

Mr Rowland says the Mental Health Foundation will continue to make the case for an effective new plan, which holds government departments to account, including through shared targets, and which has funding attached.

Mental health plan needed more than ever amid cost-of-living crisis

Research by the Mental Health Foundation reveals that in November 2022, financial pressures led 34% of people to feel anxious, 24% to feel stressed and 10% to feel hopeless.

In light of these concerning statistics, Aidan Jones, Chief Executive at Relate, has urged the government to rethink its plan to combine the strategies.

He said: “It is incredibly disappointing to see the government is shelving its much anticipated 10-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan. A strategy which focusses on tackling mental health issues, encouraging early intervention and promoting wellbeing has never been more needed than now.

“Since the pandemic, our practitioners have witnessed a concerning rise in mental health issues among children and young people. We’re also hearing daily how people’s relationships and mental health are coming under serious strain due to the cost-of-living crisis.

“The proposed broader strategy, which will apparently cover a range of long-term health conditions, risks failing to take into account the needs of children and young people, engaging all government departments or addressing the strong link between our relationships and our mental health. We urge the government to take these factors into serious consideration.”