BPS supports focus on mental health from Liberal Democrats in a positive start to manifesto week

The manifesto pledges from the Liberal Democrats to establish mental health hubs for young people, and to support the mental health of the NHS workforce, have been welcomed by the BPS. 

Commenting on the manifesto's launch, Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the British Psychological Society said: 

"It is encouraging to see the Liberal Democrats taking the mental health of all our children and young people seriously. Prevention is more cost-effective than cure and the national rollout of early intervention hubs will go a long way to support young people's mental health and wellbeing. Committing to adding a dedicated mental health professional in every school, echoes our calls for the expansion of the educational psychology workforce. 

On a similar theme, the manifesto outlines a commitment to give local authorities extra funding to reduce the amount that schools pay towards the cost of a child's Education, Health and Care Plan. This has been a longstanding issue, and it is positive to see a major political party acknowledge the current funding postcode lottery for a psychological assessment. 

In another encouraging move, we are pleased to see the proposed appointment of a Cabinet Minister for Children and Young People. The issues at play more than merit their own governmental portfolio. It is also positive to see the Liberal Democrats commit to extending young people's mental health services up to the age of 25 to try and prevent many young people falling through the cracks after they move out of children's mental health services. 

The manifesto also sees a pledge to modernising the Mental Health Act, something the BPS is wholly supportive of, with reform long overdue. The Act must tackle racial disparities in the mental health system and address the unacceptable trend of people with severe mental health difficulties ending up in the criminal justice system.

There is also a renewed focus on the NHS workforce with a ten-year commitment to a staff retention plan and a social care workforce plan. It is imperative that any recruitment and retention plans ensure NHS and social care staff have access to psychologically led mental health support.

In what's set to be a busy week of frank and passionate discussion about the political future of the UK, it is a positive start at least to see psychology feature so prominently in a major political party's manifesto. Let's hope it's the first of many such examples." 

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This general election, Psychology Matters. All political parties must ensure they take a psychological approach to policymaking which places people first. Read the BPS's manifesto for the 2024 General Election.